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Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Although considered one of the most pristine ecosystems, Antarctica has been largely influenced by human activities during the last 50 years, affecting its unique biodiversity. One of the major global threats to health is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that may be actively transferred to wildlife. We cultured and tested for antibiotic resistance in 137 cloacal and fresh fecal samples of several avian and marine mammal species from the Antarctic Peninsula, the most impacted area in Antarctica. Alarmingly, 80 % of the isolates showed antibiotic resistance, either phenotypically or genotypically. Most of the resistant bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus species, are part of local gastrointestinal microbiota. Penguins and pinnipeds harbored a great diversity of antibiotic resistance and must be eligible as sentinels for future studies. These results show that antibiotic resistance has rapidly transferred to bacteria in Antarctic wildlife, which is a global matter of concern., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales has spread rapidly around the world, reaching remote areas. In this regard, wild birds that acquire ESBL producers from anthropogenically impacted areas can become reservoirs, contributing to further dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria categorized as critical priority pathogens to remote environments, during migration seasons. We have conducted a microbiological and genomic investigation on the occurrence and features of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in wild birds from the remote Acuy Island, in the Gulf of Corcovado, at Chilean Patagonia. Strikingly, five ESBL-producing Escherichia coli were isolated from migratory and resident gulls. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis revealed the presence of two E. coli clones belonging to international sequence types (STs) ST295 and ST388, producing CTX-M-55 and CTX-M-1 ESBLs, respectively. Moreover, E. coli carried a wide resistome and virulome associated with human and animal infections. Phylogenomic analysis of global and publicly genomes of E. coli ST388 (n = 51) and ST295 (n = 85) clustered gulls isolates along to E. coli strains isolated from the environment, companion animal and livestock in the United States of America, within or close to the migratory route of Franklin's gull, suggesting a possible trans hemispheric movement of international clones of WHO critical priority ESBL producing pathogens., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Antimicrobial resistance is among the most serious public health threats of the 21st century, with great impact in terms of One Health. Among antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) represent major challenges to human healthcare. Wild birds have been commonly used as environmental bioindicators of ESBL-EC. Remote locations represent a unique opportunity to evaluate the occurrence, dissemination and epidemiology of ARB in the environment. Herein we surveyed ESBL-EC in 204 cloacal swabs from six nonsynanthropic seabird species at the pristine Rocas Atoll, Brazil. We identified ESBL-EC isolates in 2.4% (5/204) of the tested seabirds, all in magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens). We isolated strains of O25b-ST131-fimH22 harboring gene bla CTX-M-8 (3 clones), ST117 harboring gene bla SHV-12 , and a novel ST11350 (clonal complex 349) harboring genes bla CTX-M-55 and fosA3. All the isolates presented Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) virulence profiles. We suggest that magnificent frigatebirds may act as "flying bridges", transporting ESBL-EC and ARGs from an anthropogenically-impacted archipelago geographically close to our pristine and remote study site. The characteristics of our isolates suggest zoonotic potential and, despite the apparent good health of all the evaluated birds, may represent a hypothetical potential threat to the avian population using the atoll. To our knowledge, this is the first description of: (1) the pandemic and public health relevant ST131-O25b harboring bla CTX-M-8 worldwide; (2) ST131-fimH22 in wild birds; and (3); fosA3 in wildlife. Our findings expand the current epidemiological knowledge regarding host and geographical distribution of ESBL-EC and ARGs in wild birds, and emphasize the disseminating characteristics and adaptability of ST131 and ST117 strains within the human-animal-interface. Herein we discuss the involvement of nonsynanthropic wild birds in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance and their potential as sentinels of ESBL E. coli in insular environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been classified as critical priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). We have conducted a microbiological and genomic surveillance study, in order to investigate the occurrence and features of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wild birds admitted to a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Chile. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of highly virulent ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis in wild owls inhabiting the Southern Cone of America. Genomic analysis revealed a wide resistome (for antibiotics, heavy metals and disinfectants) among international lineages of E. coli belonging to ST345 and ST2705, and S. Infantis ST32, producing CTX-M-8 or CTX-M-65 ESBLs. On the other hand, wide virulome was associated with a highly virulent behaviour in the Galleria mellonella infection model. Worryingly, all these lineages have been previously reported in humans, supporting that wide resistome and virulome could be contributing to rapid adaptation and dissemination of these clones at the human-animal-environment interface. In summary, wild owls can constitute environmental reservoirs of international clones of ESBL (CTX-M)-producing E. coli and S. Infantis carrying a wide resistome and virulome, in the Southern Cone of America, with potential risks to human, animal and environmental health., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)