Exploring Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in an Urban Coati (Nasua nasua)

The spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in wildlife represents a significant concern due to its potential impact on public health and ecosystem functioning. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and diversity of ARGs in the fecal microbiota of coatis (Nasua nasua) inhabiting an urban ecological park in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fecal samples from individuals of different age and sex classes - including adult, subadult, and infant males and females - were analyzed for genes belonging to the tet, lnu, qnr, cmy, dfr, sul, erm, and ant families, which confer resistance to multiple antimicrobial classes. Results revealed that adult males harbored the highest diversity of ARGs, a pattern consistent with their social and dispersal behavior, which exposes them to a wider range of environmental microbial sources. These findings highlight the potential role of wildlife social structure and movement patterns in shaping the acquisition and dissemination of ARGs, emphasizing the importance of monitoring urban wildlife as part of strategies to understand and mitigate antimicrobial resistance.