Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife in Guadeloupe (French West Indies): Dissemination of a single blaCTX-M-1/IncI1/ST3 plasmid scaffold in humans and wild animals

Limited data are available on the impact of wildlife in the spread of antibacterial resistance. We determined the prevalence of resistance to antibiotics in E. coli isolates collected in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) in 2013-2014 from wild animals (iguanas, birds, anoles and rodents). The genetic basis for resistance to third-generation cephalosporin was explored. Using whole genome sequencing, bacterial isolates were compared to human invasive ESBL E. coli isolates collected during the same period, allowing the description of a well-conserved IncI1 plasmid-carrying blaCTX-M-1. This plasmid is widespread across huge geographical distances and occurred in different bacterial strains from animal and human sources, which is of concern.