Using Antibiotic-Resistant Genes to Evaluate Human Impact on Wildlife

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious global health concern that has spilled over into the environment and wildlife. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has promoted the selection of bacteria carrying antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), now often present in the environment and in various animal species. Researchers have designed a novel diagnostic technique to detect and quantify the presence of selected ARGs in the feces of two distinct populations of sea birds; one impacted by heavy human activity and one living in an extremely protected area, an isolated atoll in the Atlantic Ocean with no human settlements. Findings will provide valuable information on the role of human activity, including tourism, in spreading ARGs and on ARG-contamination load in resident seabirds and their protected habitats. Data, akin to ARG fingerprinting, also could be used to help trace ARG contamination back to its source and help inform health management policies.