Identification and characterization of pathogenic and multidrug-resistant bacteria in feral pigeons surrounding a veterinary hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Pigeons are known for their capacity to harbor and spread several zoonotic agents. Studies have suggested that pigeons also relevant disseminators of multidrug-resistant strains. In this study, surrounding a veterinary hospital were sampled tested the presence pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. E. coli isolates from 19 (40.4%) positive heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1)-encoding gene. The intimin-encoding gene (eae) enteropathogenicE. (EPEC) was found in one isolate (2.1%). spp. nine (19.1%) pigeons, all first capture event (P < 000.1). S. Typhimurium Heidelberg isolated six three respectively. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-PCR) eight strains had high genetic similarity, supporting hypothesis an outbreak salmonellosis these pigeons. Twenty (42.5%) staphylococcal recovered 18 (38.3%) Eight different species detected, with xylosus being most frequent. Two (4.3%) C. difficile isolated. Three isolates, each Typhimurium, aureus, difficile, classified as present research residing urban areas can act reservoirs bacteria, including nosocomial pathogens, such diarrheagenicE.