AUTHOR=Chrobak-Chmiel Dorota , Kwiecień Ewelina , Golke Anna , Dolka Beata , Adamczyk Krzysztof , Biegańska Małgorzata J. , Spinu Marina , Binek Marian , Rzewuska Magdalena 

TITLE=Pigeons as Carriers of Clinically Relevant Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens—A Clinical Case Report and Literature Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.664226

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.664226

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=Pigeons are widespread bird species in urban regions (Columba livia forma urbana) and may carry pathogens with zoonotic potential. In recent years, more and more data indicates that these zoonotic pathogens are multi-drug resistant. Our results confirmed that global trend. Three different multidrug resistant pathogens were isolated from an oral cavity of a racing pigeon with lesions typical for pigeon pox virus infection. Staphylococcus aureus was recognized as methicillin-resistant, thus resistant to all beta-lactams. Additionally, it was also resistant to many other classes of antibiotics, namely: aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, phenicols, lincosamides and macrolides. Escherichia coli showed resistance to all antimicrobials tested, and it was classified as intermediate to amikacin. Moreover, Candida albicans resistant to clotrimazole, natamycin, flucytosine, amphotericin and intermediate to ketoconazole, nystatin and econazole was also isolated. This raises the question how pigeons acquire such highly resistant strains. Therefore, more data is needed concerning the resistance to antibiotics in strains from domestic and wild pigeons in Poland. Until the problem is fully understood, it will be challenging to implement adequate planning any control measures and check their effectiveness.