Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria: lessons learned from host-specific pathogens

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic pathogens is a significant global health concern.
• The relative contributions of human and veterinary medicine to AMR selection are debated.
• Understanding host specificity is crucial for addressing AMR in zoonotic bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze antimicrobial resistance profiles of zoonotic pathogens based on host specificity.
• To compare resistance patterns in pathogens exclusive to humans, animals, or both.
• To evaluate the influence of host-specific factors and bacterial genetics on observed resistance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing data on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic pathogens.
• Categorization of pathogens based on host range: human-only, animal-only, and dual-host.
• Analysis of resistance prevalence and patterns in relation to host specificity and bacterial species.

Main Results:

• Pathogens shared between humans and animals generally exhibit higher resistance rates than animal-specific pathogens.
• The most critical antimicrobial resistance challenges are associated with pathogens exclusively infecting humans.
• Bacterial species' genetic makeup and subpopulation dynamics significantly influence resistance patterns, irrespective of host.

Conclusions:

• The contribution of veterinary antimicrobial use to AMR may be an oversimplification; human-specific pathogens present urgent resistance issues.
• Host specificity and intrinsic bacterial factors are key determinants of antimicrobial resistance.
• A nuanced approach considering diverse selection pressures is necessary for effective AMR control strategies.