Bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity profiles from captive birds at Taipei Zoo

Authors

Younjung Chang, Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityFollow
I-Li Liu, Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityFollow
Jane-Fang Yu, Conservation and Research Center, Taipei ZooFollow
Lih-Chiann Wang, Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Bacterial infections are common in zoo birds. They may be caused by pathogenic bacteria or opportunistic bacteria due to trauma or stress-induced immune compromise. Improper use of antibiotics contributes to the development of resistant bacteria, making treatment complicated or ineffective. However, comprehensive clinical investigations into bacterial prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility in zoo-captive birds remain limited. This study identified the bacterial species present in captive diseased birds at the zoo and conducted a 12-year analysis of their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. The specimens from 48 birds at Taipei Zoo from 2006 to 2017 were submitted to a commercial reference laboratory for bacterial identification. Among the total of 48 birds, 36 were live diseased individuals designated for further antibiotic susceptibility testing. A total of 105 bacteria were identified, and 75 were processed for antibiotic susceptibility. The most frequently isolated bacterium was Escherichia coli (24.76%, Gram-negative facultative anaerobe). Further antibiotic susceptibility testing using 33 different antibiotic discs revealed that only amikacin and ceftazidime exhibited over 50% susceptibility against the Gram-negative facultative anaerobes. In addition, this study observed a significant upward trend in E. coli resistance to kanamycin and neomycin, both of which belong to the aminoglycosides. The prevalence of E. coli, a commensal bacterium, in captive birds at the zoo is a significant concern due to the potential for horizontal transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes through contact between birds and zoo personnel or visitors. Since aminoglycosides, either alone or in combination with other classes of antibiotics, are commonly employed in wildlife treatment, these findings may provide valuable insights for future clinical applications and the development of effective zoo management strategies.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.3878

First Page

1

Last Page

8

Recommended Citation

Chang, Younjung; Liu, I-Li; Yu, Jane-Fang; and Wang, Lih-Chiann (2025) "Bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity profiles from captive birds at Taipei Zoo," The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine: Vol. 55: Iss. 3, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.3878
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/tjvm/vol55/iss3/10