Dados do Trabalho

Título

Emergence of Antifungal-Resistant Blatobotrys allociferrii in Bats: Microbial Resistance Surveillance and First Report in Animals

Introdução

Zoonotic spillover and pathogen propagation are associated with areas with high animal concentration due to increased likelihood of interspecies contact. Extractivism and urbanization have narrowed the barrier between animals and humans, allowing for exposure to new pathogens from the wild environment. Bats, due to their proximity to urban areas, are prone to transferring pathogens to other animal species, including humans. Additionally, infections caused by antifungal-resistant pathogens represent a global emergency.

Objetivo (s)

Considering the importance of monitoring the diversity and susceptibility of microbiota associated with wildlife, this study aimed to identify yeasts from samples collected from bats captured in the municipality of Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil, as well as their susceptibility to antifungal drugs.

Material e Métodos

Oral cavity (n=14) and rectal (n=14) samples were collected from five specimens of Desmodus rotundus and nine specimens of Carollia sp. using sterile swabs. Samples were cultured on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud Dextrose agar with chloramphenicol, with and without lipid supplementation, in a bacteriological incubator at 32°C for five days. Molecular identification of the yeasts was performed through Sanger sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, using primers ITS1 and ITS4. Amplified sequences were compared using BLAST in the BoldSystems and GenBank databases. Identification was considered acceptable when a match with an E value of 0.0, minimum coverage of 98%, and identity of 99% was achieved. Agar well diffusion method was used for preliminary assessment of susceptibility of the isolates to itraconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B (at a concentration of 16 µg/mL), and nystatin (at a concentration of 32 µg/mL).

Resultados e Conclusão

Out of the 28 samples evaluated, five tested positive (17.9%), all identified as Blatobotrys allociferrii, formerly known as Candida allociferrii. Two of them originated from D. rotundus and three from Carollia sp. (p>0.05). Four were from oral swabs and one from a rectal swab (p>0.05). None of the isolates were inhibited by itraconazole, ketoconazole, or nystatin. Amphotericin B was able to inhibit 80% (4/5) of the isolates, with a mean halo diameter of 1.4±0.2 cm. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this yeast isolate in animals. The results of this study indicate the potential of bats as possible disseminators of multidrug-resistant yeasts resistant to azoles and polyene derivatives.

Palavras-chave

yeast; multidrug resistance

Agradecimentos

FAPESB e CETAB