Prevalence and risk factors of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli in fruit bats at high-risk human-wildlife interfaces in Bangladesh

Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria are frequently detected in wildlife and are often considered an indicator of anthropogenic pathogen exposure to wildlife. However, the role of bats in AMR dissemination remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with AMR patterns in Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolated from frugivorous bats in Bangladesh. We collected 369 noninvasive fecal samples from Pteropus medius and Rousettus leschenaultii individual bats. Bacterial isolation was performed using selective media, biochemical tests and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for confirmation of Staphylococcus spp. and E. coli . Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for twelve antimicrobials was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. The prevalence of E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. was 29.8 % and 28.5 % respectively. Overall, 28.2 % of E. coli and 26.3 % of Staphylococcus spp. exhibited resistance to at least one antimicrobial. Logistic regression analysis revealed that resistant Staphylococcus spp. colonisation was significantly higher in rural areas (OR = 2.6) and in R. leschenaultia species (OR = 2.6), while resistant E. coli was higher in urban areas (OR = 2.0) and in P. medius bat (OR = 1.7). Staphylococcus spp. showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (56 %), followed by clindamycin (23 %). On the other hand, E. coli showed the highest resistance against cefepime (16 %) followed by ampicillin (13 %). While the source of AMR bacteria in bats remains unclear, bat drinking habits on the contaminated water bodies with people and domestic animals might be source of resistant bacteria to bats. Future One Health research is recommended to understand the ecology of AMR and role of bats in the transmission of resistant bacteria across ecosystems. • Fruit bats in Bangladesh carried AMR Staphylococcus spp. and E. coli • Multidrug resistance was common in Staphylococcus isolates (12.4 %) • Shared water use by bats, humans, animals may spread AMR bacteria • Findings support surveillance of AMR at human-wildlife interfaces