title: Insights into antimicrobial resistance among long distance migratory East Canadian High Arctic light-bellied Brent geese (Branta bernicla hrota).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the most significant threat to global public health and ascertaining the role wild birds play in the epidemiology of resistance is critically important. This study investigated the prevalence of AMR Gram-negative bacteria among long-distance migratory East Canadian High Arctic (ECHA) light-bellied Brent geese found wintering on the east coast of Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study a number of bacterial species were isolated from cloacal swabs taken from ECHA light-bellied Brent geese. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified five species of Gram-negative bacteria; the dominant isolated species were Pantoea spp. (n = 5) followed by Buttiauxella agrestis (n = 2). Antimicrobial susceptibility disk diffusion results identified four of the Pantoea spp. strains, and one of the Buttiauxella agrestis strains resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge this is the first record of AMR bacteria isolated from long distance migratory ECHA light-bellied Brent geese. This indicates that this species may act as reservoirs and potential disseminators of resistance genes into remote natural ecosystems across their migratory range. This population of geese frequently forage (and defecate) on public amenity areas during the winter months presenting a potential human health risk.
authors.affiliation: UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland.
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agnew
authors.affiliation: UCD-Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: UCD-Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland ; Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AG Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Séamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE UK.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bearhop
authors.affiliation: UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3143-8075
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Light-bellied Brent geese; Migratory; Wild birds; Wildlife