Wild birds may host and spread pathogens, integrating the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Particularly, Larus spp. have been described as responsible for the spread of many enteric diseases, primarily because of their large populations at landfill sites. The aim of this study was to examine the role of yellow-legged gulls as a source of enteropathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and Yersinia spp., with particular attention to antibiotic-resistant strains. Enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from 93/225 yellow-legged gulls examined from April to July, during a four-year period (2016–2019). Specifically, Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 60/225 samples (26.7%), and identified as C. coli (36/60) and as C. jejuni (24/60). Salmonella spp. was isolated from 3/225 samples (1.3%), and identified as Salmonella arizonae. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli were isolated from 30/225 samples (13.3%) samples, and serotyped as E. coli O128 (12/30) O26 (9/30), O157 (6/30) and O11 (3/30); Yersinia spp. was never detected. Isolated strains exhibited multidrug resistance, including vitally important antibiotics for human medicine (i.e., fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines). Our study emphasizes the importance of yellow-legged gulls as potential reservoirs of pathogenic and resistant strains and their involvement in the dissemination of these bacteria across different environments, with resulting public health concerns.

中文翻译：

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意大利南部黄腿鸥（Larus michahellis）的肠道病原细菌的患病率和耐药性

野生鸟类可能会携带和传播病原体，从而整合了传染病的流行病学。特别是，Larus spp。被描述为导致许多肠道疾病蔓延的原因，主要是因为它们在垃圾掩埋场人口众多。这项研究的目的是检查黄腿鸥作为肠道致病细菌（如弯曲杆菌属，沙门氏菌属，产志贺毒素的大肠杆菌和耶尔森菌属）的来源的作用，尤其要注意对抗生素耐药的菌株。在四年（2016-2019）期间，从4月至7月检查的93/225只黄腿鸥中分离出了致肠病细菌。具体来说，弯曲杆菌spp。从60/225样品（26.7％）中分离得到的分离物，鉴定为大肠杆菌（36/60）和空肠弯曲菌（24/60）。沙门氏菌属。从3/225个样品中分离出（1.3％），并鉴定为亚利桑那沙门氏菌。从30/225个样品（13.3％）样品中分离出产生志贺毒素的大肠杆菌，并按照大肠杆菌O128（12/30）O26（9/30），O157（6/30）和O11（3 / 30）；耶尔森氏菌spp。从未被发现。分离出的菌株表现出多药耐药性，包括对人类医学至关重要的抗生素（即氟喹诺酮类，四环素类）。我们的研究强调了黄腿鸥作为致病性和抗性菌株的潜在库的重要性，以及它们参与这些细菌在不同环境中的传播的重要性，从而引起公众健康问题。