Global distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from wild animals using genomes available in public databases

The study analyzed the global distribution of antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from wild animals, revealing 159 unique ARGs. The most frequently detected gene was tetracycline-resistant, with Asia having the highest burden of ARGs per genome. Wild animals, particularly birds, carnivores, and those in aquatic environments, showed higher resistance to antibiotics commonly used in humans and animals. These wild animals could serve as valuable sentinels for studying AMR pollution in the environment.