Prevalence and patterns of antimicrobial resistance among wildlife populations in Africa: a systematic review

A systematic review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in African wildlife screened 4,802 records and included 61 studies from 21 countries, revealing widespread but unevenly studied resistance patterns. Across 4,669 bacterial isolates from 27 eligible studies, the pooled prevalence of phenotypic resistance was 59% (95% CI: 34–80%) with high heterogeneity, and multidrug resistance was 23.1%. Wild birds showed the highest pooled resistance prevalence (93%), followed by non-human primates (35%) and herbivores (25%), while Escherichia coli—the most frequently studied species (3,414 isolates)—had a pooled resistance prevalence of 62%. Most studies relied on disk diffusion for phenotypic testing, with genotypic assays used in the majority, but sampling was largely opportunistic and focused on human-impacted environments, limiting ecological interpretation. Overall, the findings indicate substantial AMR occurrence in African wildlife alongside major gaps in surveillance, geographic coverage, and methodological consistency.