Synanthropic rodents and shrews are reservoirs of zoonotic bacterial pathogens and act as sentinels for antimicrobial resistance spillover in the environment: A study from Puducherry, India.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health concern and needs to be monitored for control. In this study, synanthropic rodents trapped from humans and animal habitats in Puducherry, India, were screened as sentinels for bacterial pathogens of public health importance and antimicrobial resistance spillover. From the trapped rodents and shrews ( = 100) pathogens viz., and were isolated from oropharyngeal and rectal swabs on Mannitol salt, Mac Conkey and Xylose lysine deoxycholate media respectively. The AMR genes in these isolates were screened by PCR. A total of 76, and 19, non were isolated. was isolated in 89 samples and among the ( = 59), 16, were and 29, were A total of 46 MRSA isolates with ( = 40) ( = 6) were detected. Also, 36.84% and 5.3% non isolates were tested to have and genes. AMR genes encoding ESBL [bla in 21, bla in 45 and bla in 11] was tested positive in 77 isolates Among, isolates 44/45 were screened to have AMR genes [ in 13, in 20 and in 11]. Antibiotic sensitivity test confirmed the antimicrobial resistance. Isolation of pathogens of public health importance and demonstration of genetic elements conferring antimicrobial resistance in the synanthropic rodents confirms that they act as reservoirs and appropriate sentinels to monitor AMR spillover in the environment.