Kerek Ádám, Szabó Ábel, Jerzsele Ákos
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary.
National Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary.
Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 May 20;14(5):525. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14050525.
: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health threat, affecting both human and veterinary medicine. Pigeons are increasingly recognized as potential reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to their widespread presence in urban and rural environments. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolates from pigeons in Hungary. : A total of 73 isolates were collected from pigeons across seven regions of Hungary in 2022. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the broth microdilution method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Statistical analysis included correlation heatmaps, hierarchical clustering, network analysis, decision tree modeling, and Monte Carlo simulations. : The multidrug-resistant (MDR) prevalence rate was alarmingly high at 80.8%. Very high resistance rates were observed for doxycycline (97.3%), enrofloxacin (87.7%), and amoxicillin (84.9%). By contrast, low resistance rates were detected for vancomycin (5.5%) and imipenem (8.2%). Decision tree modeling identified tiamulin, enrofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance as the most significant predictors of MDR status. Monte Carlo simulations predicted a mean MDR prevalence of 78.5%, indicating that the dominance of MDR strains is not merely a random phenomenon but part of a broader epidemiological pattern. : These findings confirm that pigeons may serve as critical reservoirs of MDR strains, posing a potential risk to public and animal health. Continued monitoring, the genetic characterization of resistant strains, and the development of effective control strategies are urgently needed. This study provides a foundation for future research aimed at understanding the biological, ecological, and epidemiological roles of pigeon-associated MDR strains.
抗菌药物耐药性（AMR）是对全球健康的重大威胁，影响着人类医学和兽医学。由于鸽子在城乡环境中广泛存在，它们越来越被视为抗生素耐药菌的潜在宿主。本研究的目的是确定匈牙利鸽子分离株的抗菌药物敏感性概况。2022年，从匈牙利七个地区的鸽子中总共收集了73株分离株。根据临床和实验室标准协会（CLSI）指南，采用肉汤微量稀释法测定最低抑菌浓度（MIC）。统计分析包括相关热图、层次聚类、网络分析、决策树建模和蒙特卡罗模拟。多重耐药（MDR）患病率高达80.8%，令人担忧。强力霉素（97.3%）、恩诺沙星（87.7%）和阿莫西林（84.9%）的耐药率非常高。相比之下，万古霉素（5.5%）和亚胺培南（8.2%）的耐药率较低。决策树建模确定泰妙菌素、恩诺沙星和阿莫西林-克拉维酸耐药是MDR状态的最重要预测因素。蒙特卡罗模拟预测MDR患病率平均为78.5%，这表明MDR菌株的优势不仅是一种随机现象，而是更广泛流行病学模式的一部分。这些发现证实鸽子可能是MDR菌株的重要宿主，对公众和动物健康构成潜在风险。迫切需要持续监测、耐药菌株的基因特征分析以及制定有效的控制策略。本研究为未来旨在了解鸽子相关MDR菌株的生物学、生态学和流行病学作用的研究奠定了基础。
