| Yhteenveto: | Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human health caused by the extensive use of antibiotics and their release into the environment. This enables antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) to spread through humans and other animals, especially in urban areas. Additionally, indications of wildlife carrying ARB have been discovered, yet the extent which wildlife harbors AMR remains unknown.
In this study, I aimed to quantify the prevalence of AMR in Finnish wildlife by collecting fecal samples from bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) inhabiting urban and rural forests. Further, I wanted to quantify the impact of AMR on bank vole gut microbiota. ARB were examined by growing fecal samples on agar plates together with extracting DNA from fecal samples. 16S rRNA sequencing
was performed for further characterization of bacterial microbiota. The presence of AMR was examined at sample, individual, and population level in relation to the forest area (urban vs. rural) and vole individual characteristics. Lastly, differences in gut microbiota diversity and community composition between AMR-positive and AMR-negative bank voles were analysed. Both urban and
rural bank voles harbored ARB and in total, 37% of samples were AMR-positive. No statistically significant difference in AMR prevalence between voles inhabiting different areas were found. Additionally, AMR of an individual appeared to persist over time when bank voles captured multiple times were examined. Surprisingly, AMR did not affect the bacterial diversity or community
composition of the gut microbiota, which proved to be alike between AMR positive and AMR-negative bank voles. These results could indicate that if bank voles are exposed to antibiotic pollution, the amounts are low in both urban and rural areas. Thus, gut ARB were not able to notably change the gut microbiota in contrast to what was hypothesized. AMR could then persist in population as a
result of bacterial evolution and gene transfer without the presence of antibiotics.
Finnish wildlife harbors AMR, yet the source of AMR remains unknown, posing a risk to human health due to bank voles’ ability to transfer pathogenic, possibly AMR-bacteria to humans.
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