Antimicrobial Resistant Profile of Bacterial Pathogen Isolated from Macaque species Rescued in the Center for Rescue, Conservation and Creature Development, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Nation Park, Vietnam

Abstract

Macaque species play important roles in the cultures, and religions of many societies. They are an essential component of tropical biodiversity, contributing to forest regeneration and ecosystem health. The close phylogenetic relationship between humans and macaque species also creates a high potential for pathogen exchange. A total of 228 macaques which belong to four species, including Macaca arctoides, Macaca leonine, Macaca assamensis, and Macaca mulatta, were rescued in the Center Rescue, Conservation and Creature Development, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (PN-KB NP). Of 228 macaques, 149 (65.4%) individuals successfully reintegrated into the wild. The prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates from macaques rescuing in the Center were investigated. The fecal and nasal samples from 19 macaques were collected. These samples were positive for E. coli (73,7%), Salmonella (36.8%), and S. aureus (57.9%). All of the tested bacterial strains showed 100% resistance to penicillin and vancomycin. The multi-drug resistant (MDR) profile was observed in S. aureus (71,4%), E. coli (95,3%), and Salmonella (100%). This is the first report on the rescue and natural reintegration of the macaque species status in Vietnam and the prevalence of AMR in zoonotic bacterial pathogens isolated from these macaques. This result indicated that AMR of the zoonotic bacterial pathogens could colonize in macaques and may transmit to humans.