“Look for one 'sentinel', closely linked to the territory, which could give useful information for human health, starting from the fact that today it is not possible to separate the well-being of man from that of the animals and the environment they share ": it was born with this goal the project carried out by the Maiella National Park with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Teramo and who identified this figure in Apennine chamois. “A unique animal and particularly linked to the history of conservation in Abruzzo. - explains Simone Angelucci, veterinarian of the Maiella Park - He lives in environments that are in some cases uncontaminated and difficult to reach by man, in others shared with grazing domestic animals.
It is therefore a perfect indicator of the differences detectable in the environment with or without anthropogenic activities". Antibiotic-resistant bacteria considered critical to human health have been isolated from stool samples. “They are mostly antibiotics not used in the veterinary field and considered among the latest resources useful in treating bacterial infections no longer treatable with common antibiotics ". These findings particularly concern Escherichia coli bacteria, which are resistant to antibiotics known as colistin and carbapenems. It was possible to correlate the presence of some genes (mcr-4, oxa-48) reported for the first time in this species and in wild ungulates in Italy and Europe thanks to this study.
Results concerning in particular the chamois that they share environments with anthropogenic activities. Those living in more isolated areas do not exhibit the same resistance profiles. "These results turn the spotlight on the responsibility of man in the correct use of antibiotics" underlines Angelucci, recalling that some recent WHO estimates they recorded in Europe 4 million infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria with 37 thousand deaths and an expenditure, between health and non-health costs, of about 1,5 billion euros a year. The results of the project are published in the article "Resistance Patterns, mcr-4 and OXA-48 Genes, and Virulence Factors of Escherichia coli from Apennine Chamois Living in Sympatry with Domestic Species, Italy" on scientific journal 'Animals' which underlines its importance in terms of protecting public health and biodiversity. (HANDLE).