CTX-M-15-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli from wild birds in Germany.

The isolation of Escherichia coli from wild birds in Germany revealed the occurrence of four CTX-M-15-producing strains from four different birds (2.3% of 172 isolates). CTX-M producers were recovered from two Eurasian Blackbirds, one Rock Pigeon and a Greater White-fronted Goose.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli from common European wild bird species.

The emergence and spread of multiresistant bacteria in natural environments constitute a serious impact on animal and human health. To gain more insight into the role of wild birds as carriers and reservoir of multiresistant Escherichia coli we tested a broad spectrum of common European bird species for the occurrence of E. coli strains and their antimicrobial resistance by minimal inhibitory concentration testing and PCR analysis of several resistance genes.

Role of birds in Thuringia, Germany, in the natural cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the Lyme disease spirochaete.

Three hundred and twenty-two birds belonging to 35 species were live-captured in Reifenstein, Middle Germany, from March to October 2004, to investigate their role as hosts of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and its vector ticks. A total of 141 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from 53 birds belonging to eight species was investigated for the prevalence of B. burgdorferi by a PCR-RFLP analysis of the OspA gene.