A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Veterinary Research reveals that free-ranging wild mammals across 37 countries harbor antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including species critical to human health like E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. The review analyzed 139 studies and uncovered widespread but variable levels of resistance, influenced by geography, host species, and trophic behavior. Notably, higher resistance rates were found in adaptable carnivores in Asia and Africa, with resistance to critically important antimicrobials reaching alarming levels. These findings underscore the need to include wildlife in AMR surveillance and adopt a One Health approach that bridges human, animal, and environmental health systems. As wild animals may act as reservoirs, carriers, or spillover points for AMR, their role must be factored into global prevention strategies.

More about our work here https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-025-04548-8