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<p>Scavenging behavior serves as an essential ecological process that facilitates removal of carrion, nutrient cycling, and disease regulation within ecosystems. However, rapid human population growth and expanding urban waste streams have created persistent anthropogenic food resources attracting scavenging species, increasing their exposure to pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants. To investigate these dynamics, we retrospectively screened archived fecal samples for non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> (NTS) from facultative scavengers (banded mongoose, marabou storks, domestic dogs, and chickens) and non-scavenging wildlife (hippos and elephants) collected in Kasane in northern Botswana (January 2022–May 2023; <i>n</i> = 797). NTS was isolated from banded mongooses (17%, 95% CI 13–20%, <i>n</i> = 421), marabou storks (5%, 95% CI 2–11%, <i>n</i> = 132), dogs (26%, 95% CI 10–48%, <i>n</i> = 23), and hippos (7%, 95% CI 1–24%, <i>n</i> = 27), but not from chickens (<i>n</i> = 77) or elephants (<i>n</i> = 117). Serotyping of six banded mongoose NTS isolates identified <i>S. enterica</i> serovars <i>Agona</i> (<i>n</i> = 5) as well as <i>Jedburg</i> var 15+ (<i>n</i> = 1). Using the disk diffusion method, phenotypic AMR was overall low, detected in only 5% of banded mongoose isolates (95% CI 1–13%, <i>n</i> = 62) and 14% of marabou stork isolates (95% CI 0–58%, <i>n</i> = 7). Multidrug resistance was not observed. Facultative scavengers consuming human waste were approximately nine times more likely to carry NTS than non-scavenging species evaluated in this study (<i>p</i> = 0.0001). NTS carriage varied among scavenging species along a trophic gradient of food waste exposure, from grain- and vegetable-based materials (chickens, no NTS detected) to mixed and meat-derived waste (marabou storks, dogs, banded mongooses), suggesting that differences in food waste composition may contribute to variation in NTS exposure. Our findings suggest that scavenging behaviour can increase exposure to zoonotic pathogens such as NTS for certain scavenging species influenced by local conditions, possibly shaping critical transmission networks for zoonotic pathogens.</p>

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Scavenging behavior and non-typhoidal Salmonella carriage among wildlife and domestic animals utilizing human waste in Northern Botswana

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月10日

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  • L. C. Patino W.,
  • M. A. Ponder,
  • K. A. Alexander

摘要

Scavenging behavior serves as an essential ecological process that facilitates removal of carrion, nutrient cycling, and disease regulation within ecosystems. However, rapid human population growth and expanding urban waste streams have created persistent anthropogenic food resources attracting scavenging species, increasing their exposure to pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants. To investigate these dynamics, we retrospectively screened archived fecal samples for non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) from facultative scavengers (banded mongoose, marabou storks, domestic dogs, and chickens) and non-scavenging wildlife (hippos and elephants) collected in Kasane in northern Botswana (January 2022–May 2023; n = 797). NTS was isolated from banded mongooses (17%, 95% CI 13–20%, n = 421), marabou storks (5%, 95% CI 2–11%, n = 132), dogs (26%, 95% CI 10–48%, n = 23), and hippos (7%, 95% CI 1–24%, n = 27), but not from chickens (n = 77) or elephants (n = 117). Serotyping of six banded mongoose NTS isolates identified S. enterica serovars Agona (n = 5) as well as Jedburg var 15+ (n = 1). Using the disk diffusion method, phenotypic AMR was overall low, detected in only 5% of banded mongoose isolates (95% CI 1–13%, n = 62) and 14% of marabou stork isolates (95% CI 0–58%, n = 7). Multidrug resistance was not observed. Facultative scavengers consuming human waste were approximately nine times more likely to carry NTS than non-scavenging species evaluated in this study (p = 0.0001). NTS carriage varied among scavenging species along a trophic gradient of food waste exposure, from grain- and vegetable-based materials (chickens, no NTS detected) to mixed and meat-derived waste (marabou storks, dogs, banded mongooses), suggesting that differences in food waste composition may contribute to variation in NTS exposure. Our findings suggest that scavenging behaviour can increase exposure to zoonotic pathogens such as NTS for certain scavenging species influenced by local conditions, possibly shaping critical transmission networks for zoonotic pathogens.