Wild birds and the ecology of antimicrobial resistance: an approach to monitoring

Tackling the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)requires joint efforts according to the principles of the OneHealth approach. In this context, wildlife, and especially wildbirds, are recognized as an important bridge between environ-ment, humans and livestock in perpetuating AMR. Over thelast decades, important progress has been made in under-standing the role of wild birds as carriers of antibiotic‐resistantbacteria and their genes (ARGs) within ecosystems; however,there are still many knowledge gaps regarding transmissionsources and routes. This commentary summarizes studies fromrecent years focusing on AMR in wild birds, highlighting themost frequently found zoonotic bacteria harboring ARGs andthe possible exchange scenarios between humans, livestock,and wild birds. We emphasize the need to standardize andoptimize a wild bird monitoring approach for AMR surveillancethat includes non‐invasive sampling methods, culture‐independent techniques for identification of ARGs, databaseintegration and implementation, and machine learning technol-ogy. This multidisciplinary perspective, which could involveveterinarians, biologists, ornithologists, conservationists, andmanagers, may represent part of the solution, not only forwildlife conservation but also for global health, consideringthat the goal is to reverse the route of AMR.