PHENOTYPIC RESISTANCE PROFILES OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA ISOLATED FROM WILD FELIDS IN COSTA RICA BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022

<i>Salmonella</i> spp. are one of the leading causes of illness, and in the last years there is an increasing interest in the role of different wild animals as reservoir of <i>Salmonella enterica</i>, especially multidrug resistant strains. To establish preventive and action strategies, it is essential to monitor bacterial resistance profiles and systematically collect information. This study aims to report <i>Salmonella enterica</i> and their resistance profile isolated from feces of wild felids that receive veterinary cares by the Hospital de Especies Menores y Silvestres, Costa Rica in 2021 and 2022. Overall, 100% (7/7) of <i>Salmonella</i> spp. isolates exhibited resistance against cefazoline, followed by 71% (5/7) to ciprofloxacin, and 43% (3/7) to nitrofurantoin. A single isolate was found to be multidrug resistant against Ampicillin/Sulbactam-Cefazolin-Ceftriaxone-Gentamicin-Ciprofloxacin-Nitrofurantoin. These resistant profiles highlight that <i>Salmonella enterica</i> isolation can represent a threat to public health and wildlife conservation, especially for those organisms expressing resistant phenotypes to drugs commonly used in clinical settings. Fluoroquinolone resistant <i>Salmonella</i> spp. have been called by the World Health Organization a high priority for research. As these organisms are expanding beyond livestock and hospital associated environments, to understand the epidemiology and impact of fluoroquinolone-resistant <i>Salmonella</i> spp. we require a One Health approach.