Potensi Ancaman Multidrug Resistance dari Pasar Unggas terhadap Kesehatan Manusia dan Lingkungan: Studi Cross-Sectional di Surabaya

Background: Birds possess a wide flight range and high mobility, enabling them to disseminate microorganisms across diverse ecosystems. The bird trade in traditional markets further facilitates bacterial transmission through close contact among birds, humans, and the environment, posing potential public health risks. Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli, as well as its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles, among birds traded at the Kupang Bird Market in Surabaya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 using 40 cloacal swab samples collected from pigeons (Columba livia), zebra doves (Geopelia striata), Javanese turtle doves (Streptopelia bitorquata), and sooty-headed bulbuls (Pycnonotus aurigaster). Isolation and identification of E. coli were performed using MacConkey agar, Gram staining, and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility against ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, aztreonam, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin was evaluated using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method following CLSI guidelines. Results: Escherichia coli was isolated from 82.5% (33/40) of the samples. The highest resistance rate was observed against tetracycline (33.3%), followed by ampicillin and streptomycin (6.0%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (3.0%), whereas all isolates were susceptible to aztreonam and chloramphenicol. The predominant pattern was resistance to tetracycline alone. Additionally, one isolate (3.0%) was classified as MDR, exhibiting resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that birds traded at traditional markets harbor antimicrobial-resistant E. coli, representing a potential public health concern at the animal–human–environment interface. Continuous AMR surveillance in live bird markets is essential to support early detection and strengthen the implementation of the One Health approach.