Insects as transmitters of Antibiotic Resistance

Entomology
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Can insects act as transmitters of Antibiotic Resistance to other animals and humans ?

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Dear HS Raina

Yes, insects can act as transmitters of antibiotic resistance to humans as well as other animals. Studies have shown that houseflies (Musca domestica) carry ARB such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella resistant to antibiotics like ampicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin. Flies collected from hospitals or waste sites are particularly likely to harbor multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This occurs through their ability to harbor and disseminate antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) or antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) using two typical mechanisms:

  • Environmental Contamination
    • Insects feeding on waste or sewage often come into contact with ARB and ARGs present in such environments.
    • They may contaminate surfaces, food, or wounds by carrying ARB on their bodies, legs, or in their digestive tracts.
  • Vector for Horizontal Gene Transfer
    • ARGs can transfer between bacterial species within the insect gut through horizontal gene transfer mechanisms such as conjugation, transduction, or transformation.
    • When these insects interact with humans or animals, they may shed ARB in their excretions or regurgitate bacteria during feeding.
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