First Report of blaCTX-M-15-Type ESBL-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Wild Migratory Birds in Pakistan

We investigated wild migratory birds faecal swabs for extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL- K. pneumoniae ) from wetland habitats in Pakistan. ESBL- K. pneumoniae were analysed for MDR phenotype, ESBL genotype and genetic diversity. A total of 13 (8.6%) ESBL- K. pneumoniae were recovered. Of these, 8 (61%) isolates were MDR. DNA sequencing confirmed bla CTX-M-15 as the dominant ESBL genotype. BOX-PCR fingerprints showed most of the isolates are unrelated. This study is the first to report the wildlife contamination of CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae in Pakistan. Due to long-range migration, these birds could be responsible for trans-boundary spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria.