An emerging risk for zoonotic bacterial infections to humans

A zoonose is an infectious disease that can be transferred from animals to humans. A group of researchers led by Associate Professor Satish Walia, of the Department of Biological Sciences, recently published Isolation of Tn1546-like elements in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from wood frogs: an emerging risk for zoonotic bacterial infections to humans in the Journal of Applied Microbiology (Volume 110, Pages 35-43). The authors conclude that “this study highlights a previously less recognized role of amphibians as sentinels for multidrug-resistant bacteria and alerts the public health workers for an emerging risk of zoonotic bacterial infections to humans.”