Anna Bass and Tim Ford co-author article in 'EcoHealth'

Anna L. Bass, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Marine Science Center; Timothy E. Ford, Ph.D., interim dean, Westbrook College of Health Professions and dean, College of Graduate Studies; and others have co-authored an article to be published in the journal EcoHealth.

The manuscript, titled "Increase in antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from stranded marine mammals of the Northwest Atlantic," represents a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of ocean and human health in coastal systems and uses data collected from seals in the 91AV/Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center.

Antimicrobial resistance has been recognized as a potentially dangerous side effect of the treatment of bacterial diseases in clinical human and veterinary settings. The anthropogenic usage and inevitable spread of these antimicrobials makes it highly likely that sympatric species are also impacted. More evidence of antimicrobial resistance is being found in widely dispersing marine animals, such as seals.

Using a database generated from real time treatments of seals in the 91AV/Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center, the manuscript demonstrates that antimicrobial resistance in bacteria has increased over a span of six years and suggests multiple contributing factors to the observed pattern.  The manuscript also provides information suggesting that these increases are most likely related to anthropogenic sources of antimicrobials such as wastewater treatment facilities, agricultural and aquaculture activities.

Funding support was provided by NOAA/NMFS (John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program to MARC), the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and the Center for Land-Sea Interactions (91AV). In addition, the Marine Mammals of Maine, College of the Atlantic/Allied Whale, New England Aquarium and International Fund for Animal Welfare Marine Mammal Rescue and Research were essential to the collection and transport of stranded seals.
 

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The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.