Antimicrobial resistance affects all environments, endangering the health of numerous species, including wildlife. Increasing anthropic pressure promotes the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance by wild animals. Sea turtles, being particularly exposed, are considered sentinels and carriers of potential zoonotic pathogens and resistant strains. Therefore, this study examined the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from loggerhead sea turtles hospitalised in a rescue centre of Southern Italy over a 9-year period. Resistance to ceftazidime, doxycycline, enrofloxacin, flumequine, gentamicin, oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was evaluated for 138 strains isolated from the clinical samples or organs of 60 animals. Gram-negative families were the most isolated: Vibrionaceae were predominant, followed by Shewanellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Morganellaceae. These last three families exhibited the highest proportion of resistance and multidrug-resistant strains. Among the three Gram-positive families isolated, Enterococcaceae were the most represented and resistant. The opportunistic behaviour of all the isolated species is particularly concerning for diseased sea turtles, especially considering their resistance to commonly utilised antibiotics. Actually, the multiple antibiotic resistance was higher when the sea turtles were previously treated. Taken together, these findings highlight the need to improve antimicrobial stewardship and monitor antibiotic resistance in wildlife, to preserve the health of endangered species, along with public and environmental health.

The presence of cetaceans along the Campania coast has always been documented. Between 2016 and 2022, out of 65 cetaceans stranded along the Campania coast, 46 were studied for bacteriological, virological, parasitological, and histopathological investigations. The results highlighted that for 59% (n = 27) of the specimens, the cause of death was of natural origin, while for only 2% (n = 1) of animals, the origin of death was ascribed to anthropic causes. Unfortunately, for 39% (n = 18) of the cetaceans, it was impossible to determine the cause of death. All the cetaceans that died of natural causes showed viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections. The primary pathogens detected were Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV, 65.2%, n = 30/46), Toxoplasma gondii (10.9%, n = 5/46), and Brucella ceti (8.7%, n = 4/46). The animals showed typical lesions of the isolated pathogens, such as systemic infection, meningoencephalitis, and pneumonia. Moreover, even with a lower frequency, other relevant pathogens like Photobacterium damselae, Salmonella enteritidis, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and Chlamydia abortus were isolated. These data were useful to understand the spread and circulation of these pathogens, some zoonotic, in the coastal marine waters of the Campania region.