Concern about zoonoses and wildlife has increased. Few studies described the role of wild mammals and environments in the epidemiology of Salmonella. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem associated with Salmonella that threatens global health, food security, the economy, and development in the 21st century. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and identify antibiotic susceptibility profiles and serotypes of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica recovered from non-human primate feces, feed offered, and surfaces in wildlife centers in Costa Rica. A total of 180 fecal samples, 133 environmental, and 43 feed samples from 10 wildlife centers were evaluated. We recovered Salmonella from 13.9% of feces samples, 11.3% of environmental, and 2.3% of feed samples. Non-susceptibility profiles included six isolates from feces (14.6%): four non-susceptible isolates (9.8%) to ciprofloxacin, one (2.4%) to nitrofurantoin, and one to both ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin (2.4%). Regarding the environmental samples, one profile was non-susceptible to ciprofloxacin (2.4%) and two to nitrofurantoin (4.8%). The serotypes identified included Typhimurium/I4,[5],12:i:-, S. Braenderup/Ohio, S. Newport, S. Anatum/Saintpaul, and S. Westhampton. The epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance can serve in the creation of strategies for the prevention of the disease and its dissemination throughout the One Health approach.

All carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial isolates obtained in the Costa Rican National Network of Bacteriology Laboratories are routinely referred to the National Reference Center for Bacteriology for national-laboratory for surveillance and characterization of their carbapenem-related-mechanism of resistance. As a result of this healthcare-associated infection surveillance, two bacterial isolates with unknown mechanisms for carbapenem resistance were investigated. The isolates were subjected to taxonomic identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome characterization, using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore technologies, and bioinformatic analyses. The isolates were identified as Enterobacter roggenkampii and Enterobacter sichuanensis. While the isolates presented different antimicrobial resistance profiles, both were resistant to carbapenems, positive for the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), and showed inhibition of carbapenem resistance with boronic acid. The full characterization of the isolates' genomes, revealed the presence of the rare chromosomal blaIMI-4 gene inserted within 25-kb integrative mobile elements, closely related to EcloIMEX-2. The limited global distribution of the blaIMI-4 variant, along with its identification in two distinct bacterial species in Costa Rica within integrative mobile elements, underscores the critical need for regular antibiotic resistance surveillance using next-generation sequencing technologies. This study demonstrates that this practice allows timely detection of novel or rare mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Central America and the Dominican Republic from February 2020 to January 2023, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America (COMISCA). A total of 26,595 sequences from the GISAID database were analyzed, correlating findings with key events reported by participating entities. The genomic analysis reveals significant co-circulation of variants, with notable lineage diversity observed throughout the pandemic. Variants of concern (VOC) like Alpha, Gamma, Delta and Omicron were identified alongside variants of interest (VOI) like Lambda and Mu. The emergence of recombinant lineages further illustrates the ongoing evolution of the virus and its spread across the region, underscoring the interconnectedness of Central America and the Dominican Republic. The collaborative model facilitated broader sequencing coverage, enabling more extensive surveillance than individual countries could achieve alone. Despite the successes of regional collaborations, challenges remain, particularly regarding sequencing capacity in countries impacted by socioeconomic inequalities. Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance public health responses to current and future pandemics.

First documented detection of Vibrio paracholerae in a Costa Rican foodborne outbreak. Genomic analysis confirmed species identity, revealing limitations of conventional PCR and MALDI methods. Findings underscore the need for genomic surveillance to accurately characterize emerging enteropathogens and support public health systems.