Emergence of Multidrug-resistant Shigella flexneri in Captive Elephant Foot Lesions: Implications for Wildlife Health Management
Diksha Lade
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Devendra Podhade *
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Kajal K. Jadav
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Anju Nayak
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Co.V.sc, Jabalpur, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Rakhi Vaish
Department Veterinary Anatomy, Co.V.sc, Jabalpur, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
R.V. Singh
Department of Veterinary Public Health, Co.V.sc, Jabalpur, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Shobha Jawre
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Yogendra K. Sinha
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Sriram Guntoju
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
Yash Sagar
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, N.D.V.S.U., Jabalpur (M.P), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is an endangered species that plays a critical role in wildlife conservation and landscape management across India. In many protected areas, captive elephants are indispensable for anti-poaching patrols, eco-tourism activities, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and routine forest operations. Despite their importance, foot disorders remain among the most frequent health problems affecting their welfare, mobility, and overall working efficiency. Although captive elephants are widely used throughout the protected areas of Madhya Pradesh, no systematic, science-based assessment of foot affections had previously been undertaken. In this context, the present study evaluated 59 captive Asiatic elephants across the Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, and Satpura Tiger Reserves to assess foot health and identify associated pathogens over a one-year period (April 2024–March 2025). Notably, Shigella flexneri was isolated from four foot-wound samples, with most cases detected in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. The isolates were identified as gram-negative, non-motile rods exhibiting multidrug-resistant profiles, including resistance to Clindamycin, Penicillin-G, Gentamicin, Cefazolin and Cefoxitin, while retaining sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Imipenem, Meropenem, and several other antibiotics. The calculated MAR index (0.129) suggests notable antimicrobial exposure within the system. To our knowledge, this is the first documented report of Shigella flexneri isolated from foot wounds in captive Asiatic elephants. This finding highlights the bacterium’s potential pathogenic role in promoting inflammation, tissue destruction, and delayed wound healing, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and improved foot-care management in captive elephant populations
Keywords: Asiatic elephant, conservation, clindamycin, Penicillin-G, Madhya Pradesh