Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly reported in wild and migratory birds, yet its drivers, ecological impacts, and transmission dynamics remain poorly understood due to limited non-epizootic surveillance. This study investigated the prevalence and resistance profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from fecal samples of captive wild and migratory birds in Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Of the 219 samples tested, Pseudomonas spp. were estimated at 18.72% (95% CI:13.78-24.53), with a higher prevalence in migratory birds (19.64%) compared to wild birds (17.76%) as detected through cultural and molecular (PCR) testing. The prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 10.05%, significantly (P<0.001) higher in migratory birds (11.67%) compared to captive wild birds (8.41%). Phenotypically, all P. aeruginosa isolates shown 100% sensitive to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, colistin sulphate, meropenem and gentamicin, while 73% exhibited resistance to ampicillin. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was found in 63.64% of the isolates. Genotypically, the resistance gene blaTEM was detected highest (90.90%), whereas blaOXA and blaSHV were detected in lowest percentage (11.24%). Sulfonamide (sul1) resistance gene was the most prevalent at 22.73% for P. aeruginosa. These findings underscore the potential role of wild and migratory birds as reservoirs and disseminators of AMR genes, highlighting risks to environmental and public health. The study emphasizes the need for integrated surveillance programs under the One Health framework to mitigate AMR's spread across ecological boundaries.

To Cite This Article: Roy M, Begum R, Islam MM, Hossain H, Rahman A, Uddin MB, Islam MR, Rahman MM, Cho HS and Hossain MM, 2026. Prevalence and multidrug resistance patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from captive wild and migratory birds in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1177-1186. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.125