Carriage of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli in dogs: Prevalence, associated risk factors and molecular characteristics

Abstract

Resistance to antimicrobials, in particular that mediated by extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC β-lactamases are frequently reported in bacteria causing canine disease as well as in commensal bacteria, which could be a potential health risk for humans they come into contact with. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence and investigate the molecular characteristics of ESBL and plasmid encoded AmpC (pAmpC)-producing E. coli in the mainland UK vet-visiting canine population and, using responses from detailed questionnaires identify factors associated with their carriage. Faecal samples were cultured for antimicrobial resistant (AMR), ESBL and pAmpC-producing E. coli. A subset of ESBL and pAmpC-producing isolates were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing and DNA microarray analyses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct models to identify risk factors associated with multidrug resistant (MDR, resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes), fluoroquinolone resistant, ESBL and AmpC-producing E. coli. AMR E.coli were isolated from 44.8% (n=260) of samples, with 1.9% and 7.1% of samples carrying ESBL and pAmpC-producing E. coli, respectively. MDR E. coli were identified in 18.3% of samples. Recent use of antimicrobials and being fed raw poultry were both identified as risk factors in the outcomes investigated. A number of virulence and resistance genes were identified, including genes associated with extra-intestinal and enteropathogenic E. coli genotypes. Considering the close contact that people have with dogs, the high levels of AMR E. coli in canine faeces may be a potential reservoir of AMR bacteria or resistance determinants.

Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards

“…In two cross‐sectional studies of dogs in the UK, associations with raw feeding were found for AmpC phenotype E. coli (Schmidt et al ) and for third‐generation cephalosporin‐resistant E. coli (Groat et al ). Another UK cross‐sectional study reported a strong association between feeding raw poultry and faecal ESBL E. coli among veterinary‐visiting dogs (Wedley et al ).…”

“…In two cross-sectional studies of dogs in the UK, associations with raw feeding were found for AmpC phenotype E. coli and for third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (Groat et al 2016). Another UK cross-sectional study reported a strong association between feeding raw poultry and faecal ESBL E. coli among veterinary-visiting dogs (Wedley et al 2017). In addition to ESBL/AmpC resistance studies, raw feeding has also been identified as a risk factor for faecal shedding by dogs of E. coli exhibiting other antimicrobial drug resistances (Leonard et al 2015, Groat et al 2016.…”

“…In addition to ESBL/AmpC resistance studies, raw feeding has also been identified as a risk factor for faecal shedding by dogs of E. coli exhibiting other antimicrobial drug resistances (Leonard et al 2015, Groat et al 2016. This is similar for resistant Salmonella (Leonard et al 2015) or for multi-drug-resistant E. coli (Groat et al 2016, Wedley et al 2017. Greyhounds fed on raw meat were also found to commonly shed multi-resistant strains of Salmonella , and multi-resistant S. Reading has been isolated from raw pet food and from two infected in-contact children (MDH 2018, CDC 2018a.…”

Low occurrence of extended-spectrum cephalosporinase producing Enterobacteriaceae and no detection of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci in healthy dogs in Sweden

“…Three out of 325 dogs were found to carry ESBL-EC (0.9%; 95% confident interval 0.3-2.7% using Wilson Score interval) ( Table 1). The prevalence of ESBL-E in Swedish dogs was lower than that reported from other European countries [2][3][4][5], but more in-depth comparisons are difficult to make because of general application of different methodologies. However, a Dutch study conducted in 2014-2016 used similar methods as the current study and they found that 10.6% of the 555 dogs carried ESBL-E [4].…”

“…In Copenhagen, Denmark, 1.9% of dogs' faecal deposits in public gardens were positive for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) and in Paris, France, 18.5% of dogs carried ESBL-EC, while 81.8% of dogs carried ESBL-EC in Faisalabad, Pakistan [1][2][3]. Other nationwide studies reported ESBL/pAmpC-E carriage rates of 9.0% in United Kingdom and 22.2% in Turkey, while in the Netherlands, 10.6% of dogs were reported to carry ESBL-E [4][5][6]. Occurrence of MRCPS in dogs generally appears to be lower with reports around 0-3% positive dogs [7][8][9][10].…”