Oral flora of stray dogs and cats in Algeria: Pasteurella and other zoonotic bacteria

Abstract

Background and Aim: Knowledge of potentially pathogenic bacteria presents in the oral cavity of dogs and cats may be helpful in determining appropriate treatment for infected bite wounds. About 120.000 people are exposed to dog and cat bites every year in Algeria, but little is known about the dog and cat oral flora causing bite wound complications. The purpose of this study was to identify potential zoonotic bacteria from oral cavity of dogs and cats and to determine their susceptibility to antibiotics to contribute to the treatment of bite wound infection. Materials and Methods: Oral swabs from 100 stray dogs and 100 stray cats were collected and cultured in several media: Chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, and Mannitol Salt Agar. Bacterial isolates were identified using several commercial kits of the analytical profile index and tested for antibiotic susceptibility by disk diffusion method. Results: Overall, 185/200 (92.5%) dogs and cats carried zoonotic bacteria in their mouths, of which 55.13% (102/185) had at least two bacterial pathogens. 374 pathogenic strains belonging to 15 genera were isolated: Eleven were Gram-negative (Proteus, Pasteurella, Escherichia, Moraxella, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, and Neisseria Haemophilus) and four were Gram-positive (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Corynebacterium, Bacillus). Fifty-one strains of Pasteurella were isolated from 44 carriers of Pasteurella (21 Pasteurella multocida, 21 Pasteurella pneumotropica, and 9 Pasteurella spp.). Pasteurella strains were tested for antibiotic resistance. Resistance to at least one drug was observed in 8 (15.68%) of Pasteurella isolates and two strains (3.92%) were found to be multidrug-resistant (to two or more drugs). Erythromycin, penicillin, and ampicillin were the antimicrobials to which the isolates showed greater resistance (7.84%, 5.88%, and 3.92%, respectively). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in Algeria to detect potential human pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of dogs and cats. It reveals that these animals have multiple zoonotic bacteria in their mouths including Pasteurella species, which may be multidrug-resistant.

A Retrospective Study on Bacteriology, Clinicopathologic and Radiographic Features in 28 Cats Diagnosed with Pyothorax

“…Pasteurella spp. is a commensal bacterium and part of the natural flora of the feline nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract [38]. The inhalation of droplets secreted from the upper respiratory tract or infection via a bite wound are both possible routes of infection [39].…”

“…This could be explained by the stress faced by cats that are from a multi-cat household setting and are exposed to the outdoors, thus causing immunosuppression and allowing this opportunistic pathogen to thrive. Escherichia coli is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, which are known to be natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, oesophagus or mouth of dogs and cats [ 38 ]. E. coli is the most important bacterial pathogen of extraintestinal infection, including the urinary, respiratory and reproductive system in both dogs and cats [ 42 ].…”

“…Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus canis and E. coli are zoonotic bacteria. It has been reported that P. multocida infection may result in septicaemia, meningitis, brain abscess, pneumonia, endocarditis, and systemic infection [ 38 ]. A woman was reported to experience septic shock, sinusitis and pneumonia from P. multocida post cat exposure and cat scratches [ 46 ].…”

Differences in the Composition of Cultivable Aerobic and Facultative Anaerobic Oral Microbiota in Cats of Various Age Groups

“…Subsequent bacteriological examinations focused mainly on the isolation and identification of the facultative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, as the samples were transported over longer distances to the laboratory. Also, in the study by R a z a l i et al [17] anaerobic bacteria were not included in the investigation of the oral microbiota in the cats, as anaerobic bacteria require more complex cultivation and immediate processing after sampling.…”

“…The feline oral microbiota can be a source of zoonotic pathogens (e. g. Pasteurella spp. ), not only in terms of bites [17], but also by the potential transmission of periodontal bacteria to the oral cavity of cat owners [2].…”