Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in faecal enterococci from vet‐visiting pets and assessment of risk factors

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) exhibited by enterococci isolated from faeces of pets and its underlying risk factors. From September 2009 to May 2012, rectal swabs were collected from 74 dogs and 17 cats, selected from the population of animals visiting the Veterinary Hospital of University of Porto, UPVet, through a systematic random procedure. Animal owners answered a questionnaire about the risk factors that could influence the presence of AMR in faecal enterococci. Enterococci isolation, identification and antimicrobial (AM) susceptibility testing were performed. Data analyses of multilevel, univariable and multivariable generalised linear mixed models were conducted. From all enterococci isolated (n=315), 61 per cent were considered multidrug-resistant, whereas only 9.2 per cent were susceptible to all AMs tested. Highest resistance was found to tetracycline (67.0 per cent), rifampicin (60.3 per cent), azithromycin (58.4 per cent), quinupristin/dalfopristin (54.0 per cent) and erythromycin (53.0 per cent). Previous fluoroquinolone treatments and coprophagic habits were the features more consistently associated with the presence of AMR for three (chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and azithromycin) and seven (tetracycline, rifampicin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and azithromycin), respectively, out of nine AMs assessed. Evaluating risk factors that determine the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in pets, a possible source of resistance determinants to human beings, is crucial for the selection of appropriate treatment guidelines by veterinary practitioners.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles and phylogenetic groups of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from healthy Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan

“…In the present study, nearly half of the total isolates showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial. The positive correlation between the presence of AMR bacteria with previous antimicrobials used has been described previously [16]. A recent study suggested that dihydrostreptomycin is commonly used in Japanese TB racehorses [19].…”

Evaluation of a Biocide Used in the Biological Isolation and Containment Unit of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

“…The tetracycline resistance rate (99.6%) was higher than the one observed in most of the selected studies [6,[43][44][45][46][47][48], with the exception of the works presented by Iseppi et al [41] and Rodrigues et al [49], in which similar rates, of 97.5% and 95.2% respectively, were found. This antibiotic is also frequently one to which enterococci have the highest percentage of resistance, along with enrofloxacin [6,41,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49].…”

Effect of amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid on clinical scores, intestinal microbiome, and amoxicillin‐resistant Escherichia coli in dogs with uncomplicated acute diarrhea

“…Disruption of the intestinal microbiota as a consequence of antibiotic use can lead to life‐threatening Clostridiodes difficile infections in humans 30 . Furthermore, antibiotic treatment leads to advantages in growth for resistant bacteria and provokes the development of new resistance mechanisms 31‐35 …”