Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Exotic Pets : The Situation in the Iberian Peninsula

Literature related to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in exotic pets is minimal, being essential to report objective data on this topic, which represents a therapeutic challenge for veterinary medicine and public health. Between 2016 and 2020, laboratory records of 3156 exotic pet specimens' microbiological diagnoses and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results were examined. The samples were classified into three animal classes: birds (n = 412), mammalia (n = 2399), and reptilian (n = 345). The most prevalent bacteria in birds and mammals were Staphylococcus spp. (15% and 16%), while in reptiles they were Pseudomonas spp. (23%). Pseudomonas was the genus with the highest levels of AMR in all animal groups, followed by Enterococcus spp. By contrast, Gram-positive cocci and Pasteurella spp. were the most sensitive bacteria. Moreover, in reptiles, Stenotrophomonas spp., Morganella spp., and Acinetobacter spp. presented high levels of AMR. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were isolates from reptiles (21%), birds (17%), and mammals (15%). The Enterobacterales had the highest MDR levels: S. marcescens (94.4%), C. freundii (50%), M. morganii (47.4%), K. pneumoniae (46.6%), E. cloacae (44%), and E. coli (38.3%). The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa strains was 8%, detecting one isolate with an XDR profile. Regarding antimicrobial use, many antibiotics described as critically important for human use had significant AMR prevalence in bacteria isolated from exotic pets. Under the One-Health approach, these results are alarming and of public health concern since potential transmission of AMR bacteria and genes can occur from exotic pets to their owners in both senses. For this reason, the collaboration between veterinarians and public health professionals is crucial

Infeccions urinàries en mascotes i bacteris multiresistents : estat de la qüestió a Espanya

Molts dels bacteris que causen infecció del tracte urinari (ITU) en persones i animals de companyia ofereixen resistència a un o varis antibiòtics, fet que suposa un repte per a la medicina veterinària i un problema de salut pública. Per orientar els veterinaris en l'ús més apropiat d'antibiòtics, un estudi liderat per investigadores del Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal de la UAB ha actualitzat les dades sobre els bacteris multiresistents detectats en gossos i gats amb ITU a Espanya. Les autores donen suport a les pautes de tractament aplicades avui dia, tot i que reservant els antibiòtics d'ús crític en humans només per al tractament dels casos més greus, i recomanen extremar pràctiques d'higiene i prevenció per minimitzar la transmissió bacteriana entre mascotes i humans.Muchas de las bacterias que causan infección del tracto urinario (ITU) en personas y animales de compañía ofrecen resistencia a uno o varios antibióticos, lo que supone un reto para la medicina veterinaria y un problema de salud pública. Para orientar a los veterinarios en el uso más apropiado de antibióticos, un estudio liderado por investigadoras del Departamento de Sanidad y Anatomía Animal de la UAB ha actualizado los datos sobre las bacterias multirresistentes detectadas en perros y gatos con ITU en España. Las autoras apoyan las pautas de tratamiento aplicadas hoy día, aunque reservando los antibióticos de uso crítico en humanos sólo para el tratamiento de los casos más graves, y recomiendan extremar prácticas de higiene y prevención para minimizar la transmisión bacteriana entre mascotas y humanos

Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Isolated From Cats and Dogs From the Iberian Peninsula

Pet animals are assumed to be potential reservoirs in transferring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to humans due to the extensively applied broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents and their close contact with humans. In this study, microbiological data and antimicrobial susceptibility results of dog (n = 5,086) and cat (n = 789) clinical samples from a private Laboratory of Diagnosis in Barcelona were analyzed. Samples came from different counties of the Iberian Peninsula during 2016-2018. In dogs, clinical samples were most commonly from otitis, and in cats from wounds, respiratory tract infections and conjunctivitis. In both pet groups, Staphylococcus spp. (31% in dogs vs 30% in cats), Streptococcus spp. (19% vs 17%), Pseudomonas spp. (16% vs 10%), Escherichia coli (8% vs 5.6%), and Enterococcus spp. (5.5% vs 6.8%) were shown as the most predominant bacteria. However, higher frequencies of P. aeruginosa, P. canis, and S. pseudintermedius were found in dogs, while S. aureus and P. multocida were more prevalent in cats. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that Enterococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. presented the highest levels of AMR in both dogs and cats. Within the Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli showed low levels of AMR compared to Klebsiella, Proteus, or Enterobacter spp. Respiratory tract infections caused by K. pneumoniae presented higher AMR in cats. By contrast, Pasteurella isolates from the respiratory tract were highly sensitive to all the antimicrobials in cats and dogs. Data from this study could be used to guide empirical antimicrobial selection in companion animal veterinary practices in the Iberian Peninsula