Zoonotic multidrug-resistant microorganisms among small companion animals in Germany

PLoS One. 2018 Dec 7;13(12):e0208364. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208364. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Antimicrobial multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) can be transmitted between companion animals and their human owners. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) and Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in different companion animal species. Dogs (n = 192), cats (n = 74), and rabbits (n = 17), treated in a veterinary practice and hospital or living in an animal shelter and private households, were sampled. All facilities were located in a region characterized by a high density of pig production. Nasal, buccal and perianal swabs were enriched and cultured on solid chromogenic selective media. A subgroup of 20 animals (13 dogs, 3 cats, 4 rabbits) was analyzed for the presence of staphylococci other than S. aureus. Amongst all animals (n = 283), twenty dogs (10.4%) and six cats (8.1%) carried S. aureus. MRSA was found in five dogs (2.6%) and two cats (2.7%). Isolates were of spa types t011, t034, t108 (all mecA-positive, ST398), and t843 (mecC-positive, ST130), typical for livestock-associated (LA)-MRSA. Except for one dog, MRSA-positive animals did not have direct contact to husbandry. ESBL-Escherichia coli (blaCTX-M/blaTEM/blaSHV genes) were present in seven dogs (3.6%), one cat (1.4%) possessed a cefotaxime-resistant Citrobacter freundii isolate (blaTEM/blaCMY-2 genes). MDRO carriage was associated with animals from veterinary medical settings (p<0.05). One dog and one rabbit carried methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. The exclusive occurrence of MRSA lineages typically described for livestock stresses the impact of MDRO strain dissemination across species barriers in regional settings. Presence of ESBL-E and LA-MRSA among pets and probable dissemination in clinical settings support the necessity of a "One Health" approach to address the potential threats due to MDRO-carrying companion animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cat Diseases / microbiology
  • Cats
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology
  • Dogs
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Enterobacteriaceae / drug effects
  • Germany
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Rabbits
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • beta-Lactams / pharmacology
  • beta-Lactams / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • beta-Lactams

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) within the research consortia MedVet-Staph (grant no. 01KI1301A to KB and RK), RESET (grant no. 01Kl1013C to UR) and the Research Network Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (project #1Health-PREVENT, grant no. 01KI1727A to KB and RK) and in part by the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) (grant no. 1329-557 to KB). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.