Antimicrobial resistance—Do we share more than companionship with our dogs?

Abstract

Aims:To investigate and compare antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in faeces from cohabiting dogs and owners. Methods and Results: DNA from faecal samples from 35 dogs and 35 owners was screened for the presence of 34 clinically relevant ARGs using high throughput qPCR. In total, 24 and 25 different ARGs were present in the dog and owner groups, respectively. The households had a mean of 9.9 ARGs present, with dogs and owners sharing on average 3.3 ARGs. ARGs were shared significantly more in households with dogs over 6 years old (3.5, interquartile range 2.75-5.0) than in households with younger dogs (2.5, interquartile range 2.0-3.0) (p = 0.02). Dogs possessed significantly more mecA and aminoglycoside resistance genes than owners.Conclusions: Dogs and owners can act as reservoirs for a broad range of ARGs belonging to several antimicrobial resistance classes. A modest proportion of the same resistance genes were present in both dogs and owners simultaneously, indicating that ARG transmission between the dog and human gut is of minor concern in the absence of antimicrobial selection. Significance and Impact of the Study:This study provides insight into the common dog and human gut resistomes, contributing to an improved knowledge base in risk assessments regarding ARG transmission between dogs and humans.

Phylodynamics Uncovers the Transmission of Antibiotic-ResistantEscherichia colibetween Canines and Humans in an Urban Environment

“…The limited sample size may explain why some resistance genes were only detected in one species and why no significant difference in gene presence was found. Nevertheless, the high degree of similarity in the distribution and prevalence of shared ARGs suggests a similar composition in the gut microbiome of the two species despite recent findings challenging this notion (16). This discrepancy may be explained by multiple factors such as environmental setting and sampling window, as E. coli presence in the gut is known to be highly dynamic due to selection pressure and clonal competition (59).…”

“…For example, Johnson et al showed that a strain of uropathogenic E. coli appeared to move between a canine and humans in the same household (15). These findings have not been reproducible in different settings, most likely due to limitations in sampling time and the transient nature of the gut microbiome (16).…”

Antimicrobial use in laboratory rodent facilities in Australia and New Zealand- a cross-sectional survey of veterinarians and facility managers

“…A One Health approach is essential to addressing AMR, given many human antimicrobials are also used in veterinary medicine. There is evidence that some clinically relevant resistant bacteria and/or their antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) readily transfer from bacteria present in animals to those in humans [10, 11]. Recent studies have shown identical AMR signatures in pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from both humans and their companion animals, humans, and other species, and between animals and the environment [12, 13].…”

First Belgian Report of Ertapenem Resistance in an ST11 Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strain Isolated from a Dog Carrying blaSCO-1 and blaDHA-1 Combined with Permeability Defects

“…Although carbapenems are not the standard of care in companion animals, infections with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae are increasingly being reported [ 14 ]. Due to the close contact between companion animals and humans, they may constitute an important reservoir of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), as such raising a public health concern [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in this resistance.…”