Characterization and Comparison of Enterococcus spp. Isolates from Feces of Healthy Dogs and Urine of Dogs with UTIs

Abstract

Enterococcus spp. are opportunistic pathogens of both humans and animals characterized by high resistance to antimicrobials. Dogs could be intestinal carriers or suffer from Enterococcus infections, mainly urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to analyze and compare Enterococcus spp. isolated from healthy dog stools and sick dog urine. Overall, 51 isolates (29 from stools and 22 from UTI) were characterized at species level and tested for antimicrobial resistance, biofilm production and presence of resistance and virulence genes. E. faecium and E. faecalis resulted as equally distributed in stools samples, while E. faecalis predominated among UTI isolates. HLAR phenotype was detected in 47.1% isolates; 64.7% isolates were resistant to ampicillin (47.1% with a MIC ≥ 64 µg/mL). High levels of resistance were recorded for fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin 74.5%, ciprofloxacin 66.7%), clindamycin (84.3%), tetracycline (78.4%) and quinupristin–dalfopristin (78.4%). No vancomycin resistant strains were detected. All but one isolate were multidrug-resistant. Most detected resistance genes were tetM (70.5%), pbp4 (52.9%) and aph(3′)-IIIa (39.2%). All isolates were able to produce biofilm, but isolates from UTIs and belonging to E. faecalis more frequently resulted in strong biofilm producers. Most detected virulence genes were asa1 (52.9%), gelE (41.2%), cylA (37.3%) and esp (35.3%); all of them resulted as more frequently associated to E. faecalis. No particular differences emerged between isolates from feces and UTI, considering all evaluated aspects. Our results confirm pet dogs as carriers of multidrug-resistant enterococci; stool microflora could be considered as the most probable source of enterococcal UTI and E. faecalis carried by dogs seems to be more virulent than E. faecium, justifying its more frequent involvement in urinary tract infections.

Antimicrobial-Resistant Enterococcus spp. in Wild Avifauna from Central Italy

“…Although the information available in the literature is heterogeneous, generally, other authors have described lower percentages of aminoglycoside-resistant isolates from wild birds than those reported in our study, also considering only HLAR-positive strains [ 11 , 12 , 14 , 23 , 32 ]. Similarly, investigations conducted in the same geographic area on domestic poultry and wild mammals reported lower percentages of HLAR enterococci [ 4 , 33 ], whereas an investigation on Enterococcus isolates from domestic dogs showed a high percentage of strains resistant to high-level aminoglycosides [ 34 , 35 ]. Considering that in the present study, HLSR were more frequently detected in isolates from synanthropic birds and raptors, the contact with humans or human environments could be a possible cause of the obtained results and a possible risk factor for the acquisition of high-resistant strains.…”

Indicator Enteric Microbes Associated with Selected Domesticated Pets in Mvita Sub-County, Mombasa County- Kenya

“…These organisms have been previously reported from other studies as zoonotic. They also have been associated with the multi drug resistance where co-transfer of resistance to human species has been reported (Stępień-Pyśniak et al, 2021).…”

Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria—A Review

“…In veterinary medicine, the therapeutic management of Enterococcus spp. infections is mainly based on monotherapy with antibiotics selected based on the results of drug susceptibility testing, the location of the infection, and the species of affected animals [ 67 , 69 ]. This is related to the limited possibilities of using antibiotics in animals, especially those intended for consumption [ 67 , 70 ].…”

“…Some of these isolates showed resistance to high concentrations of gentamicin (1.3%) and/or streptomycin (9.2%) and were often not susceptible to rifampin and tetracycline (81.9% and 53.7%, respectively). Enterococci isolated from sick dogs (urinary tract infections in own study) Stępień-Pyśniak et al [ 69 ] and healthy dogs (gastrointestinal tract) in Italy showed a high level of resistance to aminoglycosides (streptomycin 94.1%, neomycin 90.2%, gentamicin 68.6%), fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin 74.5%, ciprofloxacin 66.7%), oxacillin (98%), clindamycin (84.3%), tetracycline (78.4%) and quinupristin-dalfopristin (78.4%) [ 69 ]. Clinical Enterococcus spp.…”