Zoonotic multidrug-resistant microorganisms among small companion animals in Germany

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.

The Porcine Nasal Microbiota with Particular Attention to Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Germany—A Culturomic Approach

“…The conclusion of the authors that Staphylococcus was found to be an indicator OTU for MRSA-negative pigs cannot be confirmed by our results because we have found staphylococci in all individuals and almost all samples (52/54) [31]. Considering that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) from human and animal sources may harbor mec genes as part of mobile SCCmec elements and therefore may act as a reservoir for methicillin resistance, experimental approaches to conquer LA-MRSA in pigs by competitive colonization with CoNS are questionable [9,[33][34][35].…”

“…This subgroup of MRSA can colonize both humans and pigs, and occurrence of the predominant clonal complex (CC) 398 is particularly high in regions with intensive pig farming [6][7][8]. Moreover, LA-MRSA also colonizes healthy companion animals and horses without contact to livestock, which indicates that a spread to other animals has commenced [9][10][11]. Of note, zoonotic exchange of LA-MRSA between humans and animals has significant impact on the epidemiology of MRSA and contributes to the overall burden of MRSA colonization and infection in Germany and other countries [12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

The Virulence Potential of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Cultured from the Airways of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

“…All LA-MRSA in our study could be assigned to CC398 and spa -types t011 and t034, which are the major LA-MRSA-associated spa -types recovered from farm animals, companion animals, and humans in Germany and Europe in general [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. Interestingly, two other research groups isolated LA-MRSA of the same clonal complex and spa -types from CF airways, which also did not carry the bacteriophage-associated genes sak , chps , and scin either [ 22 , 24 ].…”

Prescription rebellion: reduction of antibiotic use by small animal veterinarians

“…, Kaspar et al . ), it is the responsibility of all prescribers of antibiotics to use these medications in a rational manner. Unrestrained antibiotic use in small animals can, and will, contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria that pose a threat to human health.…”

“…Antibiotic use is recognised as a key driver of AMR (Klein et al 2018). Given that the transfer of multi-resistant bacteria from companion animals to people has been demonstrated (Guardabassi et al 2004, Harrison et al 2014, Zhang et al 2016, Kaspar et al 2018, it is the responsibility of all prescribers of antibiotics to use these medications in a rational manner. Unrestrained antibiotic use in small animals can, and will, contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria that pose a threat to human health.…”