Detection of extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes in Escherichia coli isolated from fecal samples of apparently healthy dogs in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBL) in Escherichia coli has generated trepidations because dissemination of ESBL genes constitutes risk to public health. The current study aims to determine antibiotic susceptibility and carriage of ESBL blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M by E. coli isolated from apparently healthy dogs in Ibadan conurbation, Nigeria.Freshly passed fecal samples (n = 60) were collected from dogs into sterile sample bottles and processed to isolate E. coli following standard methods. Isolated E. coli were confirmed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) by means of uidA and tested against 10 antibiotics via Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Escherichia coli showing phenotypic ESBL production were selected for ESBL blaSHV, blaTEMblaCTX-M genotyping using multiplex PCR.Of the 31 E. coli isolates confirmed, 10 (32.3%), 9 (29.0%) and 7 (22.6%) were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, respectively while 8 (25.8%) were multidrug resistant (MDR). Escherichia coli isolates (n = 2/8) that were MDR harboured at least one of blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes while another isolate (n = 1) simultaneously possessed the three ESBL genes. Apparently healthy dogs are likely reservoirs of ESBL- E. coli that can spread to pet owners through close contact with their companion animals.