Abstract
Bacterial infections are a significant cause of illness and death in different animals. However, these bacterial infections could be a source of human disease or illness if these pathogenic bacteria are present in companion animals. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria associated with different site infections in cats in the Republic of Korea. For this purpose, samples were collected from the skin/ear, urine, respiratory, and diarrheal stool origins of cats obtained between 2018 and 2019 from seven different laboratories and centers participating in the Korean Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. These samples were subjected to analysis for the identification and isolation of associated bacterial species using a bacterial culture approach. A total of 609 isolates were identified in four different cat samples. Among them, 267, 184, 57, and 101 were extracted from diarrheal stool, skin, urine, and respiratory samples, respectively. The findings of this study showed that Escherichia coli was the most prevalent species among isolated bacterial species of diarrheal stool and urine origin. Staphylococcus felis and Pasteurella multocida were most prevalent in the skin and respiratory tract, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in bacterial distribution among the different age groups in all samples. This is the first nationwide surveillance report that associates bacterial prevalence with their site of origin and helps in the prevention of bacterial infections in cats. Moreover, the pattern of bacterial prevalence could provide sufficient guidance for the selection of empirical antimicrobial therapy against infections in cats.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilCurrently, pet consumerism and pet-owning households are increasing due to structural changes in the population, mainly due to increased single-person households, changes in lifestyle, and aging [1]
We aimed to report the nationwide prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in diarrheal stool, skin, urine, and respiratory tract infection specimens collected from cats at seven different laboratories/centers of metropolitan cities of Korea and participating in the Korean
The close contact between owners and companion animals may be a source of zoonotic infection transmission if these animals are carriers of virulent and resistant bacteria
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilCurrently, pet consumerism and pet-owning households are increasing due to structural changes in the population, mainly due to increased single-person households, changes in lifestyle, and aging [1]. In 2019, the proportion of South Korean pet-owning households was 5.91 households (26.4%), and an estimation showed that the pet industry will grow from 1544 to 3498 billion during 2018–2027 [2]. These growing factors have led to an increased interest in the health and wellbeing of companion animals to ensure a healthy and sound symbiotic companionship between animals and owners. The emergence of bacterial infections in companion animals is another growing concern, as it affects global morbidity and mortality [3]. The sharing of a common environment between companion animals, especially dogs and cats, and their owners can be a possible factor for bacterial transmission.
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