Abstract
In the USA, small animal veterinary hospitals (SAVHs) commonly keep resident cats living permanently as pets within their facilities. Previously, multi-drug resistant (MDR) enterococci were found as a contaminant of multiple surfaces within such veterinary hospitals, and nosocomial infections are a concern. The objectives of this study were to determine whether resident cats carry MDR enterococci and to compare the feline isolates genotypically to those obtained from SAVH surfaces in a previous study. Enterococcal strains (n = 180) were isolated from the feces of six healthy resident cats from different SAVHs. The concentration of enterococci ranged from 1.1 × 105 to 6.0 × 108 CFU g−1 of feces, and the population comprised Enterococcus hirae (38.3 ± 18.6%), E. faecium (35.0 ± 14.3%), E. faecalis (23.9 ± 11.0%), and E. avium (2.8 ± 2.2%). Testing of phenotypic resistance to 14 antimicrobial agents revealed multi-drug resistance (≥3 antimicrobials) in 48.9% of all enterococcal isolates with most frequent resistance to tetracycline (75.0%), erythromycin (50.0%), and rifampicin (36.1%). Vancomycin resistant E. faecalis (3.9%) with vanB not horizontally transferable in in vitro conjugation assays were detected from one cat. Genotyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis demonstrated a host-specific clonal population of MDR E. faecalis and E. faecium. Importantly, several feline isolates were genotypically identical or closely related to isolates from surfaces of cage door, thermometer, and stethoscope of the corresponding SAVHs. These data demonstrate that healthy resident cats at SAVHs carry MDR enterococci and likely contribute to contamination of the SAVH environment. Proper disposal and handling of fecal material and restricted movement of resident cats within the ward are recommended.
Highlights
USA households own a large number of dogs (77.5 million) and cats (93.6 million) as pets (APPA, 2009/2010), leading to an average of 2–3 veterinary hospital visits per household per year (AVMA, 2007)
E. faecalis was frequently resistant to a total of six different antimicrobials, namely rifampicin, erythromycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and streptomycin whereas resistance to vancomycin, and chloramphenicol was less common (Figure 1)
The mean value of enterococcal population size in resident cats was comparable to that reported from the feces of healthy pets (103–106 CFU g−1 of feces) (Damborg et al, 2009)
Summary
USA households own a large number of dogs (77.5 million) and cats (93.6 million) as pets (APPA, 2009/2010), leading to an average of 2–3 veterinary hospital visits per household per year (AVMA, 2007). Due to high traffic with healthy and sick patients and clients in and out of small animal veterinary hospitals (SAVHs), it is important to maintain good hygiene of these facilities. Frequent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine likely results in the selection of resistant bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract of patients that can be spread in the hospital environment by fecal contamination. In the USA, many SAVHs keep resident pets that freely move around their premises and could act as a carrier/reservoir of resistant bacteria. Other possible sources of contamination include visiting patients, animal owners, hospital personnel as well as lack of efficient infection control measures
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