Bacteria In Dogs Research Articles

Risk factors for antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacterales in dogs: a systematic review.

Identifying risk factors associated with the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria in dogs is crucial to understanding their epidemiology and for developing and refining targeted control measures. However, relevant data is scattered and conflicting findings have been reported. This systematic review aimed to compile risk factors associated with the carriage of AMR-Enterobacterales in dogs worldwide and to identify relevant knowledge gaps for directing future research. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, CABi, and Scopus databases for studies reporting risk factors for acquiring AMR-Enterobacterales in dogs. After screening peer-reviewed, English-language studies by title/abstract, eligible studies were subjected to a full-text assessment, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and qualitative synthesis. In the initial search, 774 articles were identified, including 274 duplicates. After screening by title/abstract, 77 articles were subjected to full-text review, from which 40 were eventually selected for data extraction, including 29 cross-sectional, six cohort, and five case-control studies. The most frequently investigated risk factors for AMR-Enterobacterales carriage in dogs were antimicrobial use (28 of 40), age (24), sex (22), hospitalization (19), and feeding raw diet (14). Of these, antimicrobial use was the most common risk factor significantly associated with AMR-Enterobacterales (19/28), followed by raw diet (9/14) and hospitalization (8/19). Our synthesis emphasized the importance of increasing awareness regarding the prudent use of critically important antimicrobials (CIAs), such as fluoroquinolones, in companion animal practices, strengthening infection prevention and control procedures in veterinary clinics and hospitals and educating caregivers about the potential risks of feeding raw diets in order to reduce the burden of AMR-bacteria in dogs.

Parasite and bacterial co-infections with Leishmania spp. in dogs

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a major disease affecting dogs and is often associated with other illnesses. In this study, we investigated the distribution of helminths, ectoparasites and bacteria in dogs of an endemic urban area of CVL. A total of 71 dogs, uninfected or naturally infected with Leishmania spp. were studied. Splenic samples were cultured for Leishmania identification, and anti-Leishmania antibodies were measured in the serum. Helminths were diagnosed in the feces using flotation or spontaneous sedimentation techniques. Serum antibodies against six ectoparasite-transmitted pathogens were detected. Microbial growth from eyes, skin, urine, and blood samples were evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first time that co-infections with Leishmania spp., parasites and bacteria together has been reported. Co-infections with Leishmania were observed in 89% of the animals with helminths and 95% with ectoparasites. Most of the dogs were positive for Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most frequently isolated organism. It is found that Leishmania positivity dogs from endemic area in Brazil have a higher rate of co-infections with helminths, ectoparasites and bacteria. Therefore, effective treatment and public measures are needed to contain the spread of canine leishmaniasis and other infections.

Evidence Supporting Oral Hygiene Management by Owners through a Genetic Analysis of Dental Plaque Bacteria in Dogs.

With the increase in the number of households raising dogs and the reports of human-to-dog transmission of oral bacteria, concerns about dogs' oral health and the need for oral hygiene management are increasing. In this study, the owners' perceptions about their dogs' oral health and the frequency of oral hygiene were determined along with the analysis of dog dental plaque bacteria through metagenomic amplicon sequencing so as to support the need for oral hygiene management for dogs. Although the perception of 63.2% of the owners about their dogs' oral health was consistent with the veterinarian's diagnosis, the owners' oral hygiene practices regarding their dogs were very poor. The calculi index (CI) and gingiva index (GI) were lower in dogs who had their teeth brushed more than once a week (57.89%) than in dogs brushed less than once a month (42.10%); however, the difference was nonsignificant (CI: p = 0.479, GI: p = 0.840). Genomic DNA was extracted from dental plaque bacteria removed during dog teeth scaling, and metagenomic amplicons were sequenced. The 16S amplicons of 73 species were identified from among the plaque bacteria of the dogs. These amplicons were of oral disease-causing bacteria in humans and dogs. The 16S amplicon of Streptococcus mutans matched that of the human S. mutans, with type c identified as the main serotype. This result suggests that human oral bacteria can be transmitted to dogs. Therefore, considering the high frequency of contact between dogs and humans because of communal living and the current poor oral health of dogs, owners must improve the oral hygiene management of their dogs.

Evaluation of in vitro activity of herbal formula Di Er You and herb Coptis against bacteria isolated from dogs with otitis externa.

To determine the in vitro activity of the herbal formula Di Er You (DEY) and the single-herb Coptis against bacteria cultured from dogs with otitis externa. 32 client-owned dogs diagnosed with otitis externa. A sample of otic debris from each patient was collected and plated onto a fresh Sheep's Blood Agar plate in the hospital. After bacterial growth was confirmed, 4 wells were created, numbered randomly, and treated with saline (placebo), DEY, Coptis, and Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution with 1% Hydrocortisone (Zymox). After 24 hours of incubation, the diameter of the zone of inhibition (dZOI) of each treatment was measured and recorded, and compared among treatments. A sample of the bacterial colonies grown was submitted to an outside lab for bacterial identification. The mean ± SD dZOI values for saline, DEY, Coptis, and Zymox treated wells were 0.25 ± 1.41, 12.47 ± 3.92, 14.25 ± 7.12, and 3.22 ± 5.12, respectively. Post hoc multiple comparisons test revealed that (1) saline-treated wells had significantly smaller dZOI values than the other 3 groups (all P < .001), (2) Zymox treated wells had significantly smaller dZOI values than either herbal treated groups (both P < .001), and (3) DEY treated wells had significantly smaller dZOI values than those treated with Coptis (P = .0042). The results from this in vitro study suggested that both DEY and Coptis could be effective treatments in inhibiting the growth of bacteria in dogs with otitis externa. Prospective randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted to confirm these findings.

Chromogenic culture media complements diagnostic cytology in the visual identification of pathogenic skin bacteria in dogs and cats.

In dogs and cats, bacterial skin infections (pyoderma and otitis externa) are a common cause for visiting the veterinary clinic. The most frequent skin pathogens are Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, often requiring different therapeutic antibiotic protocols. Unfavorably, existing diagnostics based on cytology cannot reveal bacterial species but only bacterial shapes such as cocci or rods. This microscopic limitation could be overcome by clinical translation of affordable chromogenic media, which enable species identification based on bacterial colonies growing in different colors and sizes. In this study, we determined how well inexperienced general veterinary clinicians identified bacterial pathogens from the skin and ears on two commercial (Chromatic™ MH and Flexicult® Vet) and one custom-made Mueller Hinton agar-based chromogenic medium. For this purpose, four veterinarians evaluated 100 unique samples representing 10 bacterial species. On average, clinicians correctly identified between 72.1 and 86.3% of bacterial species. Colony colors developed quickly on the Chromatic™ MH medium, leading to the highest 81.6% identification accuracy after 24 h incubation. However, Flexicult® Vet exhibited the highest accuracy of 86.3% after prolonged 48 h incubation. Evaluators easily recognized bacteria displaying uniquely colored colonies like green-brown Pseudomonas aeruginosa, blue Enterococcus faecalis, orange-brown Proteus spp., and red Escherichia coli. Oppositely, staphylococci shared uncharacteristically pale pink colonies causing misidentifications among the genus, deteriorating overall accuracy by around 10 percentage points (from 90.9%). Another reason for identification errors was the evaluators' inexperience, reflected in not recognizing colony size differences. For example, although Streptococcus canis exhibited the tiniest colonies, the species was frequently mistaken for other cocci. Finally, around 10% of errors were negligence-related slips due to unconsidered sample history. To conclude, the introduction of chromogenic media into veterinary clinics can significantly complement diagnostics in skin inflammations by identifying pathogen species in around 80% of cases. The extra information may help in therapeutic dilemmas on antibiotics and standard antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Additional personnel training and evaluation help by visuals, flowcharts, checklists, and, if necessary, microbiologists could further improve identification accuracy.

Factors Affecting Gut Microbiota of Puppies from Birth to Weaning

The review described the most important factors affecting the development of the intestinal microbiota in puppies from birth to weaning. The health and well-being of the microbiome in puppies is influenced by the type of parturition, the maternal microbiota, and the diet of the mother, directly or indirectly. The isolation of bacteria in dogs from the placenta, fetal fluids, and fetuses suggests that colonization could occur before birth, although this is still a matter of debate. Accordingly, newborn puppies could harbor bacteria that could be of maternal origin and that could influence microbial colonization later in life. However, the long-term impacts on health and the clinical significance of this transfer is not yet clear and needs to be investigated. The same maternal bacteria were found in puppies that were born vaginally and in those delivered via cesarean section. Potentially, the relationship between the type of parturition and the colonization of the microbiome will influence the occurrence of diseases, since it can modulate the gut microbiome during early life. In addition, puppies' gut microbiota becomes progressively more similar to adult dogs at weaning, as a consequence of the transition from milk to solid food that works together with behavioral factors. A number of researches have investigated the effects of diet on the gut microbiota of dogs, revealing that dietary interference may affect the microbial composition and activity through the production of short-chain fatty acids and vitamins. These compounds play a fundamental role during the development of the fetus and the initial growth of the puppy. The composition of the diet fed during pregnancy to the bitches is also an important factor to consider for the health of newborns. As far as it is known, the effects of the type of parturition, the maternal microbiota, and the diet on the microbial colonization and the long-term health of the dogs deserve further studies. Definitely, longitudinal studies with a larger number of dogs will be required to assess a causal link between microbiome composition in puppies and diseases in adult dogs.

Analysis of fecal microbial profiles in dogs with intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a common complication in dogs. This study analyzed intestinal microbiota using 16S rRNA amplicon analysis as candidate factors that strongly influence the small intestinal lymphatic vessels in dogs with and without IL. Twelve dogs were included, of which six were diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, four with small-cell lymphoma, and two with large-cell lymphoma. Seven of these dogs had IL, whereas five did not. First, the microbial diversity analyzed by Faith pd index was significantly decreased in dogs with IL compared to dogs without IL. Then, the relative amounts of each bacterial taxa were compared between dogs with and without IL using Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis. At the genus level, the Ruminococcus gnavus group significantly increased in dogs with IL compared to dogs without IL. A total of four genera, including Ruminococcus torques group and Faecalibacterium, which produce butyrate, significantly decreased in dogs with IL. This study showed decreased intestinal bacterial diversity and several alterations of intestinal microbiota, including a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria in dogs with IL, compared to dogs without IL.

Prevalence, incidence and risk factors for acquisition and colonization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from dogs attended at a veterinary hospital in Spain

The last 10 years have seen a progressive increase in antibiotic resistance rates in bacteria isolated from companion animals. Exposure of individuals to resistant bacteria from companion animals, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- (ESBL) and carbapenemase- (CPE) producing Enterobacteriaceae, can be propitiated. Few studies evaluate the incidence and risk factors associated with colonization by multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs. This work aims to estimate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors associated with colonization of ESBL-E and CPE-E in 44 canine patients hospitalized in a veterinary hospital. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae strains was analyzed and the molecular detection of resistant genes was performed.A prevalence of 25.0% and an incidence of ESBL-E of 45.5% were observed in dogs colonized by Enterobacteriaceae at hospital admission and release, respectively. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter koseri and Morganella morganii were identified as ESBL-producing bacterial species. Resistance genes were detected for ESBL-producing strains. No CPE isolates were obtained on the CPE-selective medium. The administration of corticosteroids prior to hospitalization and the presence of concomitant diseases were associated with colonization by these bacteria in dogs.Considering that one-quarter of the patients evaluated were colonized by ESBL-E, companion animals should be considered as potential transmission vehicles and ESBL-E reservoirs for humans. Special care should be taken in animals attended at veterinary hospitals, as the length of stay in the hospital could increase the risks.

Medical Management versus PACK-CXL in Dogs with Infectious Keratitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Simple SummaryInfected corneal ulcers are a common and painful disease, usually caused by bacteria in dogs. Short-nosed dog breeds are predisposed to corneal ulcers. Treatment aims to eliminate bacteria, stop the enzymatic tissue melting process in the cornea, and allow for normal healing to resume. Success of treatment largely depends on the effectivity of the applied medications, possibly including antibiotics. In the context of globally growing antibiotic resistance, non-antibiotic-based treatment alternatives are desirable. Photoactivated Chromophore for Keratitis-Corneal Cross-linking (PACK-CXL) reduces enzymatic tissue melting and damages multiple targets within microorganisms, resulting in corneal stabilization and non-antibiotic-based elimination of bacteria. A confirmatory clinical study providing unbiased evidence of PACK-CXL effectiveness in dogs is currently lacking. We therefore aim to conduct such a study and determine whether PACK-CXL is a viable alternative to conventional state-of-the-art medical therapy for corneal ulcer treatment in dogs. Here we present the randomized controlled clinical trial study protocol. Registering trials favors sound statistical analysis and prevents publication bias. The trial results will be published after successful trial conclusion.Infectious keratitis is a common and painful disease, usually caused by bacteria in dogs. Brachycephalic breeds are at increased risk. Despite medical therapy, enzymatic corneal melting can lead to ulcer perforation and globe loss. Treatment alternatives are needed due to an increase in antibiotic resistance and growing popularity of brachycephalic dogs. Photoactivated Chromophore for Keratitis-Corneal Cross-linking (PACK-CXL) reduces enzymatic collagenolysis and damages multiple targets within microorganisms, resulting in corneal tissue stabilization and elimination of bacteria, irrespective of their antibiotic resistance status. A randomized controlled trial providing evidence of PACK-CXL effectiveness in dogs is lacking. We aim to determine whether PACK-CXL is a viable alternative to conventional medical therapy for canine infectious keratitis. Two hundred-and-seventy client-owned dogs with presumed infectious keratitis will be allocated to two equally sized treatment groups (PACK-CXL or medical therapy) in a masked, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial in eleven clinics. The primary outcome measure is treatment success defined as complete epithelial closure within 28 days. The sample size is based on a group sequential design with two interim analyses, which will be overseen by a Data Safety and Monitoring Board. Ethical approvals have been obtained. The study protocol is preregistered at preclinicaltrials.eu. Publishing trial protocols improves study reproducibility and reduces publication bias.

Nanopore Sequencing Using the Full-Length 16S rRNA Gene for Detection of Blood-Borne Bacteria in Dogs Reveals a Novel Species of Hemotropic Mycoplasma.

Dogs across the globe are afflicted by diverse blood- and vector-borne bacteria (VBB), many of which cause severe disease and can be fatal. Diagnosis of VBB infections can be challenging due to the low concentration of bacteria in the blood, the frequent occurrence of coinfections, and the wide range of known, emerging, and potentially novel VBB species encounterable. Therefore, there is a need for diagnostics that address these challenges by being both sensitive and capable of detecting all VBB simultaneously. We detail the first employment of a nanopore-based sequencing methodology conducted on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION device to accurately elucidate the "hemobacteriome" from canine blood through sequencing of the full-length 16S rRNA gene. We detected a diverse range of important canine VBB, including Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Mycoplasma haemocanis, Bartonella clarridgeiae, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum", a novel species of hemotropic mycoplasma, and Wolbachia endosymbionts of filarial worms, indicative of filariasis. Our nanopore-based protocol was equivalent in sensitivity to both quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Illumina sequencing when benchmarked against these methods, achieving high agreement as defined by the kappa statistics (k > 0.81) for three key VBB. Utilizing the ability of the ONT' MinION device to sequence long read lengths provides an excellent alternative diagnostic method by which the hemobacteriome can be accurately characterized to the species level in a way previously unachievable using short reads. We envision our method to be translatable to multiple contexts, such as the detection of VBB in other vertebrate hosts, including humans, while the small size of the MinION device is highly amenable to field use. IMPORTANCE Blood- and vector-borne bacteria (VBB) can cause severe pathology and even be lethal for dogs in many regions across the globe. Accurate characterization of all the bacterial pathogens infecting a canine host is critical, as coinfections are common and emerging and novel pathogens that may go undetected by traditional diagnostics frequently arise. Deep sequencing using devices from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) provides a solution, as the long read lengths achievable provide species-level taxonomic identification of pathogens that previous short-read technologies could not accomplish. We developed a protocol using ONT' MinION sequencer to accurately detect and classify a wide spectrum of VBB from canine blood at a sensitivity comparable to that of regularly used diagnostics, such as qPCR. This protocol demonstrates great potential for use in biosurveillance and biosecurity operations for the detection of VBB in a range of vertebrate hosts, while the MinION sequencer's portability allows this method to be used easily in the field.

Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria amongst dogs in Africa: A meta-analysis review

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat for both human and veterinary medicine. Increasing evidence suggests that animals are important sources of AMR to humans; however, most of these studies focus on production animals. In order to determine the pattern of AMR in pets, mainly in dogs in Africa, a meta-analysis was performed with AMR studies conducted in African countries and published between January 2000 and January 2021 in four databases: Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Cab abstract and Google Scholar. Seven bacterial strains, namelyStaphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonellaspp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes,coagulase-negativeStaphylococcus(SNC) andStaphylococcus pseudintermediuswere included in this study. A total of 18 out of 234 indexed articles met the study criteria. The results revealed that multiple bacteria were resistant to various commonly used antibiotics including enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole, streptomycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. Concerning multidrug resistance,E. colistrains came first with the highest prevalence of 98%, followed byP. aeroginosa(92%) andSalmonellaspp. (53%). In contrast, the overall prevalence of multidrug resistance was low forS. aureus(18%) andS. pseudintermedius(25%). It is therefore urgent to find, as soon as possible, alternatives to replace these antibiotics, which have become ineffective in controlling these bacteria in dogs in Africa. Moreover, further metagenomic studies are needed to describe the full resistome and mobilome in dogs regardless of the bacteria.

Prospective evaluation of the prevalence of conjunctival and intraocular bacteria in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification following a standardized aseptic preparation with 0.5% povidone iodine.

To evaluate bacterial contamination of conjunctiva and aqueous humor in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification following asepsis with 0.5% povidone iodine and determine the influence of intravenous antibiotics on outcome of contamination. Client-owned dogs were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to a control group, receiving 22 mg/kg intravenous cefazolin at induction prior to sampling, or experimental group receiving no antibiotic prior to sampling, masked to the surgeon. Dogs receiving antimicrobials in the pre-operative period were excluded. Asepsis was performed on all operated eyes using 0.5% iodine with minimum 3min contact time at induction of anesthesia and repeated before surgery. A conjunctival swab and aqueous humor sample were collected prior to incision and following incision closure, respectively. Samples were submitted for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture and susceptibility. Seventy-one eyes of 42 dogs were included. Median age was 9 years. Thirty-nine and 32/71 eyes received intravenous cefazolin and no antibiotic, respectively. Median procedure time was 40 min per eye. Conjunctival cultures were positive in 6 eyes (8.5%): Serratia marcescens (5 eyes) and Cutibacterium acnes (1 eye). Aqueous humor cultures were positive in 5 eyes (7.0%): S.marcescens (2 eyes), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2 eyes), Staphylococcus pseudointermedius (1 eye). Prevalence of positive culture did not differ between groups (p=.74), order of eyes for bilateral procedures (p=.74) and diabetic status (p=1). Bacterial contamination of the conjunctiva and aqueous humor was present in 8.5% and 7.0% of dogs undergoing phacoemulsification after asepsis. Lack of IV cefazolin was not significantly associated with positive culture.

Hepatotoxicity and the role of the gut-liver axis in dogs after oral administration of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have been used in many fields, and people are concerned about its effects on health. The present study reported the changes in liver metabolites and intestinal microbiota induced by overused ZnO NPs in dogs and explored the related mechanisms of liver injury induced by ZnO NPs. The results showed that overused ZnO NPs promote zinc accumulation in the liver and increase liver coefficient and serum liver-related indexes. In addition, the overuse of ZnO NPs increase the reactive oxygen species levels, affecting the hepatocyte antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function. Results showed that ZnO NPs significantly inhibited the hepatocyte apoptosis via the Cytc pathway and promoted the autophagy via activating the mTOR/ATG5 pathway. Metabolic analysis of liver tissue showed that 81 metabolites changed overall and mainly affected the glycerophospholipid metabolism. ZnO NPs can significantly change the richness and diversity of the intestinal bacteria in dogs, increasing the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria while reducing the bacterial abundance of Proteobacteria. In conclusion, the results suggest that overexposure to ZnO NPs can lead to the disruption of intestinal microbiome and liver metabolites in dogs, which ultimately leads to liver damage.

Cystitis in a Bitch with Chronic Kidney Disease Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli

Background: In dogs with bacterial cystitis that is resistant to multiple antibiotics, resulting from repeated infections and antimicrobial administration, especially if the dog has impaired renal function and the induction of systemic side effects by intravenous or oral administration is a concern, intravesical instillation of antibiotics might represent an alternative treatment option. In human and veterinary medicine, a number of studies showed intravesical instillation of antibiotics is effective for the therapy multidrug-resistant bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). This report firstly illustrates successful intravesical meropenem treatment of a UTI caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli with no systemic side effects in dog with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Case: A 15-year-old spayed female Maltese was presented with recurrent bacterial cystitis. The risk factors for the recurrent UTI were spinal cord injury and CKD which had been managed for 1 year. Ultrasound-guided cystocentesis was performed to obtain a urine sample for urinalysis, bacteriologic culture, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Bacterial cystitis caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli was diagnosed on the basis of bacterial culture, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Because the dog had CKD, reducing the clearance of meropenem, intravesical instillation of antibiotics was initiated. The intravesical instillation process consisted of the emptying of the urinary bladder, infusion of a diluted meropenem solution (8.5 mg/kg diluted in 20 mL of saline solution) into the bladder through a urethral catheter, and retention of the meropenem solution in the bladder for 1 h, and its removal. The procedure was repeated every 8 h. On day 8 of the intravesical instillation therapy, Bactereologic culture yielded a growth of E. coli (50,000 CFUs/mL), which was less than previously obtained. the concentration of the meropenem solution being administered was increased to 17 mg/kg diluted in 20 mL of saline solution, to improve the effectiveness of the therapy. After 21 days of the intravesical meropenem instillation, the bacterial cystitis was resolved. One year after completion of the treatment, the dog is still alive without any recurrence of bacterial cystitis. Discussion: Because resistant uropathogens can cause zoonotic infections, effective therapy is important with increasing incidence not only for patients, but also for public health. Intravesical instillation of antibiotics can be an effective treatment method for dogs with urinary tract infection in which oral antibiotics are likely to be ineffective and injectable antibiotics cannot be a treatment option. The antibiotics can be administered directly to the affected location, and systemic side effects can be minimized by the impermeabtility of the bladder wall via intravesical instillation procedure. Meropenem is likely to accumulate in dogs with impaired renal function, leading to systemic side effects and the aggravation of CKD in old dogs. This report describes the successful treatment of multidrug-resistant E. coli infection by intravesical instillation of meropenem without any side effects in dogs with CKD. Therefore, clinician should consider the use of intravesical instillation of antibiotics which predominately excreted in the urine for the control of urinary tract infection caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs showing reduced renal function. Keywords: canine, intravesical instillation, meropenem, multidrug-resistant organism, urinary tract infection.

Duration of carriage of multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs and cats in veterinary care and co-carriage with their owners

BackgroundThe emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) represent a threat to human and animal health. ObjectivesTo assess duration of carriage of MDROs in dogs and cats presented to veterinary clinics/hospitals in Switzerland. To estimate prevalence, duration of and risk factors for MDRO carriage in their owners and the occurrence of co-carriage in owner-pet pairs. MethodsProspective, longitudinal, observational study. Nasal swabs and fecal samples were collected from 50 owners of dogs and cats presented to 3 large veterinary hospitals, 1 medium-sized clinic and 1 practice. If pet or owner tested positive for a MDRO, follow-up samples were collected for up to 8 months. Methicillin-resistant (MR) Staphylococcus aureus, MR S. pseudintermedius, MR coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), MR Macrococcus spp., cephalosporinase- and carbapenemase-producing (CP) Enterobacterales were isolated and further characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, microdilution, β-lactam resistance gene detection, REP/ERIC-PCR, multilocus sequence typing or whole-genome sequencing. Risk factors for MDRO carriage in owners were explored based on questionnaire-derived data. ResultsFive out of 50 owners carried 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GC-R-Ent.), and 5/50 MRCoNS. In 3 dogs and 4 cats carriage of 3GC-R-Ent. persisted for up to 136 days after discharge (median 99 days, IQR 83 days, range 36–136 days), in two cats isolates were carbapenem-resistant. Owner-pet co-carriage was not observed. No specific risk factors for MDRO carriage in owners were identified. ConclusionsAfter discharge from veterinary care, dogs and cats may carry 3GC-R-Ent. for prolonged time periods. Carriage of MDROs was common in owners, but pet-owner co-carriage of the same MDRO was not observed.

Detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid in dogs with arthritis: a comparison between bacterial culture and 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction

BackgroundSeptic arthritis (SA) is a serious condition in dogs that requires a prompt diagnosis and treatment to minimize long-term joint pathology. Although bacterial detection in synovial fluid (SF) through culture or cytology is often performed to confirm diagnosis, the sensitivity of these tests is low. The need for a reliable diagnostic tool to confirm the presence of bacteria in SF in humans has led to the increased use of 16S rRNA (i.e., ribosomal RNA) gene sequencing by polymerase chain reaction (16S rRNA PCR). The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of 16S rRNA PCR with bacterial culture on blood agar plates after pre-incubation of SF in paediatric blood bacterial culture bottles to identify bacteria in dogs with clinical signs of SA and to investigate the usefulness of these methods as diagnostic tools.ResultsTen dogs with clinical signs of SA, nine with osteoarthritis (OA, control group) and nine with clinical signs of immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA, second control group) were examined. Bacterial culture was positive in seven of 10 dogs with clinical SA, of which only two were positive by 16S rRNA PCR. The sensitivity of 16S rRNA PCR and bacterial culture analysis for dogs with clinical SA were 20% and 70%, respectively. All SF samples collected from control group (n = 9) and second control group (n = 14) animals were negative on culture, and 16S rRNA PCR rendered a specificity of 100%.ConclusionsOur study showed a lower sensitivity of 16S rRNA PCR than bacterial culture for dogs with clinical SA. Our findings suggest that there is currently no advantage in using 16S rRNA PCR as a diagnostic tool for dogs with clinical SA. Furthermore, our study indicates that pre-incubation in paediatric blood bacterial culture bottles before bacterial cultivation on blood agar plates might enhance bacterial culture sensitivity compared to other culture methods.

Hierarchical modelling of immunoglobulin coated bacteria in dogs with chronic enteropathy shows reduction in coating with disease remission but marked inter-individual and treatment-response variability.

Chronic enteropathies are a common problem in dogs, but many aspects of the pathogenesis remain unknown, making the therapeutic approach challenging in some cases. Environmental factors are intimately related to the development and perpetuation of gastrointestinal disease and the gut microbiome has been identified as a contributing factor. Previous studies have identified dysbiosis and reduced bacterial diversity in the gastrointestinal microbiota of dogs with chronic enteropathies. In this case-controlled study, we use flow cytometry and 16S rRNA sequencing to characterise bacteria highly coated with IgA or IgG in faecal samples from dogs with chronic enteropathy and evaluated their correlation with disease and resolution of the clinical signs. IgA and IgG-coated faecal bacterial counts were significantly higher during active disease compared to healthy dogs and decreased with the resolution of the clinical signs. Characterisation of taxa-specific coating of the intestinal microbiota with IgA and IgG showed marked variation between dogs and disease states, and different patterns of immunoglobulin enrichment were observed in dogs with chronic enteropathy, particularly for Erysipelotrichaceae, Clostridicaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotellaceae and Bacteroidaceae, families. Although, members of these bacterial groups have been associated with strong immunogenic properties and could potentially constitute important biomarkers of disease, their significance and role need to be further investigated.

Investigation of multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs enrolled at animal-assisted therapy in a trauma and surgical emergency hospital.

Investigation of multidrug-resistant bacteria in dogs enrolled at animal-assisted therapy in a trauma and surgical emergency hospital.

Antimicrobial drug resistance profile of isolated bacteria in dogs and cats with urologic problems at Chiang Mai University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Thailand (2012-2016).

The present study aimed to estimate the proportion of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs and cats, assess risks associated with bacterial UTI, and to determine bacterial isolates' antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance pattern from the urinary tract of dogs and cats with urologic problems. The medical records from animals visiting Chiang Mai University Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016 were reviewed. In total, 203 dogs and 49 cats with urinary tract diseases that had samples submitted for bacterial culture were identified;198 and 24 bacterial isolates were recovered from dogs' and cats' submitted samples, respectively. At least one episode of bacterial UTI was detected in 75.4% (95% CI: 69.4-81.3) of dogs and in 40.8% (95% CI: 26.6-55.1) of cats with UTI and submitted urine cultures. Of 242 submitted urinary samples from dogs and 60 urinary samples from cats, bacteria were identified in 74.0% (95% CI: 68.4-79.5) and 38.3% (95% CI: 26.0-50.6), respectively. The most common pathogen of bacteria positive cultured from dogs was Staphylococcus spp. (30.3%), followed by Escherichia coli (16.7%), and Proteus spp. (13.6%). For cats, the most common pathogen was Pseudomonas spp. (25.0%), followed by E.coli (20.8%) and Proteus spp. (16.7%). Staphylococcus spp. isolates from dogs and Proteus spp. isolates from cats were highly susceptible to Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) at 88% and 75%, respectively. Of all isolated bacteria, 67.1% of the bacteria from dogs and 83.3% from cats were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The proportion of MDR-bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats with urologic problems in this study was high. This observation raises concerns regarding the potential of zoonotic transmission of MDR-bacteria from these companion animals. The results suggested that AMC remains a good empirical drug for treating UTIs in dogs in this region.

Dogs as a source of Salmonella spp. in apparently healthy dogs in the Valencia Region. Could it be related with intestinal lactic acid bacteria?

BackgroundAlthough salmonellosis is considered one of the most important food-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe, close contact between dogs and their owners can also be a potential source of Salmonella spp. for humans. This study assessed the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp. in apparently healthy dogs in the Valencian Region, eastern Spain. Moreover, a macroscopic comparison of lactic acid bacteria in both Salmonella-positive and Salmonella-negative dogs was carried out.ResultsOf a total of 325 dogs sampled, 6 (1.85%) were positive for Salmonella spp. with 3 different serotypes, Havana (3), Mikawasima (2) and monophasic Typhimurium (1). All isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested except monophasic S. Typhimurium, which was resistant to ampicillin. Finally, macroscopic results revealed that lactic acid bacteria had higher heterogeneity in the Salmonella-negative dogs than in the Salmonella-positive dogs. Although the results in our study showed a low prevalence of Salmonella spp., raw food has been suggested as a risk factor for bacteria in dog faeces.ConclusionsPublic awareness campaigns on good hygiene practices, especially after handling canine faeces or raw food, are necessary. Furthermore, to reduce the potential transmission of bacteria, dogs should be fed food that has been properly cooked, as raw or undercooked food can be a source of zoonotic pathogens. Moreover, further studies must be performed to determine the relationship between lactic acid bacteria and Salmonella spp. in dog faeces.