Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs Research Articles

Bakterijske infekcije urinarnog trakta u veterinarskim ordinacijama za male životinje

The urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease in dogs and cats, and it can occur as isolated infections or recurrently. Recurrent cases are particularly common in cases with underlying health conditions. The diagnosis of UTIs in dogs and cats generally involves an integrated interpretation of clinical signs, urinalysis, and bacterial cultures. Diagnostic imaging can also help assessing or discarding anatomical lesions. One of the many microorganisms that can cause UTIs is Escherichia coli. Females, geriatric patients, and animals with comorbidities usually have an increased risk of UTI. Antimicrobial prescription is common for the treatment of UTIs in companion animals. However, nowadays, there is a growing concern about antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescription driving selection for resistance. Therefore, correct prescription and appropriate patient management are essential. This review aims to provide a summary of the clinical and epidemiological aspects of UTIs, contributing to improving veterinary practices and antibiotic prescription in the context of UTIs in companion animals.

Multidrug resistance in pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections in dogs, Spain.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a pathogen frequently isolated in cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in both humans and dogs and evidence exists that dogs are reservoirs for human infections. In addition, E. coli is associated to increasing antimicrobial resistance rates. This study focuses on the analysis of antimicrobial resistance and the presence of selected virulence genes in E. coli isolates from a Spanish dog population suffering from UTI. This collection of isolates showed an extremely high level of phenotypic resistance to 1st-3rd generation cephalosporins, followed by penicillins, fluoroquinolones and amphenicols. Apart from that, 13.46% of them were considered extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. An alarmingly high percentage (71.15%) of multidrug resistant isolates were also detected. There was a good correlation between the antimicrobial resistance genes found and the phenotypic resistance expressed. Most of the isolates were classified as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, and two others harbored virulence factors related to diarrheagenic pathotypes. A significant relationship between low antibiotic resistance and high virulence factor carriage was found, but the mechanisms behind it are still poorly understood. The detection of high antimicrobial resistance rates to first-choice treatments highlights the need of constant antimicrobial resistance surveillance, as well as continuous revision of therapeutic guidelines for canine UTI to adapt them to changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns.

The antibiotic susceptibilities and microorganisms isolated from urinary tract infections of dogs

In this study, we aimed to isolate microorganisms from urine samples taken from dogs with urinary system infection and to determine an antibiotic susceptibility. For this purpose, urine samples taken from 30 dogs by cystocentesis were inoculated on Blood Agar, MacConkey Agar and Sabourraud’s Dextrose Agar. The isolated microorganisms were identified by conventional microbiological methods. In this study, while 19 bacteria were isolated from 15 dogs (63.33%), no isolation was detected within the mycological culture. The most isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (26.32%) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (26.32%). The isolates were susceptible 84.2% to ceftriaxone, 78.9% to enrofloxacine, 73.7% to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole, 73.7% to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefixime, 57.9% to cephalexin, 52.6% to oxytetracycline and 47.4% to ceftiofur. We concluded that Escherichia coli and coagulase negative Staphylococci were the most common reason for urinary tract infections in dogs and due to the differences to antibiotic of the bacterial isolates that antibiotic susceptibility tests is necessary for treatment.

A narrative review of current perspectives on urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

Abstract Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common diseases in dogs and cats. The infections occur when the natural defence systems of the urinary tract and pathogenic bacteria are out of balance. Diagnosis of UTIs requires a simultaneous evaluation of clinical signs and urine culture, which is necessary before initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy. Several variables, such as subclinical bacteriuria or pre-analytical errors, can make the interpretation of urine cultures problematic. The aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date overview of UTIs in dogs and cats and to improve the current understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenic aspects of uropathogens, and innovative therapeutic modalities.

Efficacy of silver-coated urinary catheters for reducing urinary tract infection in dogs

Indwelling urinary catheters are frequently used in practice, however urinary catheters have been associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infections in dogs. Antimicrobial coating of urinary catheters can reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections through the initial prevention of bacterial attachment. Historical studies have identified the benefit of silver in reducing bacteriuria in humans. This knowledge summary concluded that no study was able to demonstrate that the use of silver-coated urinary catheters is superior to silicone urinary catheters in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections in dogs. Further investigation in vivo, with a large sample size, is required to verify the statistical significance of the effect of the silver-coating of urinary catheters in the reduction of urinary tract infections.

Safety and efficacy of nightly nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis in dogs with recurrent urinary tract infections: 13 cases (2015-2021).

To report the protocol, efficacy and adverse events in dogs receiving nightly nitrofurantoin therapy as antimicrobial prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections. Retrospective case series of dogs prescribed nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections. Data on urological history, diagnostic investigation, protocol, adverse events and efficacy (through serial urine cultures) were extracted from medical records. Thirteen dogs were included. Before therapy, dogs had a median of 3 (range 3 to 7) positive urine cultures in the past year. In all but one dog, standard antimicrobial therapy was given before starting the nightly nitrofurantoin. The nightly nitrofurantoin was then prescribed at a median dose of 4.1mg/kg orally every 24 hours for a median of 166 days (range 44 to 1740). The median infection-free interval on therapy was 268 days (95% confidence interval: 165 to undefined). Eight dogs had no positive urine cultures while on therapy. Of these, five (three which discontinued and two which remained on nitrofurantoin) had no return of clinical signs or bacteriuria at time of last follow-up evaluation or death, and three had suspected or confirmed bacteriuria 10 to 70 days after discontinuation. Five dogs developed bacteriuria on therapy, four of which were nitrofurantoin-resistant Proteus spp. Most other adverse events were minor; none were considered likely caused by the drug on causality assessment. Based on this small study group, nightly nitrofurantoin appears well tolerated and might be efficacious prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections in dogs. Infection with nitrofurantoin-resistant Proteus spp. was a common reason for treatment failure.

Rate of surgical site and urinary tract infections in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery.

Excessive use of antimicrobials and the increasing occurrence of antimicrobial resistance are major challenges in both human and veterinary medicine. The role of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in orthopaedic and neurosurgeries in dogs can be questioned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) and urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery. Electronic patient records from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to identify dogs that underwent spinal surgery (n = 158). Antimicrobial drug use and the presence of SSI and UTI were recorded. Overall, SSI developed in 1.3% of dogs that underwent spinal surgery, while UTI developed in 8.2%. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were detected in 5.1% of dogs. The rates of SSI, UTI and MDR did not differ significantly between dogs that received postoperative antimicrobial therapyandthosethatdidnot. The main limitation of this study was its retrospective design. Overall, the SSI rate in this study was low. Cessation of postoperative antimicrobial use in dogs followingspinal surgery did not havea negative effect on either SSI development or the occurrence of UTI.

Bacterial Isolates from Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs and Cats in Portugal, and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern: A Retrospective Study of 5 Years (2017-2021).

There are growing concerns regarding the rise of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in companion animals. This study aimed to bring new insights into the current scenario of Portugal's antimicrobial resistance bacteria isolated from companion animals with urinary tract infections and is the first to be performed during a long period on a large scale. Of a total of 17472 urine samples analyzed, 12,166 (69.6%) (CI 12,200-12,200) were negative for bacterial growth, and 5306 (30.4%) (95% CI 5310-5310) had bacterial growth. Of the culture-positive samples, 5224 (96.6%) (95% CI 5220-5220) were pure cultures and 82 (3.2%) (95% CI 81.9-82.1) had mixed growth. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria (n=2360, 44.5%) (95% CI 2360-2360), followed by Proteus mirabilis (n=585, 11%) (95% CI 583-583), Enterococcus faecium (n=277, 5.2%) (95% CI 277-277) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n=226, 4.3%) (95% CI 226-226). The overall susceptibility rates were low for erythromycin (45.3%) and clindamycin (51.3%), and high for aminoglycosides (96.3%), carbapenems (92.4%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (81.2%), and quinolones (79.9%). E. coli also showed considerable resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria are still high compared to the northern countries of Europe. This study's findings show the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the antibiotic agents commonly used in the treatment of UTIs in dogs and cats in Portugal.

Pathogenomics and clinical recurrence influence biofilm capacity of Escherichia coli isolated from canine urinary tract infections.

Biofilm formation enhances bacteria’s ability to colonize unique niches while protecting themselves from environmental stressors. Escherichia coli that colonize the urinary tract can protect themselves from the harsh bladder environment by forming biofilms. These biofilms promote persistence that can lead to chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). While biofilm formation is frequently studied among urinary E. coli, its association with other pathogenic mechanisms and adaptations in certain host populations remains poorly understood. Here we utilized whole genome sequencing and retrospective medical record analysis to investigate associations between the population structure, phenotypic resistance, resistome, virulome, and patient demographic and clinical findings of 104 unique urinary E. coli and their capacity to form biofilms. We show that population structure including multilocus sequence typing and Clermont phylogrouping had no association with biofilm capacity. Among clinical factors, exposure to multiple antibiotics within that past 30 days and a clinical history of recurrent UTIs were positively associated with biofilm formation. In contrast, phenotypic antimicrobial reduced susceptibility and corresponding acquired resistance genes were negatively associated with biofilm formation. While biofilm formation was associated with increased virulence genes within the cumulative virulome, individual virulence genes did not influence biofilm capacity. We identified unique virulotypes among different strata of biofilm formation and associated the presence of the tosA/R-ibeA gene combination with moderate to strong biofilm formation. Our findings suggest that E. coli causing UTI in dogs utilize a heterogenous mixture of virulence genes to reach a biofilm phenotype, some of which may promote robust biofilm capacity. Antimicrobial use may select for two populations, non-biofilm formers that maintain an arsenal of antimicrobial resistance genes to nullify treatment and a second that forms durable biofilms to avoid therapeutic insults.

Veterinary antimicrobial prescribing practices for treatment of presumptive sporadic urinary tract infections in dogs examined at primary care practices in the United States (2010-2019).

To describe patterns of antimicrobial prescriptions for sporadic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs in the United States from 2010 through 2019, including times before and after publication of International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) guidelines. 461,244 qualifying visits for sporadic UTIs. Veterinary electronic medical records of a private corporation consisting of > 1,000 clinics across the United States were examined to identify canine visits for potential sporadic UTI between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. Proportions of antimicrobial prescriptions were graphed by month and year to identify changes in prescription patterns over time. Interrupted time series analysis was performed for the aminopenicillins. A total of 461,244 qualifying visits were examined, with 389,949 (85%) of these resulting in at least 1 antimicrobial prescription. Over the 10-year period, the proportion of visits resulting in no antimicrobial prescription increased (14% in 2010 to 19.7% in 2019). Proportions of prescriptions for amoxicillin (38% to 48%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (2.5% to 10%) also increased. Log-linear regression supported that changes in proportions of amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid prescriptions occurred following the 2011 ISCAID guidelines publication, with the proportion of amoxicillin prescriptions increasing by 13% per year (95% CI, 12% to 14%; P < 0.01) and the proportion of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid prescriptions increasing by 0.5% per year (95% CI, 0.2% to 0.8%; P < 0.01). Use of fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins remained constant. Results suggest that efforts to guide antimicrobial use in veterinary clinical practice are having positive effects in this private veterinary company, though continued efforts are warranted.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Isolated From Canine Urine Samples Submitted to a Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Illinois, United States.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in dogs constitutes a threat to animal and human health. There is a lack of studies in Illinois that evaluated the prevalence of AMR among urinary bacterial pathogens. In the study, we included 803 isolates (299 Gram-positive and 504 Gram-negative) that were isolated from 2,583 canine urine samples submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the University of Illinois between 2019 and 2020 from dogs suspected of urinary tract infections (UTI). The most common Gram-positive isolates included Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (17.93%), Enterococcus faecalis (9.46%), Streptococcus canis (6.10%), and Enterococcus faecium (3.74%), while Gram-negative isolates included Escherichia coli (45.58%), Proteus mirabilis (11.08%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.11%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.99%). Among the Gram-positive isolates, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates showed a very high prevalence of resistance to penicillin (56.94%), a high prevalence of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (31.94%), enrofloxacin (29.17%), and oxacillin (27.08%). Among Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli isolates showed a high prevalence of resistance to ampicillin (31.42%). Considering the high prevalence of resistance to antimicrobials commonly used to treat UTI in dogs, urine samples should be collected for bacterial culture and susceptibility testing before treatment initiation to prevent treatment failures and the development of multidrug resistance. Given the possibility of zoonotic transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, veterinarians when treating UTI cases, should inform dog owners of the potential transmission risk.

Untargeted Metabolomics Identify a Panel of Urinary Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder, as Compared to Urolithiasis with or without Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urologic cancer in dogs, is often diagnosed late because the clinical signs are shared by other non-malignant lower urinary tract disorders (LUTD). The urine-based BRAFV595E test for UC is highly effective only in certain breeds; hence additional non-invasive biomarkers of UC are needed. Here, urine from dogs with UC (n = 27), urolithiasis (n = 8), or urolithiasis with urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 8) were subjected to untargeted metabolomics analyses, using GC-TOF-MS for primary metabolites, QTOF-MS for complex lipids, and HILIC-QTOF MS for secondary and charged metabolites. After adjusting for age and sex, we identified 1123 known metabolites that were differentially expressed between UC and LUTD. Twenty-seven metabolites were significant (1.5 ≤ log2FC ≤ −1.5, adjusted p-value < 0.05); however, 10 of these could be attributed to treatment-related changes. Of the remaining 17, 6 (hippuric acid, N-Acetylphenylalanine, sarcosine, octanoylcarnitine, N-alpha-methylhistamine, glycerol-3-galactoside) discriminated between UC and LUTD (area under the ROC curve > 0.85). Of the 6 metabolites, only hippuric acid and N-alpha-methylhistamine were discriminatory in both male (n = 20) and female (n = 23) dogs, while sarcosine was an effective discriminator in several breeds, but only in females. Further investigation of these metabolites is warranted for potential use as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of dogs with UC that present with LUTD-related clinical signs.

A review of the current concepts in canine urinary tract infections.

Traditionally, urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been categorised as either uncomplicated or complicated in veterinary medicine, with treatment differing for the two categories. In human medicine, there is an additional category: Asymptomatic bacteriuria, which is the presence of bacteriuria without symptoms of infection. Escherichia coli (E.coli) is the most common bacterial species involved in UTIs in dogs. Clinical signs can be absent in dogs with complicated UTIs, and this has been likened to asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in people and has been termed subclinical bacteriuria (SBU) with the treatment recommendations for SBU in dogs have been adapted from human recommendations. There is a shift in the current treatment of UTIs to help minimise the development of antimicrobial resistance. Routine screening of dogs with conditions that may predispose them to UTIs has been discouraged as has the treatment of SBU. This has been due to the increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Molecular Detection of Ampicillin Resistant Genes in E. coli Isolates from ‎Dogs in India

The most common cause of urinary tract infection in dogs is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). This condition often presents with vaginal discharge, dribbling of urine, straining or vocalization while urinating due to pain. Furthermore, the following signs are also noticeable: hematuria, lethargy, proteinuria, dysuria, cystitis, and oliguria. The aim of this research was to investigate the genes of ampicillin resistance in E. coli isolates from dogs with urinary tract infections. Out of 103 urine samples cultured (Blood agar, MacConkey’s lactose agar and Eosin methylene blue agar), 24.3% were positive for uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The positive isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test and PCR analysis. All the uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin while 96% were resistant to Cloxacillin and Oxytetracycline. Susceptibility to Meropenem, Gentamicin and Amikacin were 64 %, 44 % and 40% respectively. All the 25 strains of the E. coli were identified to be resistant to two or more antibiotics. The PCR result showed the presence of blaAMPC in all the samples and 60 % had blaTEM genes responsible for ampicillin resistance. However, none of the isolates were positive for the blaSHV gene.The presence of the blaAMPC and blaTEM genes in the dogs studied resulted in ampicillin resistance, with blaAMPC being the most commonly detected ampicillin gene in Escherichia coli in the study area. Meropenem was also found to be a good choice for treating uropathogenic E. coli infection in dogs.

Isolation and Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Isolates of Uropathogenic Klebsiella spp in Dogs

The most widespread ailments in dogs are urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacterial species. It is necessary to recognize the prevailing bacterial pathogens and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents to effectively treat UTIs. The present study aimed to classify the bacterial organism that causes UTIs in dogs and their patterns of antimicrobial resistance. A total of 141 urine samples were collected from diseased dogs in Veterinary Clinical Complex LUVAS in Hisar, India. Culture, biochemical and sensitivity testing were performed for each of the urine samples based on standard method. Of the total 141 urine samples from dogs, 21 (14.9%) isolates were identified as Klebsiella spp. The isolates were found to be highly resistant to ampicillin (100%), penicillin G (100%), oxytetracycline (100%), enrofloxacin (85.7%), chloramphenicol (80.6%), ceftriaxone (76.2%) and cloxacillin (71.4%), while susceptibility was observed against gentamicin (100%), amikacin (100%) and neomycin (90.5%). In the current study, 19 out of 21 identified isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant. This study indicates that dogs in the study area are found to harbor highly resistant Klebsiella spp. Therefore, when deciding on the antibiotic regimen for UTIs cases, Vets should consider resistance profile of chosen antibacterial agents before usage in order to discourage dissemination of resistant organisms in the study area.

Kedi ve köpeklerin ürogenital sistem infeksiyonlarından izole edilen Escherichia coli'lerin virulens faktörlerinin belirlenmesi

In this study, virulence factors such as serum resistance, aerobactin iron uptake systems, adhesins (type 1 fimbria, P fimbria, S fimbria, afimbrial adhesins), haemolysine, uropathogenic spesific protein and cytotoxic necrotizing factor in 45 Escherichia coli isolates from dogs and cats with urinary tract and genital system infections, were investigated by both phenotypic methods and molecular methods. In PCR examinations of 45 E. coli, hlyA gene was detected in 73.3% of all isolates. fimH was found in 100%, papC in 71.1%, sfaDE in 82.2%, and afaBC in 0% of the isolates. iucD, traT, usp, cnf1 and cvaC genes were found in 20%, 71.1%, 84.4%, 75.5%, and 11.1% of the isolates, respectively. According to the isolation rate of hlyA and haemolytic activity on blood agar, this virulence factor is commonly seen in these strains and important in these infections especially pathogenesis. İsolates was found to be a high rate positive for usp gene. This result suggested that this strain may have higher infectivity. Cytotoxic necrotizing factor was common and important virulence factor in uropathogenic E. coli and prognosis of infection. However, colisin encoding gene (cvaC) only were detected from 5 of urine samples from dogs. This virulence factor could be important for the urinary tract infections in dogs rather than cats. Haemolysis, type 1 fimbriae, P fimbriae, S fimbriae, cnf, serum resistance, uropathogenic specific protein were detected at high rates by molecular method. In E. coli strains isolated from dogs, virulence factors were found to be higher than cat isolates.

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.

Characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections in dogs: Passive surveillance in Saskatchewan, Canada 2014 to 2018.

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in dogs and can be caused by multidrug‐resistant Escherichia coli (E coli).ObjectiveTo describe the frequency and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among E coli causing UTIs in dogs in Western Canada during a 4‐year surveillance period.AnimalsUrine from 516 dogs.MethodsFrom November 2014 to 2018, 516 nonduplicate E coli isolates from the urine of dogs were collected from a diagnostic laboratory. Susceptibility testing was determined for a panel of 14 antimicrobials belonging to 7 drug classes. Resistant isolates were screened for the presence of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β‐lactamases, and plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. Epidemiological relationships were assessed by MLST.Results80.2% (414/516) of isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. There was no significant increase in the proportion of isolates resistant to any of the tested antimicrobials during the study period. Resistance to ampicillin was the most common (14.9%, 77/516). Overall, 12 isolates had bla CMY‐2‐type AmpC β‐lactamases, and 7 produced CTX‐M‐type ESBLs. A single isolate had the aac(6′)‐Ib‐cr PMQR gene. The qnr and qepA determinants were not detected. A single isolate belonging to the pandemic lineage ST131 was identified.Conclusion Escherichia coli isolated from the urine of dogs in our region remain susceptible to first‐line therapies, though resistance, particularly to the aminopenicillins, warrants monitoring. This is the first description of E coli ST131 from a companion animal in Canada.

Infections of the Urinary Tract of Bacterial Origin in Dogs and Cats

Abstract The diseases of the urinary tract in small animal medicine, especially in dogs and cats, occur frequently with different etiologies. The most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are bacteria which enter upwards through the urethral opening. UTIs occur in hosts with compromised defence mechanisms in which the virulent microbes can adhere, multiply and persist in the urinary tract. In addition to bacteria, also viruses or fungi may infect the urinary tracts. Bacterial infection can develop in the upper (kidneys and ureters) or lower (bladder, urethra) urinary tract and are manifested by various clinical signs such as: frequent or difficult and painful urination, presence of blood in the urine, or its foul odour. The symptoms in sick animals are often accompanied by fever, discomfort, and loss of appetite. The UTIs in dogs and cats are caused by both Gram-negative (e. g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp.) and Gram-positive (e. g. Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Enterococcus spp.) bacteria. The properly performed aseptic sampling of the urine is one of the most important steps in bacteriological diagnostics. In this study, 105 urine samples were collected from dogs and cats. The cultivation, microscopy and biochemical examinations were used for species identification. Finally, the bacteriological examination included also determining the susceptibility of pathogens against antibiotics by the disc-diffusion method. The results were processed and expressed as a percentage according to identified pathogens, animal species, sex, breed and age. The uropathogens were diagnosed mainly in males aged 7—10 years. The most commonly identified pathogens were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. Tests of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics showed that enrofloxacin, cefotaxime, and cephazolin were the most effective against uropathogens.

Isolation and Atibiotyping of Pseudomonas spp. Associated with Bovine Diarrhea

Bovine diarrhoea is a multifactorial disease involving infectious and non-infectious factors. Various pathogens of bacterial origin are responsible for the diarrhoea in cattle. Gram-negative bacteria are considered as the most common etiological agents isolated from clinical cases of diarrhea. Among Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas is considered as the opportunistic pathogen and associated with various problems of medical and veterinary importance including ear and urinary tract infections in dogs, mastitis and metritis in dairy cows and endometritis in horses. During the present study, 47 faecal samples were collected from the clinical cases of bovine diarrhea in Meerut city, Uttar Pradesh for isolation, identification and antibiotyping of Pseudomonas spp. Out of these faecal samples, Pseudomonas spp. could be isolated from six samples indicating the positivity of 12.77%. All the isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were subjected to in vitro antibiogram testing using 7 antimicrobials viz., enrofloxacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, amikacin, oxytetracyclin, ceftriaxone and metronidazole. All the Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to streptomycin, oxytetracyclin and metronidazole. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolates was for ceftriaxone and gentamicin (50% each) and for enrofloxacin and amikacin (33.33% each). Antimicrobial sensitivity analysis of all the six Pseudomonas isolates revealed 04 different biotypes. The study revealed that isolates were found resistant to a number of antibiotics/antimicrobials ranging from 02 to 07. The isolates showing more susceptibility to enrofloxacin and amikacin may be used for the treatment of bovine diarrhea associated with Pseudomonas spp. This further recommended the use of routine antibiotic sensitivity testing before the treatment to avoid dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among microbes.