Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase- and AmpC-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Domestic Dogs: Spread, Characterisation and Associated Risk Factors
Nicoletta Formenti,
Andrea Grassi,
Giovanni Parisio,
Claudia Romeo,
Flavia Guarneri,
Laura Birbes,
Alessandra Pitozzi,
Federico Scali,
Antonio Marco Maisano,
Maria Beatrice Boniotti,
Paolo Pasquali,
Giovanni Loris Alborali
Affiliations
Nicoletta Formenti
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Andrea Grassi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Giovanni Parisio
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Claudia Romeo
Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Flavia Guarneri
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Laura Birbes
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Alessandra Pitozzi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Federico Scali
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Antonio Marco Maisano
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Maria Beatrice Boniotti
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Paolo Pasquali
Dipartimento di Sicurezza Alimentare, Nutrizione e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
Giovanni Loris Alborali
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Via Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
In veterinary medicine, the issue of antimicrobial resistance was mainly addressed in food-producing animals (although companion animals also deserve attention). Indeed, these species may be reservoir of resistant microorganisms, such as extended-spectrum β-lactamase and AmpC (ESBL/AmpC)-producing bacteria. Dogs in particular may transmit them to close-contact humans. Overall 266 faecal samples of healthy dogs were microbiologically and molecularly analyzed to investigate ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli and the effects of host and environmental factors on their spread. A prevalence of 25.9% of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli, supported by blaCTX-M (79.7%), blaTEM (47.8%), blaCMY (13%), and blaSHV (5.8%) gene detection, emerged. Dogs frequenting extra-urban environments showed significantly higher odds of being positive to ESBL/AmpC E. coli (30.2%) compared to urban dogs (16.7%) identifying the environment as a risk factor. About 88.4% of isolates were resistant to cephalosporins, 8.7% to cephalosporins and carbapenems, and 2.9% to cephalosporins, carbapenems, and penicillins. ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli expressing blaCMY were significantly more resistant to cefoxitin, cefotaxime/clavulanic acid and ceftazidime/clavulanic acid, highlighting its negative effects. Our results suggest the role of domestic dogs as a maintenance host of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli leading to a constant health monitoring. The recorded resistances to carbapenems implies attention and further investigations.
