Evidence that faecal carriage of resistant Escherichia coli by 16-week-old dogs in the United Kingdom is associated with raw feeding
Oliver Mounsey,
Kezia Wareham,
Ashley Hammond,
Jacqueline Findlay,
Virginia C. Gould,
Katy Morley,
Tristan A. Cogan,
Katy M.E. Turner,
Matthew B. Avison,
Kristen K. Reyher
Affiliations
Oliver Mounsey
University of Bristol School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
Kezia Wareham
University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
Ashley Hammond
University of Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
Jacqueline Findlay
University of Bristol School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
Virginia C. Gould
University of Bristol School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
Katy Morley
University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
Tristan A. Cogan
University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
Katy M.E. Turner
University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom; University of Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
Matthew B. Avison
University of Bristol School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; Corresponding author at: School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
Kristen K. Reyher
University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
We report a survey (August 2017 to March 2018) and risk factor analysis of faecal carriage of antibacterial-resistant (ABR) Escherichia coli in 223 16-week-old dogs in the United Kingdom. Raw feeding was associated with the presence of fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) E. coli and those resistant to tetracycline, amoxicillin, and streptomycin, but not to cefalexin. Whole genome sequencing of 36 FQ-R E. coli isolates showed a wide range of sequence types (STs), with almost exclusively mutational FQ-R dominated by ST744 and ST162. Comparisons between E. coli isolates from puppies known to be located within a 50 × 50 km region with those isolated from human urinary tract infections (isolated in parallel in the same region) identified an ST744 FQ-R lineage that was carried by one puppy and caused one urinary tract infection. Accordingly, we conclude that raw feeding is associated with carriage of ABR E. coli in dogs even at 16 weeks of age and that bacteria carried by puppies are shared with humans. We therefore suggest that those who feed their dogs raw meat seriously consider the potential ABR-transmission threat their pet may become as a result and deploy appropriate hygiene practices in mitigation.
