by Laura Cuppini
In a study conducted in Portugal and the United Kingdom, some families with pets were analyzed, finding several cases of positivity to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Dogs and cats at home could play an important role in the spread of bacteria resistant to antibiotics: this is what emerges from a study presented at the congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Escmid), held in Barcelona. The authors found evidence of the passage of multidrug-resistant bacteria from sick dogs and cats to their (healthy) owners in Portugal and the United Kingdom: the fear is therefore that pets could act as reservoirs and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance (Amr , antimicrobial resistance). The phenomenon has reached worrying levels all over the world. Infections from drug-resistant bacteria kill more than 1.2 million people a year, and deaths are expected to reach ten million by 2050; the World Health Organization classifies antibiotic resistance as one of the greatest threats to public health.
Fighting resistance
“Recent research indicates that the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between humans and animals, including pets, is critical to maintaining high levels of resistance, challenging the traditional belief that humans are the primary carriers of AMR bacteria into the community – says Juliana Menezes, of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, at the University of Lisbon -.
Understanding and addressing the transmission of AMR bacteria from domestic animals to humans is essential to effectively combat resistance, both in human and animal populations.”
E. coli e Klebsiella pneumoniae
Menezes and his colleagues analyzed stool and urine samples and skin swabs from dogs and cats and their owners to identify Enterobacterales (a large family of bacteria that includes Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) that are resistant to common antibiotics. The study involved 5 cats, 38 dogs and 78 humans from 43 families in Portugal and 22 dogs and 56 humans from 22 families in the UK. All the humans were healthy, while the pets had skin and soft tissue infections or urinary tract infections.
The strains were the same
In Portugal, Enterobacterales producing ESBL/Amp-C (beta-lactamases), i.e. bacteria resistant to third generation cephalosporins, were detected in 3 cats, 21 dogs and 28 owners. In five families, one with a cat and four with a dog, both the pet and the owner carried ESBL/AmpC-producing bacteria. Genetic analysis showed that the strains were the same, indicating that the bacteria passed between pet and owner. Furthermore, in one of the five families, the dog and the owner had the same strain of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Transmission direction
In the United Kingdom, a dog tested positive for two strains of E. coli (Escherichia coli) resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems and several other families of antibiotics. ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales were isolated from eight dogs and three owners. In two families, both the dog and the owner carried the same ESBL/AmpC-producing bacterium. The direction of transmission could not be demonstrated, however in three of the homes in Portugal the timing of positive tests for ESBL/AmpC producing bacteria strongly suggests that the bacteria were transmitted from pets (two dogs and a cat) to man.
Wash your hands often
Menezes says: “Our findings highlight the importance of including pet-owning households in national programs that monitor levels of antibiotic resistance. Learning more about resistance in pets would help develop informed and targeted interventions to safeguard animal and human health.” The bacteria can be transmitted between pets and humans through petting, kissing and through handling feces. To prevent transmission, researchers recommend that owners practice good hygiene, including washing their hands after petting their dog or cat and after handling their waste.
Isolate the animal in one room
«When your pet is unwell, consider isolating him in one room to avoid the spread of bacteria throughout the house and clean other rooms thoroughly» concludes Menezes. All dogs and cats analyzed in the study were treated for infections and recovered. The owners had no symptoms and therefore did not require treatment.
April 17, 2024 (modified April 17, 2024 | 10:54)
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