Prevalence and risk analysis of mobile colistin resistance and extended-spectrum <i>β</i> -lactamase genes carriage in pet dogs and their owners: a population based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Mobile colistin resistance gene <i>mcr-1</i> and extended-spectrum <i>β</i>-lactamase gene <i>bla</i> _CTX-M are highly prevalent in human - and pet-derived bacteria. Isolation of identical strains of <i>mcr-1</i>-positive <i>Escherichia coli</i> (MCRPEC) or <i>bla</i> _CTX-M-positive <i>E. coli</i> (CTX-MPEC) from pets and humans highlighted the potential for co-colonization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which can be a risk for dissemination of resistance genes. In this study, the prevalence of <i>mcr-1</i> and <i>bla</i> _CTX-M carriage from rectal swabs in 299 families (dogs and their owners) were 2.7 and 5.3%, respectively. We identified a significant association of <i>mcr-1</i> carriage between dogs and their owners. Whilst antibiotic use in the previous three months was associated with <i>bla</i> _CTX-M carriage in dogs. Only one instance of dog and owner carrying identical CTX-MPEC was observed. Although the prevalence of identical strains in one family is rare, the huge number of dog ownership worldwide suggest that this threat should not be underestimated.