Search

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.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the significant Clostridioides difficile molecular typing techniques currently employed in research and medical communities. The main objectives of this review are to describe the key molecular typing methods utilized in C. difficile studies and to highlight the epidemiological characteristics of the most prevalent strains on a global scale. Geographically distinct regions exhibit distinct strain types of C. difficile, with notable concordance observed among various typing methodologies. The advantages that next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers has changed epidemiology research, enabling high-resolution genomic analyses of this pathogen. NGS platforms offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the genetic intricacies and evolutionary trajectories of C. difficile strains. It is relevant to acknowledge that novel routes of transmission are continually being unveiled and warrant further investigation, particularly in the context of zoonotic implications and environmental contamination.

Nowadays, there is a great concern about the prevalence of multidrug resistant Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae in food-producing animals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin treatment on vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in pigs. A total of 26 piglets were received and distributed in three groups. Group 1 was treated with enrofloxacin (N = 12), group 2 with oxytetracycline (N = 10) and group 3 did not receive any treatment (control group) (N = 4). A higher number of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium were recovered compared to E. faecalis. In the pigs treated with enrofloxacin, vancomycin resistant E. faecium was found in a higher percentage of animals than in the control group. ESBL-producing E. coli was not detected in rectal samples from control animals. However, it was detected in 17–20% of animals treated with oxytetracycline on days 6 to 17 and in 17–50% of the animals treated with enrofloxacin. Carbapenemase-producing E. coli was isolated in animals treated with oxytetracycline, but not in animals treated with enrofloxacin or in the control group. This study highlights that the use of oxytetracycline or enrofloxacin in food-producing animals could select ESBL and carbapenemase-producing E. coli. Further studies shall be needed to validate the results obtained, considering a more robust and extended experimental design.