First Microbiological and Molecular Identification of Rhodococcus equi in Feces of Nondiarrheic Cats

Rhodococcus equiis responsible for infections in multiple-host animals. In humans, the prevalence of rhodococcus has increased worldwide and represents an emergent risk.R. equiis a soil-borne opportunistic bacterium isolated from feces of a wide variety of domestic species, except cats; thus, there is no known potential risk of its transmission from humans. Here, the mono- and cooccurrence ofRhodococcus equiand other bacteria and selected virulence markers were investigated in feces of nondiarrheic cats from urban (n=100) and rural (n=100) areas. Seven (7/200=3.5%)R. equiisolates were recovered in ceftazidime, novobiocin, and cycloheximide (CAZ-NB) selective media, exclusively of cats from three distinct farms (p=0.01), and these cats had a history of contact with horses and their environment (p=0.0002). None of theR. equiisolates harbored hosted-adapted plasmid types associated with virulence (pVAPA, pVAPB, and pVAPN). One hundred seventy-fiveE. coliisolates were identified, and 23 atypical enteropathogenicE. coli(aEPEC), 1 STEC (Shiga-toxin producingE. coli), and 1 EAEC (enteroaggregativeE. coli) were detected. Eighty-sixC. perfringenstype A isolates were identified, and beta-2 and enterotoxin were detected in 21 and 1 isolates, respectively. FiveC. difficileisolates were identified, one of which was toxigenic and ribotype 106. The main cooccurring isolates in cats from urban areas wereE. coliandC. perfringensA (26/100=26%),E. coliandC. perfringenstype Acpb2+(8/100=8%), and aEPEC (eae+/escN+) andC. perfringenstype A (5/100=5%). In cats from farms, the main cooccurring isolates wereE. coliandC. perfringenstype A (21/100=21%),E. coliandC. perfringenstype Acpb2+8/100=8%), andE. coliandR. equi(4/100=4%). We identified, for the first time,R. equiin nondiarrheic cats, a finding that represents a public health issue because rhodococcus has been reported in both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent humans, particularly people living with HIV/AIDS.