EVALUATION OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE PATTERNS IN ZOONOTIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM COMPANION ANIMALS IN URBAN AREAS

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and zoonotic potential of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens isolated from companion animals in urban areas. A total of 270 bacterial isolates were recovered from dogs and cats across three metropolitan centers, with Escherichia coli (35.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.0%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.8%) being the most prevalent species. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance rates to first-line veterinary antibiotics such as ampicillin (82–91%) and tetracycline (52–70%), and alarming resistance to critically important human antibiotics, including third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. The total number of isolates with MDR was more than 67%, the highest rates belonging to K. pneumoniae (77%) and S. aureus (71%).  A close association was found between MDR and current use of antibiotics, lack of vaccination, ability to go outdoors and having more than one animal in household.  It was found that colistin resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae poses a growing threat to the final therapeutic option.  Genomic coincidence of 26 MDR isolates amongst pets and their owners demonstrated a zoonotic potential with genetic similarity over 90 per cent and common resistance profiles, implying that the disease might be transmitted between species.  Logistic regression model identified recent antibiotic use and exposure outdoors as key factors of MDR colonization.  These findings highlight the urgent need to implement antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine, frequent surveillance of resistance in companion animals, and public health programs involving the One Health approach.  This study provides a critical insight into the epidemiological role of pets in transmission of MDR infections in urban ecosystem and emphasizes on the need of combining efforts to curb antibiotic resistance at the human animal interface.