Multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in diarrhoeagenic foals: Pulsotyping, phylotyping, serotyping, antibiotic resistance and virulence profiling.

Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) possess the ability to cause extraintestinal infections such as urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and sepsis. While information is readily available describing pathogenic E. coli populations in food-producing animals, studies in companion/sports animals such as horses are limited. In addition, many antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of equine infections are also utilised in human medicine, potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance determinants among pathogenic strains. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterise the multidrug resistance and virulence associated with 83 equine E. coli isolates recovered from foals with diarrhoeal disease. Serotyping was performed by both PCR and sequencing. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disc diffusion. Phylogenetic groups, virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes and integrons were determined by PCR. Thirty-nine (46%) of the isolates were classified as ExPEC and hence considered to be potentially pathogenic to humans and animals. Identified serogroups O1, O19a, O40, O101 and O153 are among previously reported human clinical ExPEC isolates. Over a quarter of the E. coli were assigned to pathogenic phylogroups B2 (6%) and D (23%). Class 1 and class 2 integrons were detected in 85% of E. coli, revealing their potential to transfer MDR to other pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. With 65% of potentially pathogenic isolates harbouring one or more TEM, SHV and CTX-M-2 group ß-lactamases, in addition to the high levels of resistance to fluoroquinolones observed, our findings signal the need for increased attention to companion/sport animal reservoirs as public health threats.

Detection of numerous verotoxigenic E. coli serotypes, with multiple antibiotic resistance from cattle faeces and soil.

Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) belong to a diverse range of serotypes. Serotypes O157 and O26 are predominately identified in VTEC-associated disease in Europe, however due to difficulty in detection little is known about the epidemiology of non-O157 serotypes. This study reports the identification of 7 VTEC serotypes from cattle faeces and soil. Cattle faeces samples (n=128) were taken from animals in 6 different farms, with soil samples (n=20) obtained from 1 farm. After sample incubation in modified tryptone soy broth (mTSB) supplemented with streptomycin sulphate samples were plated onto sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC) also supplemented with streptomycin sulphate. Bacteria detected on the plates were subjected to biochemical testing, antibiotic resistance profiling, and PCR to detect typical virulence genes, beta-lactamase and class 1 integron associated genes. Serotyping was performed on isolates positive for virulence genes. E. coli was identified from 103 samples, with verotoxin genes present in 7 E. coli isolates. Of these 7 isolates, 5 were resistant to 5 or more antibiotics. The isolate resistant to 9 antimicrobials contained a class 1 integron structure. Serotyping identified 7 separate VTEC, O2:H27, O26:H11, O63:H(-), O148:H8, O149:H1, O174:H21 and ONT:H25. Six of these VTEC have been previously associated with human disease, however with the exception of O26:H11, these serotypes have been rarely reported worldwide. Increased surveillance is required to determine the prevalence of these and other non-O157 VTEC. The presence of multi-antibiotic resistance in these isolates is of concern, and the overall implications for public health must be ascertained.

High-level gentamicin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from a wound in a dog.

This report describes the first clinical case, in Europe, of a high-level gentamicin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infection in a dog. The aim of this report is to alert the veterinary profession to high-level gentamicin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in companion animal patients. Multi-drug resistant strains of this pathogen are the cause of considerable problems in human hospitals and for community healthcare professionals worldwide. The potential for a similar impact within veterinary medicine is discussed.