- Over 50% dogs carry superbugs
- E. coli resistant to antibiotics
- Urgent control measures needed
A new study has revealed that over 50% of companion canines are harbouring an antibiotic-resistant superbug that is highly transmissible to humans.
The majority of dogs with diarrhoea possess multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), an intestinal bacterium that is resistant to some or all antibiotics, according to research conducted by a group of Chinese scientists.
E. coli infection in humans can result in fever, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and, in extremely rare instances, kidney failure and death.
The research group examined faeces samples collected from 135 canine companions experiencing diarrhoea and discovered that over fifty percent of the canines were harbouring the bacteria.
The scientists who conducted the new research concluded that the pervasive use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture is likely contributing to the rise in the prevalence of drug-resistant superbugs.
Pets Fueling Antibiotic Resistance
The scientists wrote that this overwhelming presence of superbugs among companion animals could hasten the development of novel drug-resistant diseases in humans.
The annual fatal toll from superbugs exceeds one million individuals, as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A ‘post-antibiotic’ era is imminent, according to a warning from the organisation.
A large-scale study discovered that up to fifty percent of multidrug-resistant infections are acquired within the hospital setting.
A post-antibiotic era would essentially travel back in time, transforming minor medical emergencies such as scrapes or surgeries, into critical situations that imperil life.
Moreover, the new study suggests that dogs may contribute to the spread of these harmful bacteria.
One thousand eighty-five faeces samples were collected from canines with confirmed cases of diarrhoea over the course of one year.
Dogs that had consumed any type of antimicrobial medication within the previous three months were excluded from the study. This was to ensure that their bacterial contents would remain relatively unaltered.
They extracted and grew 135 E. coli bacteria from the samples and stored them for further study.
Following that, sixteen distinct antibiotic drugs, divided into six drug categories, were evaluated for their efficacy on each sample.
A considerable proportion of the samples (59–76 percent) comprised bacteria that exhibited resistance to an entire class of medications.
Particularly, a resistance distribution was as follows: 64% exhibited resistance to tetracyclines, 76% to beta-lactams, and 59% to sulfonamides.
These three categories comprise the antibiotics that are most frequently administered.
“The increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant E. coli isolated from companion animals is largely attributable to the widespread use of antibiotics,” the team from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Sichuan Agricultural University wrote.
Antimicrobial chemicals found in commonplace items such as hand soap have been associated with the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria. The utilisation of alcohol and bleach for disinfecting hospitals and residences has also contributed.
Antibiotic resistance in E. coli is due in part to survival of the fittest, an accelerated form of evolution.
When an antibiotic is administered to a human or canine, hazardous bacteria are eradicated.
However, it might not account for all of them.
Certain species are able to endure antibiotics due to the presence of specific genetic variants that confer resistance.
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Upon surviving, these bacteria transmit their resistance DNA to their progeny.
Moreover, genetic material can also be transferred between bacteria. This indicates that they are capable of exchanging resistance genes without reproducing.
Antibiotic prescribing restrictions implemented in recent years may have been an attempt to alleviate the situation. However, the new study suggests that the issue may have progressed beyond manageable limits.
“More effective measures should be implemented to control the occurrence and spread of [multi-drug resistant] E. coli from companion animals, as suggested by the high detection rates of [multi-drug resistant] E. coli in our study,” the researchers wrote.
