Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing and Multidrug Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Among Clinical Isolates From Dogs Admitted to a Veterinary Hospital in Vienna

Companion animals, such as dogs, have been shown to carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria and therefore pose the risk to the environmental, animal and human health because of the close contacts with all three domains of One Health. However, little is known about the current carriage rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Viennese dogs. In this project, we aim to close this gap by comprehensively screening dogs admitted to the university veterinary clinic for carriage of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)- producing and Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae, which are considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the most critically important to human health group of pathogens. Phenotypically-resistant ESBL isolates will be further tested for resistance to other clinically important antibiotics (including last resort antibiotics) and whole-genome sequenced to identify specific resistance and virulence genes. Finally, we will test for any association between resistance level and various health record factors of the dog patients to identify risk factors. Our findings will improve the understanding of the prevalence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms among dogs in Vienna and may serve as an early warning system for occurrence of multi drug resistant bacteria in the city.

Hochschuljubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien

Klinisches Zentrum für Kleintiere
Zentrum für Lebensmittelwissenschaften und Öffentliches Veterinärwesen
Klinisches Zentrum für Kleintiere