ESBL/AmpC-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Fecal Colonization in Dogs after Elective Surgery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence and load of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae fecal carriage in healthy dogs. Fecal samples were collected from dogs submitted to surgical procedures (n = 25). Fecal samples were collected before surgery (BS) and after surgery (AS). β-lactamases were detected by PCR. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software (v.9.4); a p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae bacteria species detected in this study were E. coli, K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae. TEM, and CTX-M-1 group genes were the most frequent β-lactamases detected. The number of dogs colonized with 3GC-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria was significantly higher in the AS (63.6%, n = 14/22) group compared to in the BS group (20.0%, n = 5/25, p = 0.0033). The ESBL/AmpC-producing bacteria fecal load was significantly higher in the AS group compared to in the BS (p = 0.025) group. This study shows that 3GC-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and ESBLs/AmpC producers in the veterinary clinical practice are a concern and highlights the need to implement preventive measures to minimize their spread.