One health transmission of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli and risk factors for their excretion by dogs living in urban and nearby rural settings

Rates of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli, a key opportunistic human pathogen, are problematic. Taking a One Health approach, we investigated the excretion of fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) E. coli by 600 dogs (303 from rural and 297 from urban environments) recruited from a 50 x 50 km region where we have also surveyed FQ-R E. coli from cattle and from human urine. FQ-R E. coli were detected in faeces from 7.3% (rural) and 11.8% (urban) of dogs. FQ-R E. coli from rural dogs tended to be of sequence types (STs) commonly excreted by cattle, whilst those from urban dogs tended to carry plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes, common in human E. coli in our study region. Phylogenetic evidence was obtained for sharing FQ-R E. coli - particularly for STs 10, 162 and 744 - between cattle, dogs and humans. Epidemiological analysis showed a strong association between feeding dogs uncooked meat and the excretion of FQ-R E. coli, particularly for STs 10, 162 and 744. This practice, therefore, could serve as a transmission link for FQ-R E. coli from farmed animals entering the home so we suggest that dogs fed uncooked meat should be handled and housed using enhanced hygiene practices.

Automated summary

This study investigated the excretion of fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli by dogs in rural and urban environments and found that rural dogs tend to excrete bacteria types commonly found in cattle, while urban dogs carry plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes similar to those found in human E. coli. Feeding dogs uncooked meat was identified as a potential transmission link for fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, emphasizing the importance of enhanced hygiene practices for handling and housing such dogs.