Spread of the blaOXA-48/IncL Plasmid within and between Dogs in City Parks, France

The bla(OXA-48)/IncL plasmid is increasingly reported in dogs, even in the absence of carbapenem use in animals. In this study, we witnessed the spread of this plasmid within and between dogs sharing the same relaxing area. This indicates a very dynamic situation where carbapenem resistance can be transmitted between dogs and expanded in the dogs' gut. As a consequence, picking up dog feces may lower both this dynamic and the global antimicrobial resistance burden. IMPORTANCE The use of carbapenems in animals is forbidden in France due to their critical importance to treat human diseases. Nevertheless, bla(OXA-48)-producing Enterobacterales were sporadically recovered in cats and dogs, most likely as a spill over from the human reservoir. This study highlights the rapid spread of bla(OXA-48) once transmitted to dogs, suggesting that companion animals can play a role in the transmission routes of carbapenemase genes. The use of carbapenems in animals is forbidden in France due to their critical importance to treat human diseases. Nevertheless, bla(OXA-48)-producing Enterobacterales were sporadically recovered in cats and dogs, most likely as a spill over from the human reservoir.

Automated summary

This study reveals the rapid spread of bla(OXA-48) plasmid among dogs, indicating a potential role of companion animals in the transmission of carbapenemase genes. Picking up dog feces may help reduce the global burden of antimicrobial resistance.