Characterization of 2carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales isolated from canine rectal swabs.

Abstract

Globally, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) cause life-threatening, hospital-acquired infections in people, and have been reported recently among veterinary patients. Organisms that produce acarbapenemase (KPC) are one of the most common CPE isolated from people but have been reported only rarely in animals. We characterized 2 KPC-producing Enterobacterales isolated from companion animal rectal swabs during the response to an outbreak caused by a strain of. Both isolates were characterized by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and analysis. The first isolate (case A) was from an immunosuppressed 6-y-old Yorkshire Terrier and was identified as(ST372) with agene and an IncFII plasmid. The second isolate (case B) was from a 3-y-old Labrador Retriever with acute diarrhea and was identified aswith agene, multiple plasmids (ColRNAI, pKPC-CAV1193), and a putative enterotoxin gene (). Further research is needed to determine what role animals might play in the epidemiology of CPE in communities. It is imperative that all CPE isolated from companion animals be fully characterized by WGS and the associated case examined. All veterinary isolates should be sequenced and shared for surveillance, monitoring, and investigation purposes.