Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urinary E. coli in dogs - traits, resistance, and biofilms
By Gilbertie, Jessica M et al.·Published in Veterinary microbiology·2020·North Carolina State University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic characterization and comparison of virulence, biofilm, and antimicrobial resistance in urinary Escherichia coli isolated from canines.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in dogs, with Escherichia coli being the main bacteria responsible. Researchers looked at 69 samples of this bacteria from dogs with UTIs to understand their ability to form biofilms (a protective layer that helps bacteria survive) and their resistance to antibiotics. They discovered that while some strains could form biofilms, they were often less resistant to multiple antibiotics. This means that even if a bacteria seems susceptible to treatment, its ability to form biofilms could make it harder to eliminate. This information can help vets better manage stubborn or recurring UTIs in dogs.
People also search for: dog urinary tract infection treatment · E. coli in dogs · antibiotic resistance in canine UTIs
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect nearly half of women and an estimated 14 % of the canine companion animal population at least once in their lifetime. As with humans, Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated bacteria from canine UTIs and infections are dominated by specific phylogenetic groups with notable virulence attributes. In this study, we evaluated uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) (n = 69) isolated from canine UTIs phenotypically and genotypically for virulence factors, biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance profiles. Biofilm formation in UPEC strains was positively associated with common virulence factors including papG (p = 0.006), fimH (p < 0.0001), sfaS (p = 0.004), focA (p = 0.004), cnf-1 (p = 0.009) and hlyA (p = 0.006). There was a negative association between biofilm formation and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance for ampicillin (p < 0.0004), ciprofloxacin (p < 0.0001), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (p < 0.02), as well as multidrug resistance (isolates resistant to ≥ 3 classes of antimicrobials) (p < 0.0002), and the presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing genes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, UPECs isolated from clinical cases of canine UTIs show a broad negative association between antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation, and this observation is supported both by phenotypic and genotypic endpoints. As the biofilm formation may result in antimicrobial tolerance, this could be a secondary evasive tactic of UPEC lacking traditional antimicrobial resistance traits. This observation is important for veterinary practitioners to consider when treating puzzling chronic intractable and/or recurrent cases of UTI that appear to be susceptible to antimicrobial therapy via traditional antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32937249/