Distribution of sequence types and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from dogs and cats visiting a veterinary teaching hospital in Thailand.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen in dogs and cats and is resistant to several antimicrobial drugs; however, data on the clonal distribution of P. aeruginosa in veterinary hospital are limited. This study aimed to investigate the clonal dissemination and antimicrobial resistance of clinical P. aeruginosa in a veterinary teaching hospital in Thailand within a 1-year period. Minimum inhibitory concentration determination and whole genome sequencing were used for antimicrobial susceptibility analysis and genetic determination, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-nine P. aeruginosa were isolated mostly from the skin, urinary tract, and ear canal of 39 dogs and 10 cats. These isolates belonged to 39 sequence types (STs) that included 9 strains of high-risk clones of ST235 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2), ST244 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2), ST274 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2), ST277 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;1), ST308 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;1), and ST357 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;1). Overall antimicrobial resistance rate was low (<&#x2009;25%), and no colistin-resistant strains were found. Two carbapenem-resistant strains belonging to ST235 and ST3405 were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical P. aeruginosa in dogs and cats represent STs diversity. High-risk clones and carbapenem-resistant strains are a public health concern. Nevertheless, this study was limited by a small number of isolates. Continuous monitoring is needed, particularly in large-scale settings with high numbers of P. aeruginosa, to restrict bacterial transfer from companion animal to humans in a veterinary hospital.