Emergence of Virulent Extensively Drug-Resistant Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Among Diarrheic Pet Animals: A Possible Public Health Threat on the Move.

Abstract

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become an increasing public health concern in the past few decades, being associated with serious multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. This study was conducted to investigate the role of diarrheic pet animals as potential reservoirs for virulent extensively drug-resistant (XDR) VRE and their threat on human health.Rectal swabs were collected from 153 diarrheic pet animals (80 dogs and 73 cats). The collected swabs were cultured on CHROMagarVRE for the isolation of vancomycin-resistantand, and then suspected colonies were identified as enterococci after Gram staining, conventional biochemical tests, and molecular techniques. VRE were basically identified using the disk diffusion method; however, molecular identification ofandgenes was carried out among confirmed VRE isolates. Moreover, three virulence genes (cytolysin A,; enterococcal surface protein,; and hyaluronidase,) were investigated in VRE isolates. Thereafter, VRE strains that harbored virulence genes were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.Eighteen out of 153 animals (11.8%) were positive for VRE, which were obtained from 15% and 8.2% of the examined dogs and cats, respectively. None of the obtained isolates carried thegene, whereas thegene was detected in(4/10) with a prevalence rate (40%). Of the obtained VRE isolates, five possessedand/or, while all strains were negative for thegene. Furthermore, four virulent VRE isolates exhibited an XDR pattern, and one isolate was MDR.Diarrheic pet animals could represent a potential zoonotic reservoir for virulent XDR vancomycin-resistant, which may have serious public health implications.