Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog dies from drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection
By Bordin, Jéssica Taina et al.·Published in Veterinary microbiology·2026·School of Veterinary Medicine, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fatal septicemia caused by human-associated NDM-5-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST323 clone in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog in Brazil developed severe septicemia (a serious infection in the bloodstream) caused by a type of bacteria called Klebsiella pneumoniae that was resistant to many antibiotics. This particular strain, known as NDM-5, is usually found in humans and has become a concern for pets as well. The dog was infected with a multidrug-resistant version of this bacteria, which can be difficult to treat. This case highlights the importance of monitoring antibiotic resistance in both pets and people to prevent the spread of these dangerous infections.
People also search for: dog septicemia treatment · antibiotic-resistant bacteria in dogs · Klebsiella pneumoniae in pets
Abstract
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), particularly those harboring New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), represent a growing global health threat due to their resistance to carbapenems and other β-lactam antimicrobials. While the presence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is well-documented in human healthcare settings, its emergence in companion animals remains a critical concern. This study reports the identification and genomic characterization of an NDM-5-producing K. pneumoniae strain (ICBKPJB) isolated from an infected dog in Brazil. Strain ICBKPJB exhibited a multidrug resistance profile, including to carbapenems, and carried multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, highlighting blaand bla. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that ICBKPJB belongs to the human healthcare-associated clone of the sequence type (ST) 323, whereas phylogenomic analysis grouped the ICBKPJB strain with human and environmental ST323 strains (SNP counts ranging from 95 to 147). The presence of an IncX3 plasmid harboring the blagene was confirmed, whereas in silico plasmid analysis demonstrated that it was closely related to plasmids found in K. pneumoniae strains from both humans and animals worldwide. These findings underscore the risk of interspecies transmission of CPE and emphasize the need to strengthen alliances between human and veterinary medicine to address the emergence, spread, and circulation of carbapenem resistance across both sectors.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41232225/