Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant (ESC-R) Enterobacterales in healthy pets is a concerning issue. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, genetic background, and potential for interspecies transmission of these bacteria between dogs and humans within the same household (HH) or shelter environment in Romania. Faecal samples (n = 263) collected from healthy dogs (n = 102), their owners (n = 32), as well as dogs (n = 110) and staff (n = 19) from dog shelters, were screened for ESC-R carriage. Clonal relatedness of canine and human Escherichia coli isolates was established using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), followed by Illumina WGS of selected isolates. The highest prevalence of ESC-R Enterobacterales faecal carriage was identified in staff working at dog shelters (78.9%), followed by dogs from households (44.11%), dog owners (43.7%), and dogs from shelters (27%). FTIR identified 15 clusters of closely related E. coli isolates, including dog and human isolates from the same environment. Co-carriage of ESC-R isolates in both the dog and owner was identified in 12 HHs (37.5%), with two HHs (6%) having both the owner and dog carrying isolates with identical FTIR spectra, phylogroup, resistance genes, and Inc plasmids. Major ExPEC lineages such as ST127, ST10, ST155, and ST88 were detected in human and dog isolates. Our study revealed a high prevalence of faecal ESC-R E. coli carriage in both dogs and humans from Romanian households and shelters, where bidirectional clonal transmission between humans and dogs is likely. Furthermore, we identified ESC-R Enterobacterales co-carriage in people and dogs sharing the same environment using FTIR, demonstrating its value in AMR surveillance for humans and animals.

Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) infection is caused by feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), and it is considered one of the most severe cat’s infectious diseases. Since there is no specific antiviral treatment for FPL, the therapeutic protocol usually is focused on fluid therapy and supportive care. However, filgrastim, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) used in human medicine to treat neutropenia and leukopenia, has been lately used in treating FPV disease, providing promising results. During January 2022 and September 2024, twenty-two cats diagnosed with feline panleukopenia virus were subjected to filgrastim (Zarzio^®, Sandoz, Kundl, Austria) administration at a dose of 6 µg/kg for 3 consecutive days. The 4th day was a break day, and in the 5th day, the complete blood count was repeated. White blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils parameters improved after Zarzio^® administration, with a significant statistical difference (p < 0.01) when their values between day 1 (pre Zarzio^® administration) and day 5 (post Zarzio^® administration) were analysed. However, red blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit and platelets parameters registered a considerable reduction from day 1 to day 5 with a significant statistical difference (p < 0.01), considered as post-administration side effects. In our study, the survival rate following Zarzio^® administration was 100%, suggesting that the protocol involving three doses is effective in restoring the leukopenia and neutropenia.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of β-lactamase (TEM, SHV, OXA), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and genes encoding plasmid mediated resistance to quinolones (PMQR) in extended spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from dog faeces from two shelters in the North-East of Romania. Eighty-eight faecal samples from healthy dogs were analysed by cultivation on Brilliance ESBL medium (Oxoid, UK), followed by phenotipic ESBL screening using combination disc test (CDT). Identification of the E. coli strains was performed by uidA/uspA gene PCR. Susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton Agar, with β-lactam and non-β-lactam agents. Identification of β-lactamase genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA) and PMQR genes (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS) was performed by PCR as previously described. Twenty eight ESC-resistant E. coli (31.81%) were obtained and (n=21/28, 75%) of these were confirmed as ESBLs and showed resistance to cefpodoxime (n=21/28, 75%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (n=19/21; 90.48%), and enrofloxacin (n=8/21; 38.09%). Predominant ESBL types were CTX-M-1 (n=15/17, 88.24%) and CTX-M-9 (n=2/17, 11.76%) enzymes. TEM and SHV enzymes were identified in 17.86% and 14.29% of the ESC-resistant isolates, whilst some isolates (n=4) carried only blaTEM and blaSHV. The prevalence of PMQR genes was 28.57% of the 28 ESC resistant isolates, consisting of qnrS (62.5%) and qnrB (37.5%). These findings indicate a high prevalence of ESBLs and PMQR associated resistance E. coli in the normal faecal microbiota of dogs from shelters, which carries the risk for dissemination of these resistance genes to other animals, human or the environment.

The animals producing food have become an increasing reservoir of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae. The calves and cows are exposed to a greater quantity of antibiotics, but the data concerning the prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae are not enough, in comparison with other species of animals used for human consumption, such as birds (Hordijk et al., 2013).The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli involved in some episodes of colibacilosis in calves. Faeces samples were collected from 33 calves with the age ranging between 1-2 weeks and that presented clinical signs of colibacilosis. The samples were collected in a sterile medium for the taxonomic isolation and identification of the etiological agent involved, the ESBL screening being conducted subsequently using the ESBL Agar Oxoid Brilliance chromogenic medium. The phenotypic confirmation of the ESBL-producing strains was conducted in accordance with the CLSI (2014) standard through the combined disc method. Following the tests conducted, out of the 33 strains of isolated E. coli, 9 (27, 27%) were phenotypically confirmed as being ESBL strains.The studies that were previously conducted on the dairy farms have pointed out that the young calves rapidly acquire bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics that are often ESBL strains (Hordijk et al., 2013). The prevalence obtained by us, as well as an insufficient quantity of information concerning the antimicrobial resistance on this segment of species of animals used for the human consumption, support conducting a more thorough study, as well as the identification of ESBL resistance genes, but also of the plasmids that encode the transmission of these genes.