Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant public health concern in companion animals, yet systematic surveillance in North Macedonia is lacking. This study investigated the prevalence of resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from 112 fecal samples from dogs in six shelters in North Macedonia and evaluated the associated risk factors, providing the first baseline dataset for this population. High resistance was observed for sulfamethoxazole (68.75%), ampicillin (52.68%), and ciprofloxacin (41.07%). Multidrug resistance was present in 50% of the isolates, with 17 (15.17%) confirmed as ESBL producers. Additionally, 18 isolates (16.1%) were identified as AmpC producers, 16 of which carried the blaCMY-2 gene. Notably, 72.2% of ESBL/AmpC isolates were resistant to ertapenem despite the absence of carbapenemase genes, a finding that warrants further investigation. Risk factors such as shared housing, longer shelter stays, and frequent empirical antimicrobial use were identified as probable contributors to the carriage of ESBL-/AmpC-producing E. coli. None of the shelters had antimicrobial stewardship protocols or routine diagnostic testing, revealing critical gaps in infection control and antimicrobial practices. These findings underscore the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance in North Macedonia’s companion animal populations within the One Health framework.

Background: Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are zoonotic nematodes of dogs and cats that maintain a human infection risk through environmental contamination with highly resistant eggs. Data on toxocariasis in North Macedonia are limited, and ocular toxocariasis (OT) remains a clinically important but easily overlooked manifestation of human infection. Methods: This retrospective assessment combined coprological data from dogs and cats with a complementary clinical description of a human case of OT. Routine fecal samples from dogs and cats from January 2018 to March 2026 were morphologically examined. The human case of OT was a 13-year-old boy with unilateral ocular disease. Results: Of 465 samples, Toxocara spp. eggs were detected in 14, corresponding to an overall detection of 3.0%. Detection was 3.0% in dogs (11/371) and 3.2% in cats (3/94), with no significant difference between species. The human clinical component involved unilateral visual loss, strabismus, and posterior segment inflammatory changes. Conclusions: Dogs and cats in North Macedonia showed sporadic Toxocara spp. egg shedding, supporting ongoing zoonotic exposure potential. The clinically confirmed OT case complements the animal data and underscores the need for improved awareness among clinicians and veterinarians, as well as strengthened preventive measures aimed at reducing environmental contamination and zoonotic exposure.

This study aimed to characterize Echinococcus genotypes infecting ruminants in North Macedonia and estimate their epidemiological significance and possible public health implications. Samples from 69 ruminants were collected between 2021 and 2022, with one cyst per animal analyzed for genetic diversity through amplification and sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) mitochondrial gene. Using the neighbor-joining method, phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced data was performed using MAFFT for sequence alignment, trimming, and tree construction with MEGAX. Phylogenetic analysis identified two major genotypes: G1 and G3. Among the samples, 38/61 sheep (62.3%) were G1, and 23/61 sheep (37.7%) were G3. Both G1 and G3 genotypes were detected in 4/8 isolates (50%) in cattle. This study provides the first molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus (s.s.) genotypes (G1 and G3) in North Macedonian ruminants. The predominance of these highly zoonotic genotypes highlights significant public health risks and underscores the urgent need for integrated surveillance programs targeting both animal and human populations. These findings provide essential baseline data for implementing targeted control strategies in this endemic region.