Abstract
The origins and virulence potential of fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) Escherichia coli from dogs with urinary tract infection (UTI) are undefined. Therefore, fluoroquinolone-resistant (n = 38) or susceptible (n = 62) E. coli urine isolates from dogs with UTI were characterized for phylogenetic group (A, B1, B2, D) and 61 virulence-associated genes by multiplex PCR, then were compared according to these characteristics. Compared with fluoroquinolone-susceptible (FQ-S) isolates, the fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates exhibited significantly lower prevalences for most virulence genes studied (albeit higher prevalences for several, including iutA: aerobactin receptor), significantly fewer virulence genes per isolate, and shifts away from virulence-associated group B2. Nonetheless, 26% of fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates qualified as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), suggesting possible human virulence potential. The findings call into question whether the fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli encountered in dogs arise through conversion of fluoroquinolone-susceptible canine resident strains to resistance, or instead are imported from an external source. They also identify dogs as a possible reservoir of drug-resistant ExPEC for transmission to other pets and humans.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 108-114 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Veterinary Microbiology |
| Volume | 136 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 14 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This material is based upon work supported by Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs and grants from the National Institutes of Health. Dave Prentiss (VA Medical Center) prepared the figures. Cara Cooke assisted with isolate acquisition.
Keywords
- Dogs
- Escherichia coli infections
- Fluoroquinolone resistance
- Phylogenetic group
- Urinary tract infection
- Virulence
