Risk factors associated with Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Gut Colonization in Healthy Community Dogs in Israel. Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales in Healthy Community Dogs in Israel

Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem in human and veterinary medicine. We aimed to investigate Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase producing Enterbacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy community dogs in Israel. A cross sectional study was performed, including rectal swabs sampled from 145 healthy dogs. Samples were enriched, plated on selective plates, sub-cultured to obtain pure cultures and ESBL production was confirmed. Bacterial species were identified and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were assessed. Escherichia coli phylogenetic groups ESBL genes were deter-mined. Owners' questioners were collected for risk factor analysis. ESBL-PE gut colonization rate was 6.2% (n=9/145, 95% CI 2.9-11.5); ten ESBL-PE isolates (one dog had two isolates) were collected. The main species was E. coli (eight isolates), and the phylogenetic groups included B1 (four isolates), A (three isolates) and C (one isolate). The blaCTX-M-1 gene group was identified in five isolated. Five isolates were identified as multidrug resistant (MDR). In multivariable risk factor analysis, coprophagia was identified as a risk factor for ESBL-PE gut colonization (p=0.048, a OR=4.408, 95% CI 1.014-19.169). These findings demonstrate that healthy community dogs in Israel may be colonized with ESBL-PE MDR strains. This subject should be further investigated to reveal spread and acquisition mechanisms.