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

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales are becoming a major worldwide concern in human and veterinary medicine, mainly due to the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). In this study, we investigated extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy dogs in the community. Overall, we sampled rectal swabs from 145 dogs, 6.2% of them were colonized with ESBL-PE and the main bacterial species was Escherichia coli. Coprophagia was identified as a risk factor for ESBL-PE gut colonization. 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.