ESBL/pAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae from healthy bearded dragons (Pogona Vitticepts): Preliminary results

Joaquim Smolders; Rui Patrício; Andreia Valença; Leonor Silveira; Ângela Pista; João Paulo Gomes; Alexandra Nunes; Adriana Belas

doi:10.60543/rlcmv.v18i.9968

Joaquim Smolders Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749 - 024 Lisboa
Rui Patrício Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária- Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário de Lisboa
Andreia Valença Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária- Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário de Lisboa
Leonor Silveira National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ângela Pista National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.
João Paulo Gomes Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.
Alexandra Nunes Centro de Investigação Veterinária e Animal (CECAV), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal.
Adriana Belas Centro de Investigação Veterinária e Animal (CECAV), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.60543/rlcmv.v18i.9968

Resumo

Objectives: With the increasing trend of keeping bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) as pets, there is a higher risk of transmitting multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria to humans. This study aimed to evaluate the presence od ESBL/pAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella spp. from healthy bearded dragons.

Material and methods: From March to April 2023, oral cavity and cloacal swab samples from healthy bearded dragons (n=20) were collected from different breeders/owners from the Lisbon area, Portugal. 3GC-resistance Enterobacteriacea were screened MacConkey agar supplemented with 1.0 μg/mL of cefotaxime and Salmonella spp. isolates on IRIS Salmonella® (Biokar) agar. Salmonella spp. serotyping was performed according to White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method following the EUCAST and CLSI guidelines. β-lactamase genes were confirmed by PCR.

Results: In this study, 10% (n=2/20) animals were colonized with C3G-resistant Enterobacterales, specifially Klebsiella aerogenes (n=2) and Escherichia coli (n=1). C3G-resistant E. coli was identified in the cloaca and the following β-lactamase genes were detected: bla_OXA-1, bla_TEM, bla_{CTX-M-grupo 1}.K. aerogenes isolates were detected in both cavities of the same animal. K.aerogenes isolates were positive for bla_TEMand bla_DHAgenes_.These isolates were MDR. Also, in this study, 25% (n=5/20) of the animals were found to be colonized with Salmonella spp. Addicionally, three distinct S. enterica serovars were detected: S. subsp. enterica enterica ser. pomona (n=1), S. subsp. enterica diarizonae ser. 53:k:e,n,x,z15 (n=1) e S. subsp. enterica ser. kentucky (n=2). All Salmonella spp. isolates were susceptible to all the classes of antimicrobials studied.

Conclusion: This study has provided crucial information about the presence of potentially zoonotic bacteria, with particular attention to salmonella spp. and ESBL/pAmpC-producing Enterobacteriacea. The close interaction with bearded dragons may pose a risk to human health, particularly considering antimicrobial resistance, which is a growing concern in public health.

Keywords: Bearded dragons, ESBL/pAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella spp..

Funding: This project was funded by the FMV-ULusófona Dissertations’ Research Grants 2022-2023.

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