Research Article: Survey-based risk factors and genomic characterization of oral and oropharyngeal Enterobacterales carriage in humans and companion animals: a One Health study
Abstract:
Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Enterobacterales, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing organisms, represent an important One Health concern involving humans, animals, and shared environments. This cross-sectional study evaluated survey-based risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal Enterobacterales carriage in humans and companion animals and characterized selected isolates using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Human and companion animal samples were collected from participants presenting to the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A 27-item questionnaire assessed pet-related exposures, household antimicrobial use, occupational exposures, and human-animal interactions. Among 255 humans, 13.7% were positive for Enterobacterales and 7.5% for Klebsiella spp. Among 197 dogs, 47.2% were positive for Enterobacterales, including 30.5% positive for E. coli and 8.1% positive for Klebsiella spp. Only one of 18 cats was positive for Enterobacterales. In humans, veterinary occupational exposure demonstrated a nonsignificant positive trend toward Klebsiella spp. carriage (OR?=?2.537, 95% CI: 0.963–6.688, p =?0.060). In dogs, antibiotic administration within the previous 12?months was associated with increased odds of Klebsiella spp. carriage (OR?=?3.850, 95% CI: 1.046–14.173, p =?0.043) and E. coli carriage (OR?=?3.049, 95% CI: 1.517–6.129, p =?0.002). Recent hospitalization within the previous 3?months was also associated with increased odds of canine Klebsiella spp. carriage (OR?=?4.134, 95% CI: 1.400–12.213, p =?0.010). Whole-genome sequencing of 36 Enterobacterales isolates revealed substantial genomic diversity and identified multiple clinically important resistance determinants, including CTX-M-15 and NDM-5. A previously unassigned Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type identified in both a human and canine isolate was subsequently assigned ST9790 through the Institut Pasteur Klebsiella MLST database. No shared bacterial species or sequence types were identified within matched human-animal pairs. These findings demonstrate associations between antimicrobial exposure and Enterobacterales carriage in companion animals and highlight the presence of clinically important antimicrobial resistance determinants in both humans and dogs. This study further supports the importance of continued One Health surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship efforts at the human-animal interface.
Introduction:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most critical public health challenges globally with resistant Enterobacterales, particularly extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), identified as urgent threats by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ( 1 ). Within the Enterobacterales order, Klebsiella spp. and others are significant pathogens responsible for severe community- and hospital-acquired infections in humans and…
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