Companion animals can transmit zoonotic pathogens. These are disease-causing microorganisms that pass between animals and humans. The same is true for household or pet dogs. Hence, researchers from Pennsylvania State University investigated how the close contact between dogs and humans, combined with the use of critical antibiotics in veterinary medicine, increases the risk of spreading antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella.
Study: Pet Dogs Are Often Overlooked As Spreaders of Antimicrobial-Resistant Salmonella
Researchers S. M. Kenney, N. M. M’ikanatha, and E. Ganda pursued a biosurveillance approach to investigate the presence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella in dogs and its potential transmission to humans. These involved analyzing 87 Salmonella strains from dogs and 77 strains from humans that were collected across 17 states in the United States from 2017 to 2023. Data about these strains specifically came from the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Pathogen Isolate Browser of the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Findings
• Salmonella Serovars: The dog isolates include diverse Salmonella serological variants or serovars. Most of these serovars are considered a threat to human health.
• Genetic Resistance: Isolates that carry genes that confer antimicrobial resistance are considered critical or highly important by the World Health Organization.
• Matching Strains: Six dog-associated strains had close genetic matches to 16 human isolates. These suggest a possible transmission between dogs and humans.
Implications
Dogs share intimate living spaces with humans. This increases the risk of specific zoonotic events or disease transmission. Furthermore, in the U.S. alone, because more than half of households own dogs, maintaining vigilance through hygiene and surveillance is essential for public health.
Note that the study underscores a One Health approach. This integrates human, animal, and environmental health to address zoonotic diseases like Salmonella. The authors stress the need for responsible use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine to limit the emergence of bacteria with specific antibiotic resistance.
Furthermore, aside from external exposures, pet products, like contaminated treats or improperly handled food, can act as sources of Salmonella infections. Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and proper food handling, can mitigate the risk of Salmonella transmission.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Kenney, S. M., M’ikanatha, N. M., and Ganda, E. 2024. “Antimicrobial Resistance and Zoonotic Potential of Nontyphoidal Salmonella From Household Dogs.” In Zoonoses and Public Health. Wiley. DOI: 1111/zph.13174