Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter butzleri from Pets in Malaysia

Abstract

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in pets is not well understood and methods of surveillance are only beginning to be established in a few countries. The consequence of antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter and Arcobacter butzleri to public health is due to the propensity of the bacteria to swiftly acquire and disseminate resistance gene. Thus, making way for the emergence of new and very pathogenic clones resulting to difficulty in treatment with antimicrobials. The objectives of this study were to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns and multidrug-resistant (MDR) profiles of Campylobacter and Arcobacter butzleri isolated from dogs and cats and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance using the disc diffusion test and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. Ninety four (94) Arcobacterbutzleri and 28 Campylobacter isolates were tested against 12 antimicrobials using the disc diffusion method namely Ciprofloxacin (Cip) 5µg; Ampicillin (Amp), 10 µg; Tetracycline (Te), 30 µg; Erythromycin (E), 15 µg; gentamicin (CN), 10 µg; Cefotaxime (CTX), 30 µg; Penicillin G (P), µg; Streptomycin (S), µg; nalidixic acid (NA), µg; Enrofloxacin (Enr), µg; Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (AMC), µg and Ceftazidine (CAZ), µg. Using the M.I.C.E. strip, Campylobacter and A. butzleri isolates showed the exception in the resistance to ciprofloxacin. In comparison, the resistance rates between the disc diffusion and M.I.C. were not significantly different. The resistance patterns showed 18 and 35 antibiotypes for Campylobacter and Arcobacterbutzleri isolates respectively. Campylobacter isolates were found resistant to 9 antimicrobials while Arcobacter butzleri showed resistance to 10 antimicrobials. MDR was reported among 50% and 78.9% of Campylobacter and Arcobacterbutzleri isolates respectively. Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter and Arcobacter butzleri not only increase the risk of treatment failure in both human and animals but also spread antimicrobial resistance genes. Thus, the presence of Campylobacter in pets could be a potential source of human infections and environmental contamination.