The bugs are also drug-resistant.
A recent study suggests that dogs and cats can transmit antibiotic-resistant bacteria to their owners, adding to concerns surrounding the global antibiotics crisis. Research presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global Congress in Barcelona revealed instances of these “superbugs” being exchanged between sick pets and their healthy human companions in the U.K. and Portugal.
Lead researcher Juliana Menezes, a doctoral student affiliated with the University of Lisbon’s Antibiotic Resistance Lab, noted that these cases challenge the conventional belief that humans are the primary carriers of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria within households. The World Health Organization underscores antibiotic resistance as a significant public health threat, with drug-resistant infections claiming over 1.2 million lives annually and projected to escalate to 10 million by 2050 if left unaddressed.
The study encompassed 43 households in Portugal, comprising 78 humans, 38 dogs, and five cats, as well as 22 households in the U.K., consisting of 56 humans and 22 dogs. While all humans were healthy, the dogs were afflicted with infections. Researchers conducted tests on fecal and urine samples, along with skin swabs, from both pets and owners to identify bacteria resistant to common antibiotics.
Among the findings, researchers identified five households where both owners and pets—particularly cats and dogs—harbored bacteria resistant to cephalosporins. Genetic analysis revealed identical strains in both pets and owners, indicating transmission between them. Cephalosporins, classified by the WHO as crucial antibiotics, are vital in treating various infections such as meningitis and pneumonia.
Additionally, dogs were found to carry bacteria resistant to carbapenems, which serve as a last resort in human medicine. While all pets were successfully treated for their infections, researchers couldn’t definitively determine the direction of transmission. However, timing of positive tests in Portuguese homes strongly suggested transmission from pets to humans.
Transmission between pets and humans occurs through simple interactions like petting, touching, and handling waste. Researchers advise pet owners to wash their hands after such interactions to minimize the risk of transmission. Menezes emphasized the importance of including pet-owning households in national antibiotic resistance monitoring programs to inform targeted interventions and safeguard both animal and human health.
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