Epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp. in pet dogs: Implications for public health.

Background: Salmonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens that can be transmitted from pets and other animals to humans. The incidence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains poses a severe threat to both veterinary and public health.

Aim: This study aimed to isolate and identify Salmonella spp. in pet dogs and evaluate the antibiotic sensitivities of the isolated bacteria to assess public health risk in this context.

Methods: Rectal swabs were collected from 140 pet dogs attending veterinary clinics and cultured in selective media. Biochemical tests and API 20E strips identified presumptive Salmonella spp. Antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with a panel of antibiotics commonly used for empirical therapy, and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for selected strains.

Results: Salmonella spp. were isolated from 25 (17.9%) dogs, with the highest prevalence observed among younger dogs (≤ 3 years). Higher rates of isolation were observed in Labradors and Bulldogs. Antibiotic resistance testing was performed on all isolates, revealing that 60% were resistant to tetracycline, 48% to amoxicillin, and 28% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, with lower rates of resistance for ciprofloxacin (12%) and gentamicin (20%). The isolation of multidrug-resistant strains, mainly those resistant to last-resort antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, represents a significant concern.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of surveillance for Salmonella prevalence and antibiotic resistance in pet dogs for public health. This study shows that continued surveillance and research are needed to strengthen our prevention of Salmonella transmission and to control and find new ways to combat antibiotic resistance in veterinary and human medicine.