Diversity of bacteria isolated from pets and exotic pets, human wildlife conflict, microbiology perspective

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance among bacteria in pet populations poses a significant threat to both animal and human health due to the risk of zoonotic transmission. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and diversity of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in a wide range of domestic and exotic pets in Guelma, Algeria. Samples were collected from various pets including cats, dogs, hamsters, squirrels, monkeys, budgies, cockatiels, goldfinches, parrots, fennec foxes, terrestrial turtles, koi fish, goldfish, and red cap oranda. Bacterial isolates were identified using biochemical and microbiological techniques, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested against a panel of commonly used antibiotics. A total of 16 bacterial isolates were identified, encompassing species such as Salmonella spp., Citrobacter koseri, Serratia spp., Enterobacter sakazakii, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Staphylococcus spp., and Aeromonas hydrophila. High resistance rates were observed against penicillin, amoxicillin, vancomycin, and rifamycin, whereas gentamicin showed the highest efficacy. The findings highlight a concerning prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in pet populations of Guelma, emphasizing the urgent need for regular surveillance, prudent antibiotic use, and increased awareness to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria to humans and safeguard effective treatments