JOURNAL OF CURRENT DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH (JCDR)

OCCURRENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF ENTEROBACTERIACEAE ISOLATED FROM COMPANION DOGS AND FISH POND WATER IN ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA

Abstract

The emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae constitute a growing public health threat within the One Health interface linking humans, animals, and the environment. This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and preliminary phenotypic carbapenem susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from companion dogs and fish pond water in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A total of 50 rectal swab samples from dogs and 25 fish pond water samples were aseptically collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Isolates were identified based on colonial morphology, Gram staining, and biochemical characterization, while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Preliminary phenotypic carbapenem susceptibility screening was conducted using imipenem and meropenem discs. Thirty-seven Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered, comprising Klebsiella pneumoniae (31/37, 83.8%) and Escherichia coli (6/37, 16.2%). Among dog isolates, K. pneumoniae accounted for 16/21 (76.1%) and E. coli for 5/21 (23.9%), while fish pond water samples yielded predominantly K. pneumoniae isolates (15/16, 93.7%). High resistance rates were observed among K. pneumoniae isolates against amoxicillin–clavulanate (87.5%), nitrofurantoin (81.3%), cefuroxime (68.8%), gentamicin (87.5%), levofloxacin (87.5%), and nalidixic acid (75.0%). Preliminary carbapenem screening revealed resistance to imipenem in 7/28 (25.0%) and meropenem in 2/28 (7.1%) of K. pneumoniae isolates, whereas E. coli isolates remained susceptible. The findings highlight companion animals and aquatic environments as important reservoirs of MDR Enterobacteriaceae and emphasize the need for strengthened surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and integrated One Health interventions.