Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales strains causing infections in companion animals-Portugal

An increase in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenem-resistant human nosocomial strains is occurring in Europe, namely with the bla_OXA-48-like and bla_KPClike genes. We determined the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales clinical strains in companion animals in Portugal and characterized their mobile genetic elements. Susceptibility data of a consecutive collection of 977 Enterobacterales clinical strains from a Portuguese private veterinary diagnostic laboratory were evaluated (January-December 2020). Additional phenotypical and genotypical assays were performed in a subset of 261 strains with a resistant phenotype. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for carbapenemase-producing strains. The frequency of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales clinical strains in companion animals in Portugal was 0.51% (n = 5/977). Thus, five strains were characterized: (i) one OXA-181producing K. pneumoniae ST273, (ii) two KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae ST147; (iii) one KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae ST392; and (iv) one OXA-48-producing E. coli ST127. The bla_KPC-3 gene was located on transposon Tn4401d on IncFIA type plasmid for the K. pneumoniae ST147 strains and on a IncN-type plasmid for the K. pneumoniae ST392 strain, while bla_OXA-181 gene was located on an IncX3 plasmid. All de novo assembled plasmids and plasmid-encoded transposons harboring carbapenemase genes were homologous to those previously described in the human healthcare. No plasmid replicons were detected on the OXA-48-producing E. coli ST127. The dissemination of carbapenem resistance is occurring horizontally via plasmid spreading from the human high burden carbapenem resistance setting to the companion animal sector. Furthermore, companion animals may act as reservoirs of carbapenem resistance. Implementation of carbapenemase detection methods in routine clinical veterinary microbiology is urgently needed.