Antimicrobial resistance and transmission potential of pet-derived Providencia spp. in China
Xukun Dang1, Shizhen Ma2, Junyao Jiang3
1Technology Innovation Center for Food Safety Surveillance and Detection (Hainan), Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Beijing Zhongnongda Veterinary Hospital Co., Ltd., Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Objective:
Providencia spp. are opportunistic Gram-negative pathogens associated with urinary tract, wound, and healthcare-associated infections. Although reported in livestock, little is known about the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Providencia spp. in pets. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, AMR profiles, and genomic characteristics of Providencia spp. isolated from diseased pets in China.
Methods:
Overall, 7633 canine and feline clinical isolates collected between 2018 and 2023 were screened for Providencia spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, plasmid analysis, and phylogenetic analysis were performed to characterize resistance determinants and assess potential transmission relationships.
Results:
Six Providencia isolates from dogs were identified: five Providencia stuartii and, for the first time in pets, one Providencia hangzhouensis. The P. stuartii isolates exhibited resistance to fluoroquinolones, florfenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, while remaining largely susceptible to 3rd- and 4th-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. In contrast, the P. hangzhouensis isolate (23p6) showed resistance to cephalosporins. Whole-genome sequencing revealed multiple resistance and virulence genes, as well as mutations in gyrA and parC associated with fluoroquinolone resistance. Plasmid analysis identified an IS26-flanked composite transposon carrying tet(D) in close proximity to blaTEM-1. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close relatedness between pet-derived P. stuartii isolates and human and environmental isolates, while the P. hangzhouensis isolate clustered with fly-derived isolates, suggesting potential cross-species and environmental transmission.
Conclusions:
This study expands the host spectrum of Providencia spp. and provides the first evidence of P. hangzhouensis in companion animals, highlighting their potential role in AMR dissemination and the need for enhanced surveillance and prudent antimicrobial use.
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