Isolation of a Multidrug-Resistant vanA-Positive Enterococcus faecium Strain from a Canine Clinical Sample in Greece

An Enterococcus faecium strain was obtained from a paraprostatic cyst of a 17-year-old dog in Greece. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was accomplished by disc diffusion and MIC methods, and the isolate demonstrated a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype against a great variety of antibiotics, such as β-Lactams, Quinolones, Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Rifampin, Nitrofurantoin, and surprisingly, Glycopeptides, Fosfomycin and Gentamicin (high-level). Molecular screening for Vancomycin resistance genes was carried out, and a vanA gene cluster was identified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a vanA-positive E. faecium strain isolated from a companion animal in Greece. Importantly, this strain was related with the presence of paraprostatic cysts, a pathological condition requiring treatment. The presence of a highly resistant isolate in a canine clinical sample and the consequent need for treatment constitutes a new challenge for veterinarians due to the lack of available treatment options. Our findings indicate the occurrence of respective bacteria in companion animals, which could act as a reservoir of epidemic MDR strains or relevant mobile genetic elements (MGE) in the community, constituting a threat for public health.