PREVALENCE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM STRAY DOGS AND CATS OF DISTRICT TANDO ALLAHYAR

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens isolated from stray dogs and cats in Tando Allahyar and Chambar. A total of 100 samples, including saliva, tail wounds, otitis, skin wounds, nasal discharge, and fecal samples, were collected. The isolates were identified using morphological, cultural, and biochemical techniques, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using the disk diffusion method. Bacterial prevalence varied across sample types. Saliva samples showed 0.07% positivity in both stray cats and dogs. Tail wounds demonstrated higher prevalence, with (0. %) positive cases in dogs from Tando Allahyar and 2 (0.2%) in cats from Chmbar. Otitis samples showed 1 (0.11%) positive case in cats and up to 2 (0.22%) in dogs. Skin wounds had 2– positive cases (0.2%–0.9%) in both species, while nasal discharge and fecal samples showed lower positivity rates (0.05%–0.14%). Among the isolates, Staphylococcus aureus was most prevalent (5%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (49%), Escherichia coli (41%), Bacillus cereus (8%), Streptococcus pyogenes (%), Pasteurella multocida (5%), and Micrococcus luteus (2%). Antibiotic resistance testing revealed high resistance of S. aureus to erythromycin and ofloxacin, and of B. cereus to ampicillin and gentamicin. E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. pyogenes showed resistance to enrofloxacin. These findings highlight the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in stray animals and the need for routine monitoring to prevent potential zoonotic transmission.