Prevalence and molecular characterization of multi-drug and extreme drug resistant Escherichia coli in companion animals in Bangladesh

The study investigated multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli (MDR) in companion animals in Bangladesh, focusing on non-food-producing animals. Samples were collected from cats, dogs, and environmental sources. The study found a prevalence of 70%, with the highest resistance observed in cefuroxime. MDR strains made up 38.10%, with 11.90% being extremely drug-resistant. The study also highlighted the complex AMR challenges in these settings, including the presence of class 1 integron.