LAUSR

OBJECTIVES We focused on estimating the prevalence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL), pAmpC, carbapemenases, and mcr-1 producing Escherichia coli in canine feces from a public park in Quito, Ecuador. METHODS We performed phenotypic and genotypic characterization of E. coli isolated from 50 canine feces samples recovered from a city park in Quito, Ecuador. Additionally, a multiple-choice survey was conducted among 50 dog owners. RESULTS Twenty out of 50 samples (40%) presented E. coli resistant to ceftriaxone; 23 E. coli isolates were recovered for further analysis. All of the isolates showed the phenotype for multi-drug resistance (resistance to≥3 antibiotic families). Resistance to carbapenems, tigecycline, and amikacin were not registered. No major clonal relatedness was observed among the resistant isolates. ESBL alleles blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-55, and blaCTX-M-65 were the most common. Two isolates harbor blacmy-2 gene and one isolate harbor both mcr-1 and blaCTX-M-65 genes. Statistical analysis showed that older people were more conscious of collecting and disposing of dog's feces than subjects younger than 35 years old (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our finding of multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli in dog feces found in a city park illustrates the importance of analyzing canine feces in public settings (e.g., parks, playgrounds) as part of MDR E. coli surveillance programs. Additionally, our research might be a sentinel sampling method of study to gain a better understanding of community sources of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae at human-animal-environment interfaces.