Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen that causes diarrhea and urinary tract infections in humans and companion animals. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance in P. mirabilis increases risk of failure of antimicrobial therapy in companion animals. The current study determined prevalence, genetic diversity and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance of P. mirabilis isolated from feces of 35 dogs with diarrhea hospitalized in Beijing, China. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), PCR and antimicrobial disk diffusion were used to characterize these isolates. Prevalence of P. mirabilis in feces from hospitalized dogs was 28%. RAPD and PFGE demonstrated a great diversity of isolates. Thirteen (37%) of 35 isolates produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), with bla_TEM being detected in all ESBLs-producing isolates. All isolates were susceptible to imipenem, cefoxitin and cefotaxime/clavulanic. rmtB (with 51% prevalence rate) was the only aminoglycoside 16S rRNA methylase resistance gene identified. Among plasmid-mediated quinolones resistance genes, qnrB (14%) and aac(6’)-Ib (26%) were detected. In conclusion, P. mirabilis isolates from feces of dogs with diarrhea in China had great genetic diversity and a high prevalence produced ESBLs. Consequently, antimicrobial stewardship programs should also target companion animals to reduce emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

To Cite This Article: Han P, Luo L, Shahid M, Li M, Wang S, Nobrega DB, Sabir N, Barkema HW, Han B and Gao J, 2020. Prevalence, genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of proteus mirabilis isolated from dogs hospitalized in Beijing. Pak Vet J, 40(1): 61-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2019.101