Raw Meat for Pets: Possible Link to Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria

Study shows raw meat fed to animals causes antibiotic resistance to critical antibiotics, which can also be acquired by pet owners when feeding companion animals.

Previous studies have reported that feeding uncooked meat to dogs raises the likelihood of them shedding Escherichia coli bacteria that is resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics, through the feces. The bacteria, E. coli, is one of the most common causes of bloodstream and urinary tract infections and can be life-threatening. There is also a potential for companion animals, consuming raw meat, to elevate the likelihood of transmitting resistant pathogens to their human caregivers within the household ().

If this issue is ignored, the health of the general population can be affected.

Raw Meat Raises Antibiotic-Resistant E.Coli Risk in Dogs
To reduce bacterial risks, pet owners can switch to a non-raw diet or obtain quality raw meat for cooking before feeding dogs.

‘The bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) can reside in a person's intestines for an extended period, even years, without causing any infection! #antibioticresistance #rawmeat #medindia’

The UK Government Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulates the sale of meat for human and companion animal consumption in the UK to guarantee that it meets safety standards in terms of bacterial contamination. Despite being examined for various pathogens the meat is not screened for resistant opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia coli.

A recent study conducted by Dr. Jordan Sealey, Professor Matthew Avison, and their team from the University of Bristol, UK, and presented at the ESCMID Global Congress in Barcelona, Spain, has revealed alarming levels of antibiotic resistance in meat intended for both human and animal consumption. The research highlights the urgent need to address this issue, as it poses a significant threat to public health ().

Study Details and Data Generated

The research team analyzed 58 uncooked meat samples (15 beef, 15 chicken, 15 lamb, and 13 pork) sold for human consumption after cooking (MHC) and 15 samples of chicken-based raw dog meat (RDM) for resistant E. coli.

Dog Food Contains Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria
Raw dog food is considered as a major source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making it an international public health risk.

These samples were streaked onto agar plates containing a selection of common antibiotics including amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, spectinomycin, and streptomycin. Several of these antibiotics are vital for human health. The aim was to identify any resistant strains of E. coli.

The researchers discovered resistant E. coli in uncooked meat for human consumption. Among the samples, chicken had the highest sample-level positivity rate, with 100% of chicken samples tested positive for resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin, while 47% of samples were positive for resistance to critically important fluoroquinolones.

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Dogs’ raw meat diet which contains high levels of potentially harmful bacteria could be dangerous to both animals and people.

In comparison, lamb, pork, and beef had lower positivity rates: 27%, 38%, and 27% for spectinomycin; 40%, 38%, and 47% for streptomycin; and 7%, 8%, and 13% for fluoroquinolones, respectively.

The chicken-based raw dog food samples exhibited comparable levels of resistance to chicken meat. Spectinomycin and streptomycin resistance were detected in 87% of the samples, while fluoroquinolone resistance was observed in 47% of the samples.

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The resistance to critically important cefotaxime in raw dog food samples was 27%.

The authors emphasized that although many individuals are aware of the risk of contracting 'food poisoning' from improper handling of uncooked meat, they often overlook the fact that antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogens can also be acquired by them. It is important that the pet owners follow proper hygiene to minimize this risk.

The authors finally stated, “This study confirms that uncooked meat carries multiple resistant E. coli, commonly including resistance to critically important antibiotics important for human health. If ingested, these bacteria can enter the gut and may cause resistant opportunistic infections (e.g. urinary tract infections) in the future. It is therefore very important that people cook meat thoroughly before eating, and use appropriate hygiene practices during meat preparation. Our findings that raw dog food is similarly contaminated with resistant bacteria provides an explanation for why dogs fed raw meat are more likely to excrete these bacteria. Appropriate hygiene practices after handling raw dog food, and dogs that are fed such raw meat, are strongly advised.”

To summarize, this research emphasizes the significance of being aware of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in raw meat and emphasizes the necessity of being cautious in food safety measures.

References:

Feeding raw meat to dogs raises risk of antibiotic-resistant E.coli: Study - (https://www.aninews.in/news/science/feeding-raw-meat-to-dogs-raises-risk-of-antibiotic-resistant-ecoli-study20231121163140/)
Raw meat-based diets for companion animals: a potential source of transmission of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6837177/)

Source-Eurekalert