Raw dog food poses major international public health risk, says new research
Source: euronews.com
The biggest threat to global health could potentially come in the form of man's best friend. That's what new research suggests after multidrug-resistant bacteria was found in dog food - sparking fears over a possible international health crisis.
A new paper, presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), warns that "the trend for feeding dogs raw food may be fuelling the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria."
Researchers from UCIBIO, Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto in Portugal examined various dog food samples from supermarkets and pet shops.
The study revealed that Enterococci, a genus of bacteria commonly found in human intestines, was present in more than half the analysed samples.
The concern comes from the fact that this type of bacteria is often intrinsically resistant to antibiotics, meaning some species of Enterococci can lead to dangerous outbreaks. For example, over the last two decades in the US there have been clusters of infections related to VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci) - often initially contracted from a hospital.
Increasing Human Deaths from Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
An estimated 700,000 people around the world die every year from drug-resistant infections. The UN states that this figure could rise to 10 million by 2050 without sufficient action. Antibiotic resistance is classed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one the greatest threats to global public health.
"This study shows that dog food from international brands is a vehicle of clinically-relevant enterococci carrying resistance to last-resort antibiotics and relevant virulence genes, thus positioning pet food as an important source of antibiotic resistance spread," says the paper, co-authored by Dr Ana Freitas, Dr Carla Novais, Dr Luísa Peixe and colleagues from UCIBIO.
Study of 55 samples
Dr Freitas and her team looked at 55 samples of dog food (22 wet, 14 raw-frozen, 8 dry, 7 treats, and 4 semi-wet), from 25 brands available in Portugal and across the rest of Europe. The raw-frozen foods contained beef, goose, duck, salmon, turkey, chicken, lamb, and vegetables.
55% Of ALL Dog Food Samples Positive for Enterococci
More than half (54 per cent) tested positive for Enterococci, with 40 per cent of this type of bacteria found to be resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. Nearly a quarter were found to be resistant to linezolid, a drug considered to be a 'last-resort antibiotic' - used only where other drugs have failed to treat an infection. Resistance to this specific antibiotic is particularly alarming.
The rise of raw dog food
Raw dog food, often sold in frozen chunks, has rapidly grown in popularity over the last five years. Data from Google shows a sharp uptick in public searches for the product in 2020, particularly in the UK.
Owners believe that feeding dogs raw meat is healthier for their pets, claiming to see improved dental health, increases in energy levels, as well as healthier coats and skin. Some vets, however, warn that there are health risks for the wider household and dogs with compromised immune systems.
Raw Dog Food ALL tested positive for Enterococci
The UCIBIO study found that in all the raw-frozen samples analysed, multidrug-resistant Enterococci was present - including bacteria resistant to linezolid. Only three of the non-raw samples contained multidrug-resistant species of Enterococci.
The paper's authors caution that with an estimated 90 million pet dogs in Europe, and nearly 500 million worldwide, dog food may be a dangerously overlooked source of antibiotic resistance globally.
"The close contact of humans with dogs and the commercialisation of the studied brands in different countries poses an international public health risk," adds Dr Freitas.
"European authorities must raise awareness about the potential health risks when feeding raw diets to pets and the manufacture of dog food, including ingredient selection and hygiene practices, must be reviewed.
"Dog owners should always wash their hands with soap and water right after handling pet food and after picking up faeces."
