Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Antibiotics are used in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals to treat infectious diseases. However, the improper use of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistance, which threatens future disease therapeutics in pet animals. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in cats and their resistance to antibiotics in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia (IDN), and Dili, Timor-Leste (TL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 255 cat's rectal swab samples from veterinary clinics and hospitals in Yogyakarta Province, IDN, and Dili, TL were collected. All samples were transferred aseptically into an enrichment medium and subjected to various culture tests for E. coli and Salmonella spp. identification. All identified isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. RESULTS: This study successfully isolated E. coli from 172/255 (67.45%) rectal swab samples, that is, 122/188 samples (64.89%) from Yogyakarta Province, IDN, and 50/67 samples (74.6%) from Dili, TL. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 13/188 samples (6.91%) from Yogyakarta, IDN. The antibiotic susceptibility test indicated that more than 30% of E. coli were resistant to ampicillin (AMP) (IDN = 39.3%, TL = 50%) and tetracycline (TE) (IDN = 41.8%, TL = 42%), and more than 40% of Salmonella spp. were resistant to enrofloxacin (44%), TE (56%), streptomycin (61%), and AMP (83%). CONCLUSION: E. coli and Salmonella spp. succeeded isolation in cats from IDN and TL, and some isolates were resistant to antibiotics. Cats with diarrhea or digestive problems have a 9.5-fold increased risk of infection by Salmonella spp. Considering the prevalence of resistance to E. coli and Salmonella spp., it is important to manage antibiotic resistance distribution across companion animals and humans because both species share the same living environment.