Researchers at Bournemouth University examined 712 bacterial genomes from companion animals across 25 countries. Their findings reveal that “nearly half of the animal samples carried genes linked to resistance to clinically important antibiotics.”

The analysis compared pet bacteria with over 38,000 human genomes. Notably, “80% of cat samples were classified as multidrug-resistant, compared with 56.3% of those from dogs.”

Approximately 87% of animal-derived bacterial strains matched those identified in humans. However, Dr. Stephen Fordham clarified that “this study does not tell us that our pets are making us ill,” emphasizing the importance of including companion animals in antimicrobial resistance research efforts.

Journal: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
DOI: 10.1155/tbed/5383720
Article Title: Companion Animals Harbour Globally Circulating Human-Associated Klebsiella pneumoniae Lineages and High-Risk Antimicrobial Resistance Clones
Publication Date: 28-Aug-2026

Source: EurekAlert