Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolated from Cats with Digestive Disorders in Yogyakarta

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
³ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Digestive disorders in cats are frequently associated with opportunistic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which has the ability to acquire and disseminate antibiotic resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer. This study aimed to isolate E. coli from cats with digestive disorders and evaluate its antibiotic resistance patterns. Rectal swab samples were collected from 39 cats in several animal clinics in Yogyakarta between April and June 2025. Standard microbiological procedures were used for bacterial isolation and identification, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method against amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, and doxycycline. E. coli was isolated from 22 samples (56.41%). The highest resistance was observed against doxycycline (40.9%), followed by gentamicin (36.4%), cefotaxime (36.4%), and enrofloxacin (27.3%), while the lowest resistance was found against amoxicillin-clavulanate (13.6%). These findings indicate a considerable presence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in cats with digestive disorders. This study highlights the potential role of companion animals as reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, emphasizing the importance of prudent antibiotic use in veterinary practice and the relevance of a One Health approach in addressing antimicrobial resistance that may impact both animal and public health.