Speakers - 2026 Speakers

Title: Hospitalized dogs as hidden reservoirs Investigating zoonotic enteropathogens in a One Health context

Abstract

Introduction: Zoonotic enteropathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium perfringens pose significant risks to both animal and human health. This concern is particularly relevant in veterinary hospital settings, where animals with infectious diseases may contaminate hospital premises, potentially facilitating cross-species transmission. In this context, the One Health approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the interplay between animal reservoirs, human exposure, and environmental persistence of zoonotic enteropathogens. Monitoring their presence in clinical veterinary populations is essential for mitigating zoonotic risks.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. jejuni and C. perfringens in dogs admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital and to evaluate their potential implications for hospital infection control and public health.

Methodology: A total of 90 faecal samples were collected from dogs hospitalized in the Isolation and Biological Containment Unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Veterinary Faculty, University of Lisbon, Portugal. A multiplex real-time PCR assay was used for the simultaneous detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium perfringens. Samples were classified as positive for a single pathogen, co-infected, or negative for both.

Results: Out of the 90 faecal samples analysed, 61 (67.8%) tested positive for C. perfringens and 16 (17.8%) for C. jejuni, with 13 samples (14.4%) showing co-infection. C. perfringens and C. jejuni were detected alone, respectively in 48 samples (53.3%) and in 3 samples (3.3%). Twenty- six samples (28.9%) tested negative for both pathogens.

Conclusions: The high detection rate of C. perfringens is consistent with its role as a common commensal organism in the canine gut microbiota. However, the observed prevalence may reflect colonization by enterotoxigenic strains, particularly in dogs presenting with diarrhea, warranting further molecular characterization such as cpe gene detection. Although less prevalent, C. jejuni poses a significant zoonotic concern due to its association with human gastroenteritis and the likelihood of asymptomatic shedding by dogs. The identification of co- infection in 14.4% of the samples suggests potential clinical and epidemiological interactions between these pathogens that may influence disease severity and therapeutic decisions. These findings emphasize the need for routine screening and strict biosecurity protocols in veterinary clinical settings and highlight the importance of adopting integrated One Health strategies to address the risks posed by zoonotic enteric pathogens.

What Will the Audience Take Away from Your Presentation?

• Recognition of hospitalized dogs as potential carriers of zoonoticenteropathogens.
• Data on the prevalence of C. jejuni andC. perfringens in a clinical veterinary population.
• Insight into the benefitsof multiplex PCR for rapid,simultaneous pathogen detection.
• Importance of routine screeningand biosecurity in veterinary hospitals.
• Understanding the role of One Healthin addressing zoonoticdisease transmission.