‘Priority 1’ superbug spreading from pets to humans, study warns

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleChinese scientists have warned that the notorious superbug Acinetobacter baumannii, a WHO “Priority 1” pathogen, is spreading from pets to humans. This bacterium causes conditions like meningitis and pneumonia in humans and can lead to similar symptoms in animals.Published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the study analysing over 500 samples from animals across 17 countries found that there is a high antimicrobial resistance (AMR) group dominated by hosts such as horses, cats and dogs.The superbug variant from cats, dogs, and horses is genetically almost indistinguishable from those infecting people in hospitals nearby, researchers found.Scientists said “A. baumannii has a higher potential of intertransmission between companion animals and humans compared to livestock, poultry, and wildlife”, with “this elevated potential” potentially linked to “the close contact of companion animals with humans”. In fullSuperbug rated ‘priority 1’ in WHO watchlist is jumping between pets and humans, study showsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Raccontata dasciencealert.comindependent.co.uk