Sessions

The soil of urban dog parks may serve as a potential reservoir for various zoonotic pathogens and may thereby contribute to the maintenance and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aimed to map the microbiology of soils from dog parks located in Budapest’s 10th District, with particular emphasis on Enterococcus spp., including vancomycin-resistant strains (VRE), and on their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. We also assessed the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing bacteria.

Sampling was conducted seasonally (autumn, spring, summer). Soil samples were collected from 19 dog parks at ≥5 points per site (e.g., around water bowls, feces-accumulation areas, seating areas, and drier zones). In each season, 150 samples were processed. Samples were cultured on selective and differential media; species identification within Enterococcus spp. was confirmed by MALDI-TOF, followed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibiotics of public- and veterinary-health importance.

The highest detection rates were observed in autumn for Enterococcus (136/150 samples), VRE (80/136 enterococcal isolates), MRSA (86/150), Campylobacter (77/150), and Salmonella (20/150). In spring, VRE decreased to 11 detections and Campylobacter was not detected; in summer, VRE and Salmonella were absent, while Campylobacter appeared in 23 samples. ESBL-producing isolates were overall infrequent and belonged exclusively to the Klebsiella–Enterobacter–Citrobacter group. The highest microbial load was associated with feces-contaminated and drier areas. For Enterococcus, MIC₅₀/MIC₉₀ values for most “critically important” agents were below clinical breakpoints. In contrast, vancomycin showed a shift toward non-wild-type isolates, consistent with the phenotypic distribution (7.2% resistant; 32.0% reduced susceptibility).

In sum, soils of urban dog parks can act as reservoirs for several pathogens of public and veterinary health relevance. Within the Enterococcus population, most agents retained favorable activity; however, the vancomycin distribution indicates the need for targeted VRE screening, methodological confirmation, and antimicrobial-stewardship measures.