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Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Animal and Environmental Reservoirs within Veterinary Hospitals in Central Kerala, India
Volume 11| Issue 2 | December 2025
AUTHOR(S)
Asif M. Hebbal, Binsy Mathew, B. Sunil, C. Sethulekshmi, Radhika G., Justin Davis K., G.K. Sivaraman

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the specific factors influencing the distribution of two critical ESKAPE pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in veterinary facilities in Kerala, India. A total of 450 animal and environmental samples were collected from 50 veterinary facilities across three districts (Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki) between July 2023 and June 2024 and screened for these bacteria. Isolates were identified using standard culture-based methods and confirmed by PCR. A Generalised Linear Mixed-Effects Model (GLMM) was used to identify factors associated with bacterial presence. The overall occurrence of K. pneumoniae was 34.0%, significantly higher than P. aeruginosa at 18.9%. A McNemar’s test on paired samples from bovine nasal and rectal swabs showed that P. aeruginosa was 5.5 times more likely to be isolated from the nasal cavity (p = 0.0265). The GLMM identified bacterial species, sample type, and host species as significant predictors of occurrence. P. aeruginosa was significantly less likely to be detected than K. pneumoniae (OR = 0.38). Samples from goats and those from contact surfaces had significantly lower odds of being positive compared to soil samples. Host species, anatomical site, and environmental reservoir were identified as significant predictors of occurrence, with soil acting as a primary reservoir. These findings highlight the need for targeted, risk-based surveillance to inform infection control strategies in veterinary settings.

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DOI
https://www.doi.org/10.62418/ijvph.11.2.2025.58-64
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Corresponding author’s email ID: binsymathew@kvasu.ac.in
Citation: Hebbal AM, Mathew B, Sunil B, Sethulekshmi C, G Radhika, K Justin Davis, Sivaraman GK. Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Animal and Environmental Reservoirs within Veterinary Hospitals in Central Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Veterinary Public Health. 2025; 11(2): 58-64.
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.62418/ijvph.11.2.2025.58-64