Neglected ESKAPE Pathogens in Companion Animals: Diagnostic Bias, Zoonotic Blind Spots, and Phytotherapeutic Opportunities

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance among ESKAPE pathogens represents a major One Health challenge, yet several clinically relevant members of this group remain underrecognized in companion animals because of diagnostic limitations and research bias. This review critically evaluates current evidence on neglected ESKAPE pathogens in dogs and cats, with particular emphasis on diagnostic blind spots, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic implications, and the potential of phytotherapeutic strategies. A structured literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by reports from international health organizations, was conducted to identify studies addressing pathogen occurrence, resistance mechanisms, transmission pathways, and plant-derived antimicrobial compounds. The available evidence indicates that organisms such as the Enterobacter cloacae complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Enterococcus faecium, and Acinetobacter baumannii remain substantially underinvestigated despite their clinical relevance and multidrug-resistant phenotypes. Advanced diagnostic approaches, including MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing, together with integrated One Health surveillance, may improve their detection and epidemiological characterization. Current phytotherapeutic research demonstrates promising antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antibiotic-potentiating activities of plant-derived compounds but remains largely focused on well-characterized pathogens. Targeted investigation of neglected ESKAPE pathogens using chemically characterized plant extracts and clinically relevant veterinary isolates may support the development of complementary antimicrobial strategies and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship within the One Health framework.