Topic:Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections in horses. They work by either killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth, aiding the horse's immune system in overcoming the infection. Commonly used antibiotics in equine medicine include penicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and gentamicin. The selection of an antibiotic depends on factors such as the type of bacteria, the site of infection, and the horse's health status. Responsible use of antibiotics is essential to minimize the risk of resistance. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the efficacy, administration, and impact of antibiotics on equine health.
Surgical site infection associated with equine orthopedic internal fixation: 155 cases (2008-2016). To determine the prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) after internal fixation and to identify risk factors for SSI and nonsurvival. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: One hundred fifty-five horses with long bone fractures or arthrodesis treated by internal fixation at 1 hospital between 2008-2016. Methods: Signalment, diagnosis, surgical repair, surgeon, surgical time, antimicrobial use, SSI onset, bacterial identification, and adjunct treatments were recorded. Perioperative variables were analyzed to identify risk factors associated with outcomes. Results: Surgical-site infection w...
A cross-sectional study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at the equine-human interface. The present study aimed at investigating the percent prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in equines and associated personnel. A total of 150 swabs of equines and 50 nasal swab samples of associated personnel were collected. These samples were processed in mannitol salt broth for enrichment. A total of 175 nasal swab samples changed the broth color from pink to yellow which were detected as samples containing S. aureus. These samples were processed further on specific media, namely mannitol salt agar, Staph-110, and blood agar, for phenotypic and Gram's staining-bas...
Identification of macrolide- and rifampicin-resistant Rhodococcus equi in environmental samples from equine breeding farms in central Kentucky during 2018. Rhodococcus equi causes severe pneumonia in foals and is most often recognized in people as an opportunistic pathogen. Longitudinal studies examining antimicrobial-resistant R. equi from environmental samples are lacking. We hypothesized that antimicrobial-resistant R. equi would be detectable in the ground (pasture soil or stall bedding) and air at breeding farms with previous documentation of foals infected with resistant isolates, and that concentrations of resistant isolates would increase over time during the foaling season. In this prospective cohort study, ground and air samples were co...
Enterococcus infections in foals. Enterococci have been increasing in prevalence in foal sepsis over the past three decades. There are no published studies in the peer-reviewed literature documenting common sites of infection, antimicrobial susceptibility, or outcome specifically associated with enterococcal infections in foals. Our objectives were to evaluate the sites of origin, antimicrobial susceptibility, and survival outcome to discharge in foals with enterococcal infections compared with foals with sepsis of another bacterial etiology. Seventy-five foals 0-30 days of age with cultures positive for Enterococcus and 170 c...
Nanoparticles in Equine Nutrition: Mechanism of Action and Application as Feed Additives. Several concerns exist regarding horse rearing such as environmental pollution, antibiotics resistance, digestive disorders, mycotoxins contamination of animal feed, gut health management, and improvement of feed efficiency. Nanoparticles have the potential to address these issues and thus could be used as feed additive. Citrate reduces and stabilizes gold nanoparticles, alongside biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have the potential to prolong and improve digestive enzyme activity, which would enhance starch digestibility in the stomach. Zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles could be used to...
Acute Endometritis due to Taylorella equigenitalis Transmission by Insemination of Cryopreserved Stallion Semen. Taylorella equigenitalis can be transmitted during artificial insemination. This report describes clinical T. equigenitalis transmission by cryopreserved stallion semen. T. equigenitalis isolates from a mare's vaginal discharge and semen from the same batch of the cryopreserved semen used for the insemination gave identical API ZYM, antibiotic susceptibility, and multilocus sequence typing results (ST-46); furthermore, the multilocus sequence typing lineage ST-46 is known to circulate in the country of semen collection. These results support the need for strict contagious equine metritis scre...
Evaluation of the bacterial ocular surface microbiome in clinically normal horses before and after treatment with topical neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin. Next generation sequencing (NGS) studies have demonstrated a rich and diverse ocular surface-associated microbiota in people that was previously undetected by traditional culture-based methods. The ocular surface microbiome of horses has yet to be investigated using NGS techniques. This study aimed to determine the bacterial composition of the ocular surface microbiome in healthy horses, and to identify whether there are microbial community changes over time and following topical antibiotic use. One eye of 12 horses was treated 3 times daily for 1 week with neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin ophtha...
Zoonotic multidrug-resistant microorganisms among non-hospitalized horses from Germany. Colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) belonging to the genus Staphylococcus and the order Enterobacterales poses a particular threat to populations at risk. While previous studies focused on MDRO carriage among livestock or companion animals, respective epidemiological data on the general equine population are limited. Here, carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in non-hospitalized horses living on private farms in the rural area in Northwest Germany was assessed. Intran...
Antimicrobial dosing for common equine drugs: a content review and practical advice for veterinarians in Australia. Appropriate dosing with antimicrobial agents is critical for effective treatment and to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance. Methods: A review was undertaken of equine journal articles (Equine Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Education, Australian Veterinary Journal, Australian Equine Veterinarian, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Journal of Equine Veterinary Science) between January 2015 and August 2018. Those with dosing regimens for procaine penicillin G, gentamicin or trimethoprim-sulfonamide in adult horses were examined and evaluated. Pharmacokinetics and ...
Effect of Macrolide and Rifampin Resistance on the Fitness of Rhodococcus equi. is a leading cause of severe pneumonia in foals. Standard treatment is dual antimicrobial therapy with a macrolide and rifampin, but the emergence of macrolide- and rifampin-resistant isolates is an increasing problem. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of macrolide and/or rifampin resistance on fitness of Three unique isogenic sets were created, each consisting of four strains, as follows: a susceptible parent isolate, strains resistant to macrolides or rifampin, and a dual macrolide- and rifampin-resistant strain. Each isogenic set's bacterial growth curve was genera...
Pharmacokinetics of regional limb perfusion using a combination of amikacin and penicillin in standing horses. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the compatibility and the pharmacokinetic properties of combined amikacin and penicillin administration by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) in horses. A tourniquet was applied proximal to the carpus of 7 clinically healthy adult horses and 2 g of amikacin and 10 × 10 IU of penicillin (100 mL total volume) were sequentially injected into the cephalic vein just distal to the tourniquet. Synovial samples were collected from the joint at several times after injection. All samples were analyzed for amikacin and penicillin concentration. The ...
In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of equine clinical isolates from France, 2006-2016. This study aimed to analyse antimicrobial susceptibility evolution of equine pathogens isolated from clinical samples from 2006-2016. A collection of 25 813 bacterial isolates was studied, clustered according to their origins (respiratory tract, cutaneous, genital and other), and analysed for their antimicrobial susceptibility using the disk diffusion method. The most frequently isolated pathogens were group C Streptococci (27.6%), Escherichia coli (20.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.0%), Enterobacter spp. (3.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.4%), and Rhodococcus equi ...
Diversity of CTX-M-positive Escherichia coli recovered from animals in Canada. Historically, extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in bacteria from animals in Canada has been attributed to the SHV and CMY β-lactamase families. This pattern is beginning to change with the emergence of the bla gene family among Escherichia coli recovered from various animal species. Here we analyze and compare whole genome sequences of bla-positive E. coli isolates (n = 173) from dogs, chicken, swine, horses and beef cattle in Canada. Ten bla variants were identified with bla and bla being identified in most animal species. These variants occurred across many sequence types, sugg...
Prospective, randomised clinical trial of four different presurgical hand antiseptic techniques in equine surgery. Currently, the World Health Organization recommends the use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABR) for surgical hand preparation in human surgery. When disinfecting soaps are used, a rubbing technique causes less skin irritation than brush scrubbing. Based on a recent survey, most equine surgeons still use disinfecting soap. The efficacy of scrubbing vs. rubbing and the use of sole ABR compared with chlorhexidine (CHx)- based products has not been evaluated in the equine surgical setting. Objective: To compare four surgical hand antisepsis techniques in equine surgery for reduction of aerobic bacter...
Cryopreservation (-20°C) of equine corneoscleral tissue: Microbiological, histological, and ultrastructural study. To evaluate microbiological, histological, and ultrastructural characteristics of short-term cryopreserved (STC) equine corneoscleral tissue (7 years). Methods: Thirty-four healthy equine globes. Methods: After a decontamination protocol, globes were enucleated and stored at -20°C in broad-spectrum antibiotics. Corneoscleral tissue was evaluated at different storage periods: 1 month-1 year (20 eyes) and 7-9 years (12 eyes). Two eyes were used as controls. Microbiologic study included direct (blood, McConkey, and Sabouraud agars) and enrichment (brain-heart infusion broth) cultures. Cryopr...
Equine sinonasal anaplastic sarcoma infected with multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli. A 5-year-old Hanoverian horse was presented for a palpable and visible mass over the frontal and maxillary sinuses. Following endoscopy and radiography surgical excision was attempted. The horse was euthanized during surgery and samples of the mass were identified as malignant anaplastic sarcoma, a seldom reported sinonasal tumor in equids. Sarcome anaplasique naso-sinusien équin infecté par Escherichia coli multirésistant aux antibiotiques. Un cheval Hanovrien âgé de 5 ans a été présenté pour une masse palpable et visible sur les sinus frontal et maxillaire. Après une endoscopie et ...
Fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci from horses, their species variability, and biofilm formation. The intestinal microbiota has enormous impact on the health and performance of horses. Staphylococci belong in the phylum Firmicutes, and their occurrence, especially of methicillin-resistant strains and species, has been reported in horses previously. Moreover, biofilm formation is one of the virulence factors; it has been not completely studied in fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) from horses. Therefore, this study was focused on biofilm formation by various species of fecal CoNS from horses because it has been never reported before. In addition, their antibiotic profile was test...
Domestic Horse Bite: An Unusual Etiology of Crush Injury of the Fourth Finger-How to Manage? Almost 2% of all emergency admissions involve an animal bite. While horses bite humans very rarely, their bites are mostly associated with fatalities. Herein, we report the case of a 23-year old bitten by a domestic horse causing a crush injury to his fourth finger with fracture dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The patient benefited upon arrival at the emergency department from copious irrigation with saline serum, tetanus toxoid, postexposure rabies vaccination, and prophylactic antibiotic therapy. In the operating room, surgical exploration found the ulnar digital pedicle s...
Leptospirosis: An important infectious disease in North American horses. North American horses are commonly exposed to Leptospira organisms. Leptospira Bratislava is the most common infecting serovar but this serovar has not been confirmed to cause clinical disease in North American horses. Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki is responsible for most of the clinical diseases (leptospirosis) in North American horses. Leptospirosis is most commonly associated with diseases of the placenta and fetus, the kidneys and the eyes in horses. In-utero infections in pregnant mares may result in abortion, neonatal illness or birth of an antibody positive healthy foal. Acute renal...
Use of standard diagnostic techniques to determine eradication of infection in experimental equine septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is an important disease in horses, necessitating aggressive and prolonged therapy. In order to guide therapy, reliable methods of detecting the eradication of infection are needed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate detection of eradication of infection in an experimental model of equine septic arthritis using standard diagnostic techniques. For this purpose, 17 adult horses were assigned to 3 experimental groups. The middle carpal joint of each horse was injected with (Septic group, = 8), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (LPS group, = 6), or sterile saline (...
Intravitreal injection of low-dose gentamicin for the treatment of recurrent or persistent uveitis in horses: Preliminary results. Despite appropriate medical therapy, many horses with equine recurrent uveitis continue to suffer from recurrent bouts of inflammation. Surgical intervention via the pars plana vitrectomy or suprachoroidal cyclosporine implant placement may control and/or prevent recurrences, however, these procedures may be contraindicated, unavailable, or declined by an owner. Thus, an effective adjunctive treatment option may help to improve the clinical outcomes in those situations. There are several anecdotal reports on the use of intravitreal gentamicin injections, but to date, no data evaluating the com...
Prevalence, risk factors, and characterization of multidrug resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase/AmpC β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in healthy horses in France in 2015. Although antimicrobial resistance is increasingly common in equine medicine, molecular and epidemiological data remains scarce. Objective: We estimated the prevalence of, and risk factors for, shedding of multidrug resistant (MDR), extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, and AmpC β-lactamase-producing, or some combination of these in Escherichia coli in horses in France. We characterized ESBL/AmpC isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of virulence and ESBL/AmpC-associated resistance genes. Methods: Fecal samples from healthy adult horses at 41 premises were colle...
Surveillance for Salmonella in horses in Great Britain. Francesca Martelli, Sue Kidd and Joanna Lawes of the APHA discuss surveillance findings relating to Salmonella isolates from horses, and also the antimicrobial resistance patterns being seen.
Clostridium difficile isolates derived from Czech horses are resistant to enrofloxacin; cluster to clades 1 and 5 and ribotype 033 predominates. Clostridium difficile has been recovered from the faeces of several animal species as well as horses. Between April 2015 and October 2016, 213 samples of faeces from non-hospitalized (n = 138) and hospitalized horses (n = 75) were investigated and eighteen C. difficile isolates were cultured using an enrichment method. Sixteen C. difficile positive samples were identified from hospitalised horses (p < 0.01). Molecular typing revealed seven ribotypes and sequence types (RT033/ST11 n = 8, 44.4%; RT081/ST9 n = 4, 22.2%; RT009/ST3 n = 2, 11.1%; RT003/ST12 n = 1, 5.6%;...
Diffusion of enrofloxacin to pregnancy fluids and effects on fetal cartilage after intravenous administration to late pregnant mares. In selective cases, enrofloxacin may be an alternative antibacterial agent to treat unresponsive infections in pregnant mares. Supratherapeutic doses of enrofloxacin are toxic to adult horses and also to newborn foals, however, it is unknown if enrofloxacin crosses the equine placenta or if it is toxic to the fetus. Objective: To assess the diffusion of enrofloxacin and its metabolite to fetal fluids and its effects on fetal cartilage when administered to pregnant mares. Methods: In vivo and terminal controlled experiment. Methods: Healthy mares at 260 days of gestation were allocated into thr...
Emergence of Resistance to Macrolides and Rifampin in Clinical Isolates of Rhodococcus equi from Foals in Central Kentucky, 1995 to 2017. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of strains resistant to macrolides and rifampin over time in clinical samples from foals submitted to diagnostic laboratories in central Kentucky. We performed a retrospective observational study of all clinical samples from foals that were submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Kentucky between January 1995 and December 2017. Samples were included if the bacterium was cultured and tested for susceptibility to erythromycin or rifampin. susceptibility testing to erythromycin was available for 2,169 isolates of , while s...
Effects of 2 preparation methods and long-term storage on structural integrity and bacterial loads of equine amnion. To determine the influence of tissue preparation and long-term storage methods on structural integrity and risk of bacterial contamination of equine amnion. Methods: Prospective experimental investigation SAMPLE POPULATION: Amniotic membranes from 8 healthy mares (n = 440 tested samples). Methods: Samples for baseline bacteriology and histology were taken after removal of debris. The remaining tissue was divided and processed with 0.05% chlorhexidine or 2% iodine/0.25% acetic acid. Processed amnion samples were assigned to 1 of 9 combinations of storage media (saline, chlorhexidine, acetic...
Isolation and comparison of Arcanobacterium hippocoleae isolates from the genital tract of 15 mares. The present study reports the isolation of A. hippocoleae from genital swabs of 15 apparently healthy mares (at least one had an abortion one month earlier) and describes the genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of these strains. The mares were of eight different breeds with a thoroughbred dominance and came from 11 breeding farms located in the French region of Brittany. 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the species' identification by comparing it with reference strain A. hippocoleae CIP 106850. Some degree of natural divergence within A. hippocoleae was observed by 16S rRNA sequencing ...
Initial antimicrobial treatment of foals with sepsis: Do our choices make a difference? The study objectives were to provide cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility data at the patient level and to evaluate the effect of initial antimicrobial treatment on survival in foals with sepsis. Foals below 30days of age with a diagnosis of sepsis, confirmed by isolation of bacteria from normally sterile sites on the day of hospital admission, were included. Susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution procedure. In total, 213 foals and 306 bacterial isolates were included. The likelihood of survival for foals from which all bacteria were susceptible to the initial an...
A prospective multicentre survey of complications associated with equine castration to facilitate clinical audit. Despite the regularity with which castration is performed, the types of complications and current best practice are unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to perform a prospective audit of routine equine castrations performed in general practice to determine complication rates and factors associated with them. Methods: Multicentre, prospective audit of castrations. Methods: Data on castrations were collected on the day of surgery from 18 veterinary practices; 30-days post-operatively follow-up was obtained and complications recorded. Frequency of complications was reported, and mu...