Antibiotic resistance in bacteria associated with equine respiratory disease in the United Kingdom.
Abstract: Respiratory diseases account for the highest number of clinical problems in horses compared with other body systems. While microbiological culture and sensitivity testing is essential for certain cases, knowledge of the most likely bacterial agents and their susceptibilities is necessary to inform empirical antibiotic choices. Methods: A retrospective study of microbiological and cytological results from upper and lower respiratory samples (n=615) processed in a commercial laboratory between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. A further study of lower respiratory samples from horses with clinical signs of lower respiratory disease from May to June 2012 was undertaken. Results: Both studies revealed Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pasteurella species, Escherichia coli and Bordetella bronchiseptica as the most frequently isolated species. S equi subspecies zooepidemicus and subspecies equi were susceptible to ceftiofur (100 per cent) and erythromycin (99 per cent). Resistance to penicillin (12.5 per cent of S equi subspecies equi from upper respiratory tract samples) and tetracycline (62.7 per cent) was also detected. Gram-negative isolates showed resistance to gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline but susceptibility to enrofloxacin (except Pseudomonas species, where 46.2 per cent were resistant). Multiple drug resistance was detected in 1 per cent of isolates. Conclusions: Resistance to first-choice antibiotics in common equine respiratory tract bacteria was noted and warrants continued monitoring of their susceptibility profiles. This can provide information to clinicians about the best empirical antimicrobial choices against certain pathogenic bacteria and help guide antibiotic stewardship efforts to converse their efficacy.
© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Publication Date: 2020-05-22 PubMed ID: 32444507DOI: 10.1136/vr.105842Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research examines the level of antibiotic resistance in bacteria that cause respiratory diseases in horses in the UK. The findings reveal certain levels of resistance to first-choice antibiotics, calling for continuous monitoring to inform treatment choices.
Research Methodology
- The research involved a retrospective study of microbiological and cytological results. The results were derived from both upper and lower respiratory samples of horses.
- These samples were processed in a commercial laboratory over a period of ten years, from 2002 to 2012.
- A supplementary study was also carried out on lower respiratory samples from horses showing symptoms of lower respiratory diseases. This study was conducted from May to June 2012.
Findings
- The study identified , , , and as the most frequently isolated species in the respiratory samples.
- Subspecies and subspecies showed susceptibility to antibiotics ceftiofur and erythromycin. Their susceptibility rates were 100 per cent and 99 per cent, respectively.
- Nevertheless, resistance to penicillin was detected in 12.5 per cent of subspecies from upper respiratory tract samples. About 62.7 per cent also showed resistance to tetracycline.
- Gram-negative isolates revealed resistance to gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline.
- However, they showed susceptibility to enrofloxacin, with an exception for species, where 46.2 per cent were resistant.
- The study recorded multiple drug resistance in 1 per cent of the isolates.
Conclusions and Implications
- Overall, the study revealed a level of resistance to first-line antibiotics in common equine respiratory tract bacteria.
- This finding necessitates continuous monitoring of their susceptibility profiles to inform the choice of empirical antibiotics for treating horse respiratory diseases.
- Such vigilance could provide useful information to clinicians regarding the most effective antibiotics against specific pathogenic bacteria.
- Ultimately, these measures could guide antibiotic stewardship efforts, helping to preserve the efficacy of these drugs.
Cite This Article
APA
Fonseca JD, Mavrides DE, Morgan AL, Na JG, Graham PA, McHugh TD.
(2020).
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria associated with equine respiratory disease in the United Kingdom.
Vet Rec, 187(5), 189.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105842 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre of Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, London, UK.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK daphne.mavrides@gmail.com.
- Centre of Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, London, UK.
- Centre of Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, London, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
- Centre of Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, London, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Bacteria / drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Male
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / drug therapy
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- United Kingdom
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing interests: None declared.
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Khalid E, Tartor YH, Ammar AM, Abdelaziz R, Mahmmod Y, Abdelkhalek A. Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1609955.
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Bekele D, Dessalegn B, Tadesse B, Abey SL. Streptococcus equi subspecies equi from strangles suspected equines: molecular detection, antibiogram profiles and risk factors. BMC Vet Res 2024 Aug 23;20(1):377.
- Veiga RF, Clarindo LN, Fensterseifer AL, Pompelli LH, Sfaciotte RAP, Schwarz DGG, Eloy LR, Ferraz SM. Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus equi isolated from horses in Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2024 Dec;55(4):4147-4155.
- Sandulovici RC, Gălăţanu ML, Cima LM, Panus E, Truţă E, Mihăilescu CM, Sârbu I, Cord D, Rîmbu MC, Anghelache ŞA, Panţuroiu M. Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of the Vegetative Buds from Romanian Spruce, Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. Molecules 2024 May 3;29(9).
- Hyeon JY, Kim J, Chung DH, Helal ZH, Polkowski R, Lee DH, Risatti GR. Genome analysis of Streptococcus spp. isolates from animals in pre-antibiotic era with respect to antibiotic susceptibility and virulence gene profiles. Vet Res 2024 Apr 15;55(1):51.
- Emiru AY, Regassa F, Endebu Duguma B, Kassaye A, Desyebelew B. Invitro antibacterial activity of bark, leaf and root extracts of combretum molle plant against streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles in donkeys and horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Mar 13;20(1):102.
- Frosth S, Morris ERA, Wilson H, Frykberg L, Jacobsson K, Parkhill J, Flock JI, Wood T, Guss B, Aanensen DM, Boyle AG, Riihimäki M, Cohen ND, Waller AS. Conservation of vaccine antigen sequences encoded by sequenced strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):92-101.
- Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortazar Schmidt C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MA, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Sihvonen LH, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Dewulf J, Guardabassi L, Hilbert F, Mader R, Baldinelli F, Alvarez J. Assessment of animal diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: Horses. EFSA J 2021 Dec;19(12):e07112.
- Arafa AA, Hedia RH, Ata NS, Ibrahim ES. Vancomycin resistant Streptococcus equi subsp. equi isolated from equines suffering from respiratory manifestation in Egypt. Vet World 2021 Jul;14(7):1808-1814.
- Virjamo V, Fyhrquist P, Koskinen A, Lavola A, Nissinen K, Julkunen-Tiitto R. 1,6-Dehydropinidine Is an Abundant Compound in Picea abies (Pinaceae) Sprouts and 1,6-Dehydropinidine Fraction Shows Antibacterial Activity against Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi. Molecules 2020 Oct 6;25(19).
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