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Equine veterinary journal2015; 47(6); 756-765; doi: 10.1111/evj.12471

Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses: Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to the continued successful use of antimicrobial agents for the treatment of bacterial infections. While the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from man has been studied extensively, less work has been undertaken in companion animals, particularly horses. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been identified as a cause of infections, with a low prevalence of nasal carriage by horses in the community but higher for hospitalised horses. Molecular characterisation has shown methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains either to be predominantly of types associated with horses or of sequence type ST398. Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (including multidrug-resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing isolates) have caused infections and been documented in faecal carriage by horses, with many significant resistance mechanisms identified. More sporadic reports and molecular characterisation exist for resistance in other bacteria such as enterococci, Salmonella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species. Limited work has been undertaken evaluating risk factors and much of the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses remains to be determined.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-08-26 PubMed ID: 26084443DOI: 10.1111/evj.12471Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the prevalence and characteristics of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria found in horses, a subject lesser studied compared to humans. It looks at various kinds of bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli. The paper underscores the need for more research on risk factors and other aspects of antimicrobial resistance in equine bacteria.

Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance in Horses

The research emphasises the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, which threatens effective treatment of bacterial infections in horses. The research uncovered some key points regarding different bacteria:

  • The study highlights the existence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a cause of infections in horses. Most strains of MRSA were found to be predominantly associated with horses or of a specific sequence type ST398.
  • Regarding Escherichia coli, the study notes the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant variants, including multidrug-resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing isolates. These strains of E. coli have been found in horses and have shown significant resistance mechanisms.
  • The research also points out the presence of resistance in other bacteria such as enterococci, Salmonella, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas species, although these findings are more sporadic.

Carriage Rates and Risk Factors

One of the significant findings from the study was the understanding of carriage rates, particularly in the case of MRSA:

  • For MRSA, the carriage rate was found to be lower in horses residing in communities, but higher for hospitalised horses. This suggests a need for better infection control practices in hospital settings.

Despite the extensive work done in understanding the strains and carriage rates, the article admits that further research is needed:

  • The study points out that work on evaluating risk factors has been limited. Therefore, the epidemiology, or the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events like antimicrobial resistance, mostly remains undetermined for bacteria from horses. This highlights a gap in the research which could be the focus of future studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Maddox TW, Clegg PD, Williams NJ, Pinchbeck GL. (2015). Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses: Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance. Equine Vet J, 47(6), 756-765. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12471

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 6
Pages: 756-765

Researcher Affiliations

Maddox, T W
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Neston, UK.
Clegg, P D
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Neston, UK.
Williams, N J
  • National Consortium for Zoonosis Research, School of Veterinary Sciences, Neston, UK.
Pinchbeck, G L
  • Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Sciences, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Carrier State
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses

Citations

This article has been cited 29 times.
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