Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from diseased horses in Poland, 2010-2022.

This research examines the rising levels of antibiotic resistance in bacteria found in horses in Poland over a 12 year period (2010-2022). Warnings of overuse and the potential threat for developing treatment strategies are made clear, particularly due to the lack of an alternative treatment for foal rhodococcosis.

Background

• The global health crisis of antibiotic resistance is increasingly affecting both human and veterinary medicine. This research places a focus on horses, animals which are often classified as both meat and companion animals and therefore play a key role in transferring resistant bacteria to humans.
• Despite a heightened awareness and a decrease in antibiotic use in livestock, the same can’t be said for equine antibiotic use and resistance which currently remains under-documented.

Research Methodology

• A total of 978 bacterial isolates from horses in Poland over a 12-year period, from 2010 to 2022, were studied retrospectively.
• The data used was sourced from the Microbiological Diagnostic Laboratory at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences.

Findings

• The most commonly found bacterial isolates were from Streptococcus spp. making up 45.60% and Staphylococcus spp. making up 19.22%.
• The pattern of resistance seen in clinical isolates suggest an overuse and misuse of certain antibiotics. The antibiotics particularly involved include gentamicin, tetracyclines, enrofloxacin, third-generation cephalosporins, and chloramphenicol.
• There were also high-resistance Rhodococcus equi isolates that showed resistance to antibiotics such as erythromycin, rifampicin, and doxycycline.

Implications

• This resistance poses a threat for the treatment of foal rhodococcosis, particularly as there are no current alternative treatments available.
• The results underscore the need for the collection and analysis of local data for better antimicrobial stewardship. Additionally, they also stress the importance of continuous monitoring of resistance patterns in equine pathogens for developing effective treatment strategies and keeping ahead of potential threats.