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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Resp...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(6); 1700-1706; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13600

Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses.

Abstract: Decreased efficacy of antimicrobials and increased prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) is of concern worldwide. Objective: To describe and analyze bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibilities from respiratory samples submitted from young horses (4 weeks to 3 years old). Methods: Samples from 289 horses were submitted to a commercial laboratory. Methods: A retrospective database search of submissions made to a New Zealand veterinary laboratory between April 2004 and July 2014. The results of in vitro susceptibility testing by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion were described and tabulated for the major bacterial species isolated. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to describe the clustering of MDR isolates and selected demographic variables. Results: Overall, 774 bacterial isolates were cultured from 237 horses, the majority of these isolates were gram-positive (67.6%; 95% CI 64.3-70.9%). Streptococcus spp. were the most common genus of bacteria isolated and were 40.1% (95% CI 36.6-43.5%) of the isolates cultured. Susceptibility of Streptococcus spp. to penicillin, gentamicin, and ceftiofur was >85%. Overall, gram-negative susceptibility to ceftiofur, tetracycline, and TMPS was <75%. MDR was defined as resistance to 3 or more antimicrobials, and was found in 39.2% of horses (93/237; 95% CI 33.0-45.5%). Conclusions: Culture and susceptibility results have highlighted that MDR is an emerging problem for young horses in New Zealand (NZ), where a bacterial respiratory infection is suspected. This should be considered when prescribing antimicrobials, and emphasizes the need for submission of samples for culture and susceptibility.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2015-08-20 PubMed ID: 26289293PubMed Central: PMC4895690DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13600Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 examined the susceptibility of bacteria found in the respiratory systems of young horses in New Zealand to various antimicrobials, in an effort to understand the increasingly threatening issue of multidrug resistance (MDR). Streptococcus spp., the most commonly isolated bacteria, demonstrated resistance to penicillin, gentamicin, and ceftiofur and MDR was found in almost 40% of horses.

Methods and Participants

  • The study was carried out by analysing samples taken from the respiratory systems of 289 horses aged between 4 weeks and 3 years.
  • These samples were submitted to a commercial laboratory, with database records from April 2004 to July 2014 being retrospectively studied.
  • Susceptibility testing to different antimicrobials was conducted using a method known as Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion.
  • Analysis was conducted to illustrate the relationship between multidrug resistant isolates and demographic variables with a statistical technique called Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

Results

  • In total, 774 bacterial isolates were cultured, predominantly being gram-positive bacteria (67.6%).
  • The bacterial genus Streptococcus spp. was the most frequently detected isolate, constituting 40.1% of all cultured isolates.
  • Susceptibility of Streptococcus spp. to penicillin, gentamicin, and ceftiofur was above 85%.
  • Gram-negative bacteria showed less than 75% susceptibility to ceftiofur, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMPS).
  • Multidrug Resistance (MDR), defined as resistance to three or more antimicrobials, was present in 39.2% of horses.

Conclusion

  • The findings highlight a growing issue of MDR among young horses in New Zealand, particularly concerning when bacterial respiratory infections are suspected.
  • This points to a pressing need for samples to be submitted for culture and susceptibility testing prior to prescribing antimicrobials.

Cite This Article

APA
Toombs-Ruane LJ, Riley CB, Kendall AT, Bolwell CF, Benschop J, Rosanowski SM. (2015). Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses. J Vet Intern Med, 29(6), 1700-1706. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13600

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 6
Pages: 1700-1706

Researcher Affiliations

Toombs-Ruane, L J
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Riley, C B
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Kendall, A T
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Bolwell, C F
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Benschop, J
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Rosanowski, S M
  • Institute of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteria, Aerobic / drug effects
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • New Zealand / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Yuen KY, Gibson JS, Hinrichsen S, Medina-Torres CE, Bertin FR, Stewart AJ. Cumulative antibiogram and multidrug-resistant organisms in a regional equine referral hospital. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jan;33(1):149-155.
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  5. Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K. Survey of the approach to the diagnosis and management of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses by equine veterinarians. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1484970.
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