Impact of hospitalization and antimicrobial drug administration on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of commensal Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of horses.
Abstract: Objective-To evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility of commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated from the feces of horses and investigate relationships with hospitalization and antimicrobial drug (AMD) administration. Design-Observational study. Animals-68 hospitalized horses that had been treated with AMDs for at least 3 days (HOSP-AMD group), 63 hospitalized horses that had not received AMDs for at least 4 days (HOSP-NOAMD group), and 85 healthy horses that had not been hospitalized or treated with AMDs (community group). Procedures-Fecal samples were submitted for bacterial culture, and up to 3 E coli colonies were recovered from each sample. Antimicrobial susceptibility of 724 isolates was evaluated. Prevalence of resistance was compared among groups by use of log-linear modeling. Results-For 12 of the 15 AMDs evaluated, prevalence of antimicrobial resistance differed significantly among groups, with prevalence being highest among isolates from the HOSP-AMD group and lowest among isolates from the community group. Isolates recovered from the HOSP-AMD and HOSP-NOAMD groups were also significantly more likely to be resistant to multiple AMDs. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole and resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were most common, followed by resistance to gentamicin and resistance to tetracycline. Use of a potentiated sulfonamide, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, or metronidazole was positively associated with resistance to 1 or more AMDs, but use of penicillins was not associated with increased risk of resistance to AMDs. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that both hospitalization and AMD administration were associated with prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among E coli strains isolated from the feces of horses.
Publication Date: 2006-06-21 PubMed ID: 16784384DOI: 10.2460/javma.228.12.1909Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 study evaluates the effects of hospitalization and antibiotic drugs on the antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli (E.coli) strains found in horse feces. Findings indicate a correlation between both hospitalization and drug administration with increased antimicrobial resistance.
Research Design and Animal Subjects
- This is an observational study involving 216 horses divided into three groups. The first group comprised of 68 horses that had been hospitalized and treated with antimicrobial drugs for a minimum of three days, referred to as the HOSP-AMD group.
- The second group consisted of 63 hospitalized horses, not treated with antimicrobial drugs for at least four days, referred to as the HOSP-NOAMD group.
- The third group included 85 healthy horses that had neither been hospitalized nor treated with any antimicrobial drugs, referred to as the community group.
Fecal Sample Procedures
- For all the horses involved in the research, fecal samples were submitted for culturing bacteria.
- From each sample, up to three E.coli colonies were isolated resulting in a total of 724 isolates whose antibiotic susceptibility was subsequently assessed.
Results and Findings
- The study established a significant difference amongst the groups in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance to 12 out of 15 antimicrobial drugs evaluated.
- The HOSP-AMD group showed the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, while the community group demonstrated the least.
- Isolates from the HOSP-AMD and HOSP-NOAMD groups manifested a higher likelihood of resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs.
- Resistance to sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was the most common, followed by resistance to gentamicin and tetracycline.
- Use of potentiated sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, or metronidazole was positively associated with resistance to one or more antimicrobial drugs, while the usage of penicillins was not linked to an increased risk of developing resistance.
Conclusion
- The study suggests a strong association between hospitalization and antibiotic administration with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among E.coli strains in horse feces.
Cite This Article
APA
Dunowska M, Morley PS, Traub-Dargatz JL, Hyatt DR, Dargatz DA.
(2006).
Impact of hospitalization and antimicrobial drug administration on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of commensal Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 228(12), 1909-1917.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.228.12.1909 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Population Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Cross Infection / veterinary
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial
- Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
- Escherichia coli / drug effects
- Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
- Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Male
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 21 times.- Symoens A, Gauthier ML, Paillette L, Allano M, Lavoie JP, Leclère M. Evolution of in vitro antimicrobial resistance at an equine hospital over 4 decades. Can Vet J 2025 Aug;66(8):903-910.
- 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).
- Burgess BA. Does environmental microbiological surveillance support infection control in veterinary hospitals? A PRO/CON debate. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2024 Aug;6(4):dlae115.
- Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. The Effects of Antimicrobial Protocols and Other Perioperative Factors on Postoperative Complications in Horses Undergoing Celiotomy: A Retrospective Analysis, 2008-2021. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 19;13(22).
- Tyrnenopoulou P, Fthenakis GC. Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance in the Reproductive System of Equids. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 28;12(4).
- Mitchell SW, Moran RA, Elbourne LDH, Chapman B, Bull M, Muscatello G, Coleman NV. Impacts of Domestication and Veterinary Treatment on Mobile Genetic Elements and Resistance Genes in Equine Fecal Bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023 Mar 29;89(3):e0159022.
- Theelen MJP, Luiken REC, Wagenaar JA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Rossen JWA, Schaafstra FJWC, van Doorn DA, Zomer AL. Longitudinal study of the short- and long-term effects of hospitalisation and oral trimethoprim-sulfadiazine administration on the equine faecal microbiome and resistome. Microbiome 2023 Feb 27;11(1):33.
- Lord J, Carter C, Smith J, Locke S, Phillips E, Odoi A. Antimicrobial resistance among Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus and Rhodococcus equi isolated from equine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Kentucky, USA. PeerJ 2022;10:e13682.
- Redpath A, Hallowell GD, Bowen IM. Use of aminoglycoside antibiotics in equine clinical practice; a questionnaire-based study of current use. Vet Med Sci 2021 Mar;7(2):279-288.
- Potier JFN, Durham AE. Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from ambulatory practice and from a referral hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jan;34(1):300-306.
- Sukmawinata E, Sato W, Mitoma S, Kanda T, Kusano K, Kambayashi Y, Sato T, Ishikawa Y, Goto Y, Uemura R, Sueyoshi M. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. J Equine Sci 2019 Sep;30(3):47-53.
- Royden A, Ormandy E, Pinchbeck G, Pascoe B, Hitchings MD, Sheppard SK, Williams NJ. Prevalence of faecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in veterinary hospital staff and students. Vet Rec Open 2019;6(1):e000307.
- de Lagarde M, Larrieu C, Praud K, Schouler C, Doublet B, Sallé G, Fairbrother JM, Arsenault J. 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. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):902-911.
- Awosile BB, Heider LC, Saab ME, McClure JT. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from horses from the Atlantic Provinces, Canada (1994 to 2013). Can Vet J 2018 Sep;59(9):951-957.
- Wolny-Koładka K, Lenart-Boroń A. Antimicrobial resistance and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes in Escherichia coli isolated from the environment of horse riding centers. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018 Aug;25(22):21789-21800.
- Malo A, Cluzel C, Labrecque O, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP, Leclere M. Evolution of in vitro antimicrobial resistance in an equine hospital over 3 decades. Can Vet J 2016 Jul;57(7):747-51.
- Toombs-Ruane LJ, Riley CB, Kendall AT, Bolwell CF, Benschop J, Rosanowski SM. Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1700-6.
- Benedict KM, Gow SP, Reid-Smith RJ, Booker CW, Morley PS. Metrics for quantifying antimicrobial use in beef feedlots. Can Vet J 2012 Aug;53(8):841-8.
- Karczmarczyk M, Abbott Y, Walsh C, Leonard N, Fanning S. Characterization of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from animals presenting at a university veterinary hospital. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011 Oct;77(20):7104-12.
- Bryan J, Leonard N, Fanning S, Katz L, Duggan V. Antimicrobial resistance in commensal faecal Escherichia coli of hospitalised horses. Ir Vet J 2010 Jun 1;63(6):373-9.
- Ahmed MO, Clegg PD, Williams NJ, Baptiste KE, Bennett M. Antimicrobial resistance in equine faecal Escherichia coli isolates from North West England. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2010 Apr 7;9:12.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists