Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from horses: Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

SummaryAntimicrobial 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 methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus strains either to be predominantly of types associated with horses or of sequence type ST398. Antimicrobialresistant Escherichia coli (including multidrug-resistant and extended spectrum b-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.

A retrospective analysis of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens in an equine hospital (2012–2015)

“…Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) and extendedspectrum b-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacte riaceae are currently the most important multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates in equine medicine (Maddox et al, 2015). Both acquired resistance towards b-lactam antibiotics, the most important antimicrobial category in veterinary medicine, and therefore substantially complicate antimicrobial therapy (Weese, 2009).…”

Bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity from the ocular conjunctiva of horses

“…Although staphylococcus are commensal bacteria in horses, some strains have acquired a greater pathogen potential by expressing a gene called mec, which encodes a binding protein to an altered penicilin, making the use of all beta-lactam antimicrobials used in veterinary medicine ineffective (MADDOX et al, 2015;VAN SPIJK et al, 2016). Colonization or infections specifically caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has become a serious condition in equines, and a complex concern among animals, people and public health (TIROSH-LEVY et al, 2015, MADDOX et al, 2015, VAN SPIJK et al, 2016.…”

“…Colonization or infections specifically caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has become a serious condition in equines, and a complex concern among animals, people and public health (TIROSH-LEVY et al, 2015, MADDOX et al, 2015, VAN SPIJK et al, 2016. In horses, several sites of MRSA infection have been reported, including skin, respiratory, urinary and reproductive tract ( VAN SPIJK et al, 2016).…”

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Food- Producing and Companion Animals and Food Products

“…Since the irst report of MRSA from mares with metritis in Japan [217], many isolates have been found in Europe, North America, and Asia ( Table 2) [142][143][144][218][219][220]). Haenni et al [221] identiied four mecC-positive MRSA from horses in France exhibiting spa types, t208, t843, t6220, t11015 and ST types ST49, ST130, and ST1245.…”

“…More than 25 spa-types have been reported, and three types, such as t011, t064 and t451, were the most widespread [230]. In addition, only three SCCmec types (IV, V, VI) have been discovered from horses [218]. Interestingly, no MRSA was isolated from 300 horses on 14 farms in Slovenia, 497 horses on 50 farms in Canada, 87 horses in Austria, and 200 horses in the Netherlands [231][232][233].…”