Assessment of animal diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: cattle

Abstract

In this opinion, the antimicrobial resistant bacteria responsible for transmissible diseases that constitute a threat to the health of cattle have been assessed. The assessment has been performed following a methodology based on information collected by an extensive literature review and expert judgement. Details of the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. A global state of play on antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (non‐VTEC), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Mycoplasma bovis, Moraxella bovis, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes is provided. Among those bacteria, EFSA identified E. coli and S. aureus with ≥ 66% certainty as being the most relevant antimicrobial resistant bacteria in cattle in the EU based on the available evidence. The animal health impact of these most relevant bacteria, as well as their eligibility for being listed and categorised within the animal health law framework will be assessed in separate scientific opinions.

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli in dogs and cats, horses, swine, poultry, cattle, sheep and goats

“…However, treatment of mastitis due to Gram‐negative bacteria is discouraged by certain guidelines and only recommended as parenteral therapy if there is systemic involvement (NZVA, 2018 ). On the other hand, antimicrobial therapy is often needed to treat gastrointestinal colibacillosis (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021e ). In a recent assessment conducted by the EFSA AHAW Panel ( 2021e ), collected data suggested higher levels of resistance among E. coli isolates from gastrointestinal cases compared to mastitis cases.…”

“…On the other hand, antimicrobial therapy is often needed to treat gastrointestinal colibacillosis (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021e ). In a recent assessment conducted by the EFSA AHAW Panel ( 2021e ), collected data suggested higher levels of resistance among E. coli isolates from gastrointestinal cases compared to mastitis cases. According to the same assessment, there was a marked difference in the proportion of resistance to third‐generation cephalosporins considering the production type, with a weighted mean proportion of 10.9% resistance in dairy isolates (obtained from milk or udder) and 36.5% in isolates of mixed/unknown origin.…”

“…Resistance proportions to fluoroquinolones in Europe were low, but differing according to type of production, accounting for 3% and 10% among E. coli isolates of dairy and unknown/mixed origin, respectively. It is of note, however, that GERM‐Vet ( 2020 ) reported 29.3% of German isolates from calf diarrhoea to be resistant to ciprofloxacin based on (human) clinical breakpoints (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021e ). More recently, a survey published in Europe in 2018, concerning a total of 207 E. coli isolates obtained between 2009 and 2012 from mastitis in nine EU countries, revealed high resistance to cephapirin (23.2%), moderate to tetracycline (14.5%), low to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (3.9%), cephalexin (4.8%), cephalonium (5.3%) and very low to ceftiofur (1%) (de Jong et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Cattle. Most European studies reported less than 8% of E. coli isolates resistant to third‐generation cephalosporins (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021e ). For other β‐lactams, resistance levels were generally high for aminopenicillins (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021e ).…”

“…The global state of play for AMR animal pathogens that cause transmissible animal diseases (ToR 1) and the results of the assessment of the most relevant AMR bacteria in the EU (first part of ToR 2) for dogs and cats, horses, swine, poultry, cattle, sheep and goats were published in separate EFSA scientific opinions (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021a , 2021b , 2021c , 2021d , 2021e , 2021f ).…”