Identification of veterinary pathogens by use of commercial identification systems and new trends in antimicrobial susceptibility testing of veterinary pathogens

Abstract

Veterinary diagnostic microbiology is a unique specialty within microbiology. Although isolation and identification techniques are similar to those used for human pathogens, many veterinary pathogens require unique cultivation or identification procedures. Commercial identification systems provide rapid, accurate identification of human pathogens. However, the accuracy of these systems with veterinary pathogens varies widely depending on the bacterial species and the host animal from which it was isolated. Increased numbers of veterinary strains or species in the data bases of the various systems would improve their accuracy. Current procedures and interpretive criteria used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of veterinary pathogens are based on guidelines used for human pathogens. The validity of these guidelines for use with veterinary pathogens has not been established. As with fastidious human pathogens, standardized methodologies and quality control isolates are needed for tests of organisms such as Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Haemophilus somnus. Furthermore, interpretive criteria for veterinary antimicrobial agents based on the MIC for veterinary pathogens, the pharmacokinetics of the antimicrobial agent in the host animal, and in vivo efficacy of the antimicrobial agent are needed. This article reviews both the commercial identification systems evaluated with veterinary pathogens and current methods for performing and interpreting antimicrobial susceptibility tests with veterinary pathogens. Recommendations for future improvements in both areas are discussed.

Antimicrobial resistance and virulence-related genes ofStreptococcusobtained from dairy cows with mastitis in Inner Mongolia, China

“…The mixture of penicillin-streptomycin was used to treat bovine disease in the dairy farm, which increased the development of penicillin resistance. This does not mean that penicillin-resistant Streptococcus would fail therapy with penicillin as the interpretive criteria are based on human data and may not accurately reflect the efficacy of penicillin for treating streptococcal mastitis (Watts & Yancey, 1994). Tetracycline and erythromycin had been always used for the treatment of several infections in cattle for many years.…”

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characteristics of Streptococcus porcinus Isolated from Human Sources

“…This system seems to be useful for the rapid identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci more commonly associated with human infections (mainly group A and group B streptococci). The limited performance of different systems for the identification of less frequently isolated human or veterinary pathogens has been previously reviewed (1,28).…”

Identification of staphylococcal and streptococcal causes of bovine mastitis using 16S-23S rRNA spacer regions

“…There are commercial biochemical kits available for the determination of CNS species (e.g. API-Staph, Staph-Ident, StaphTrac, Staph-Zym) but they have proved unreliable for the identification of veterinary pathogens (Watts & Yancey, 1994). The development of molecular biological methods, such as nucleic acid analysis, protein patterns or fatty acid P. FORSMAN a n d OTHERS profiles, has added possibilities for the rapid identification of bacteria (Busse et aZ., 1996).…”