Antimicrobial Resistance and Treatment in Companion, Food and Exotic Animals

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics in Animal Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2022) | Viewed by 25082

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second volume of our previous Special Issue on “Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment in Companion and Food Animals”.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. Antimicrobials—including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics—are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health and development threat. It requires urgent multisectoral action to achieve sustainable development goals. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens. Additionally, lack of clean water and sanitation and inadequate infection prevention and control promote the spread of microbes, some of which can be resistant to antimicrobial treatment, especially in pets and food animals. The cost of antimicrobial resistance to the economy is significant. In addition to death and disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, the need for more expensive medicines, and financial challenges for those impacted arising daily. In the coming years, without effective antimicrobials, the success of modern veterinary or human medicine in treating infections, including during major surgery and cancer chemotherapy, will be at increased risk.

The emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens that have acquired new resistance mechanisms, leading to antimicrobial resistance, continues to threaten medical workers in veterinary and human practices’ ability to treat common infections. Especially alarming is the rapid global spread of multi- and pan-resistant bacteria that cause infections that are not treatable with existing antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics.

This Special Issue welcomes papers focused on the latest knowledge and innovations in antimicrobial resistance and optimization of veterinary antimicrobial use in pets, exotic, and food animals.

Dr. Nikola Puvača
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobials
  • antibiotics
  • pet animals
  • food animals
  • exotic animals
  • antimicrobial therapy
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • natural alternatives to antibiotics
  • diseases

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 195 KiB  
Editorial
Antimicrobial Resistance and Treatment in Companion, Food and Exotic Animals
by Nikola Puvača
Antibiotics 2022, 11(10), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11101360 - 05 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1080
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and cease to respond to applied antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death [...] Full article

Research

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14 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
First Belgian Report of Ertapenem Resistance in an ST11 Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strain Isolated from a Dog Carrying blaSCO-1 and blaDHA-1 Combined with Permeability Defects
by Hanne Debergh, Margo Maex, Cristina Garcia-Graells, Cécile Boland, Marc Saulmont, Koenraad Van Hoorde and Claude Saegerman
Antibiotics 2022, 11(9), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11091253 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae of sequence type (ST) 11 is a hyper-epidemic nosocomial clone, which is spreading worldwide among humans and emerging in pets. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae ST11 carrying blaSCO-1 and [...] Read more.
Klebsiella pneumoniae of sequence type (ST) 11 is a hyper-epidemic nosocomial clone, which is spreading worldwide among humans and emerging in pets. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae ST11 carrying blaSCO-1 and blaDHA-1, isolated from a four-month-old dog in Belgium. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of the isolate, performed via broth microdilution following the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines, revealed resistance to eight different classes of antimicrobials, including carbapenems, in particular ertapenem, third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. A hybrid approach, combining long- and short-read sequencing, was employed for in silico plasmid characterization, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and the identification and localization of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence-associated genes. Three plasmids were reconstructed from the whole-genome sequence (WGS) data: the conjugative IncFIB(K), the non-mobilizable IncR and the mobilizable but unconjugative ColRNAI. The IncFIB(K) plasmid carried the blaSCO-1 gene, whereas IncR carried blaDHA-1, both alongside several other antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). No virulence genes could be detected. Here, we suggest that the resistance to ertapenem associated with susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem in K. pneumoniae could be related to the presence of blaSCO-1 and blaDHA-1, combined with permeability defects caused by point mutations in an outer membrane porin (OmpK37). The presence of the blaSCO-1 gene on a conjugative IncFIB(K) plasmid is worrisome as it can increase the risk of transmission to humans, to animals and to the environment. Full article
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14 pages, 647 KiB  
Article
Investigation of In Vitro Susceptibility and Resistance Mechanisms in Skin Pathogens: Perspectives for Fluoroquinolone Therapy in Canine Pyoderma
by Stefano Azzariti, Ross Bond, Anette Loeffler, Flavia Zendri, Dorina Timofte, Yu-Mei Chang and Ludovic Pelligand
Antibiotics 2022, 11(9), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11091204 - 06 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1666
Abstract
Fluoroquinolones (FQ) are commonly used in dogs with bacterial skin infections. Their use as first choice, along with the increased incidence of FQ-resistance, represents a risk to animal and public health. Our study determined minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations of five [...] Read more.
Fluoroquinolones (FQ) are commonly used in dogs with bacterial skin infections. Their use as first choice, along with the increased incidence of FQ-resistance, represents a risk to animal and public health. Our study determined minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations of five FQs in Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Escherichia coli, together with FQ-resistance mechanisms. MICs, efflux pump (EP) overexpression and MBCs were measured in 249 skin infection isolates following CLSI guidelines (CLSI VET01-A4, CLSI M26-A). Chromosomal and plasmid-mediated resistance genes were investigated after DNA extraction and sequencing. FQ-resistance was detected in 10% of methicillin-susceptible (MS), 90% of methicillin-resistant (MR) staphylococci and in 36% of E. coli. Bactericidal effect was observed except in 50% of MRSA/P for ciprofloxacin and in 20% of MRSPs for enrofloxacin. Highest MICs were associated with double mutation in gyrA (Ser83Leu + Asp87Asn), efflux pumps and three PMQR genes in E. coli, and grlA (Ser80Phe + Glu84Lys) in S. aureus. EP overexpression was high among E. coli (96%), low in S. aureus (1%) and absent in S. pseudintermedius. Pradofloxacin and moxifloxacin showed low MICs with bactericidal effect. Since in vitro FQ resistance was associated with MR, FQ use should be prudently guided by susceptibility testing. Full article
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12 pages, 635 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales in Healthy Community Dogs in Israel
by Anat Shnaiderman-Torban, Shiri Navon-Venezia, Hadar Baron, Wiessam Abu-Ahmad, Haya Arielly, Gal Zizelski Valenci, Israel Nissan, Yossi Paitan and Amir Steinman
Antibiotics 2022, 11(8), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11081069 - 07 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1793
Abstract
Background: antimicrobial resistance is a global problem in human and veterinary medicine. We aimed to investigate the extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy community dogs in Israel. Methods: Rectal swabs were sampled from 145 healthy dogs, enriched, plated on selective [...] Read more.
Background: antimicrobial resistance is a global problem in human and veterinary medicine. We aimed to investigate the extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) gut colonization in healthy community dogs in Israel. Methods: Rectal swabs were sampled from 145 healthy dogs, enriched, plated on selective plates, sub-cultured to obtain pure cultures, and ESBL production was confirmed. Bacterial species and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were identified. WGS was performed on all of the ESBL-PE isolates and their resistomes were identified in silico. Owners’ questionnaires were collected for risk factor analysis. Results: ESBL-PE gut colonization rate was 6.2% (n = 9/145, 95% CI 2.9–11.5). Overall, ten isolates were detected (one dog had two isolates); the main species was Escherichia coli (eight isolates), belonging to diverse phylogenetic groups—B1, A and C. Two isolates were identified as Citrobacter braakii, and C. portucalensis. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that all of the isolates were genetically unrelated and sporadic. The isolates possessed diverse ESBL genes and antibiotic-resistance gene content, suggesting independent ESBL spread. In a multivariable risk factor analysis, coprophagia was identified as a risk factor for ESBL-PE gut colonization (p = 0.048, aOR = 4.408, 95% CI 1.014–19.169). Conclusions: healthy community dogs may be colonized with ESBL-PE MDR strains, some of which were previously reported in humans, that carry wide and diverse resistomes and may serve as a possible source for AMR. Full article
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14 pages, 662 KiB  
Article
New Perspective of Origanum vulgare L. and Satureja montana L. Essential Oils as Bovine Mastitis Treatment Alternatives
by Zorana Kovačević, Nebojša Kladar, Ivana Čabarkapa, Miodrag Radinović, Milan Maletić, Mihajlo Erdeljan and Biljana Božin
Antibiotics 2021, 10(12), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10121460 - 27 Nov 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2167
Abstract
Mastitis represents a heavy burden for the dairy sector worldwide with high economic and animal welfare impact. Antibiotic treatment is an important component of mastitis control programs. However, emergence and transfer of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria is becoming a growing concern. Therefore, the development [...] Read more.
Mastitis represents a heavy burden for the dairy sector worldwide with high economic and animal welfare impact. Antibiotic treatment is an important component of mastitis control programs. However, emergence and transfer of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria is becoming a growing concern. Therefore, the development of novel agents is required for prevention and treatment of mastitis. Hence, our aim was to assess the antibacterial properties of two essential oils (EOs) obtained from oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) and mountain savory (Satureja montana L., Lamiaceae) against mastitis-associated bacteria in Serbia. The chemical composition and antioxidant potential of these EOs were also evaluated. The present study was conducted on strains derived from aseptic milk samples collected from Holstein-Friesian cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis, during the morning milking. Clinical mastitis was assessed by clinical examination, while subclinical mastitis was confirmed using somatic cell count in the milk samples. The microdilution method was used to determine the antibacterial activity, while antioxidant potential of the EOs was evaluated in several in vitro assays. The values of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were used to quantitatively measure the antibacterial activity of each EO. MIC/MBC ranged from 0.78/6.25 and 0.39/0.78 mg/mL for oregano and mountain savory, respectively. A total of 25 compounds were identified in the oregano EO, while 47 were identified in winter savory EO, among which aromatic oxygenated monoterpenes were the most abundant compounds. The tested EOs have shown promising antimicrobial activity and could be considered as one of the treatment approaches in mastitis-affected cows. Full article
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11 pages, 305 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Drug-Resistant Salmonella in Urban Cats: Is There an Actual Risk to Public Health?
by János Dégi, Kálmán Imre, Viorel Herman, Iulia Bucur, Isidora Radulov, Oana-Cătălina Petrec and Romeo Teodor Cristina
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10111404 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2251
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. in the faeces of client-owned cats in urban areas and to evaluate the risk that is posed to public health. Fresh faecal samples were collected directly from the rectums from 53 [...] Read more.
The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. in the faeces of client-owned cats in urban areas and to evaluate the risk that is posed to public health. Fresh faecal samples were collected directly from the rectums from 53 diarrhoeic and 32 non-diarrhoeic cats. The samples were individually screened for the presence of Salmonella spp. using standard methods and, in the case of positive findings, the resulting typical colonies were then biochemically confirmed using the VITEK®2 automated system. Subsequently, all of the Salmonella spp. isolates were molecularly tested for the presence of the invA gene. All of the isolates were serotyped using the slide agglutination technique according to the White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme. The phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolated strains was obtained from the VITEK®2 system using specific cards from the Gram-negative bacteria. A total of 16 of the samples (18.82%) tested positive for Salmonella spp. according to conventional and molecular testing methods. Serotyping of the Salmonella isolates showed the presence of three serotypes, namely S. enteritidis (n = 9; 56.3%), S. typhimurium (n = 4; 25%), and S. kentucky (n = 3; 18.8%). All of the tested strains showed strong resistance towards cefazolin, cefepime, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone. Additionally, resistance (listed in descending order of strength) was observed to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (11/16; 68.8%), ampicillin (10/16; 62.5%), ampicillin/sulbactam (9/16; 56.3%), gentamicin (9/16; 56.3%), nitrofurantoin (8/16; 50.0%), and amikacin (5/16; 31.3%). No resistance was expressed against ciprofloxacin, ertapenem, imipenem, levofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and tobramycin. The results of this study highlight a substantial public health issue and medical concern, especially in vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Full article

Review

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18 pages, 1946 KiB  
Review
Perspective, Opportunities and Challenges in Using Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in Poultry Health and Production as an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Antibiotics: A Review
by Rifat Ullah Khan, Adia Fatima, Shabana Naz, Marco Ragni, Simona Tarricone and Vincenzo Tufarelli
Antibiotics 2022, 11(2), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11020278 - 20 Feb 2022
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5515
Abstract
Following the European Union’s restriction on antibiotic growth promoters, research on enhancing gut health has been accelerated. As the poultry industry is facing issues that were previously managed by antimicrobial growth promoters, the hunt for the best remedies continues to find suitable alternatives. [...] Read more.
Following the European Union’s restriction on antibiotic growth promoters, research on enhancing gut health has been accelerated. As the poultry industry is facing issues that were previously managed by antimicrobial growth promoters, the hunt for the best remedies continues to find suitable alternatives. Simultaneously, social pressure is mounting to reduce the usage of antibiotics and replace them with other feed additives. Consumers believe a number of accessible options to be safe, with phytogenics playing a crucial role. This review describes how the use of fennel seeds could be beneficial for poultry. An overview of the broad chemical diversity of fennel is presented together with their physicochemical and biological properties. According to investigations, fennel seeds have a variety of biological effects in birds, including improved performance, higher immune cell proliferation, reduced oxidative stress, and boosted antibody titers against infectious diseases. The efficacy of poultry outcomes is determined by the stage and age of the plants, the extraction process, the geographical location, the chicken species, management techniques, and the concentrations administered. The present review focuses on the effects of fennel seeds as a feed additive on poultry growth, carcass quality, blood biochemistry, antioxidant activity, immunity, and microbiological aspects. Full article
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22 pages, 16918 KiB  
Review
Potential Applications of Moringa oleifera in Poultry Health and Production as Alternative to Antibiotics: A Review
by Rifat Ullah Khan, Aamir Khan, Shabana Naz, Qudrat Ullah, Vito Laudadio, Vincenzo Tufarelli and Marco Ragni
Antibiotics 2021, 10(12), 1540; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10121540 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4942
Abstract
Because of developing bacterial resistance and increased public awareness of health and food safety problems, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the chicken industry has been outlawed. This problem has spurred the poultry industry and sector to explore for safe antibiotic [...] Read more.
Because of developing bacterial resistance and increased public awareness of health and food safety problems, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in the chicken industry has been outlawed. This problem has spurred the poultry industry and sector to explore for safe antibiotic alternatives and to focus on developing better long-term feed management solutions in order to improve chicken health and growth. As a result, phytogenics have developed as natural antibiotic alternatives, with a lot of potential in the poultry industry. Moringa oleifera has gotten a lot of attention from researchers in the recent past as a natural product with a lot of health advantages for poultry. Moringa is known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypocholesterolemic properties, as well as its capacity to activate digestive enzymes in the stomach, owing to the presence of hundreds of essential ingredients. The potential influence of M. oleifera as a natural feed supplement on overall gut health, nutritional digestibility, blood biochemical profile, antioxidant benefits, antibacterial potential, and immunological response is emphasized in this review. Full article
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Other

11 pages, 4677 KiB  
Brief Report
Genomic Features of Salmonella enterica Subspecies houtenae Serotype 45:g,z51:- Isolated from Multiple Abdominal Abscesses of an African Fat-Tailed Gecko, United States, 2020
by Ji-Yeon Hyeon, Zeinab H. Helal, Robert Polkowski, Kristin Vyhnal, Neha Mishra, Junwon Kim, Guillermo R. Risatti and Dong-Hun Lee
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10111322 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1787
Abstract
Salmonella enterica subsp. houtenae (S. houtenae) is a common subspecies in reptiles and has been implicated as a source of serious and life-threatening diseases in humans. Although occurrence and significance of S. houtenae infections have been extensively studied, the genetic features [...] Read more.
Salmonella enterica subsp. houtenae (S. houtenae) is a common subspecies in reptiles and has been implicated as a source of serious and life-threatening diseases in humans. Although occurrence and significance of S. houtenae infections have been extensively studied, the genetic features of S. houtenae have remained unknown due to a lack of available high-quality genome sequences. We obtained the complete genome sequence of S. houtenae 45:g,z51:- strain 20-369 isolated from multiple abdominal abscesses of an African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) using Nanopore and Illumina sequencing technologies and generated the 4.65Mbp complete genome sequence of the S. houtenae str. 20-369. We annotated and analyzed the genome sequence with the aim to gain a deeper understanding of the genome characteristics associated with its pathogenicity. Overall, this study found several interesting genomic features such as pseudogene formation, virulence gene profile, and novel genomic islands. This study provides basis for an understanding possible genetic mechanism underlying pathogenicity of S. houtenae 45:g,z51:- as well as a high-quality genome reference for future comparison studies. Full article
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