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Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals

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A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2024 | Viewed by 20891

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Dr. George Valiakos

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Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: veterinary microbiology; bacteriology; one health; antimicrobial resistance
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Dear Colleagues,

Currently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious and complex issue. It is now generally accepted that antimicrobial use (AMU) plays a major role in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in a microbial population. As the issue of AMU has been addressed only quantitatively, the focus has fallen for several years on AMU in food-producing animals, where the largest quantity of antimicrobials is being used. However, companion animals are now increasingly recognized as a reservoir and source of transmission of resistant microbes for other animals and humans. However, the extent to which this happens is still unknown. As the number of households that own a companion animal is large and constantly increasing (nearly 200 million in Europe alone), significant concerns are raised regarding the lack of knowledge on the risk factors and transmission routes for the transfer of AMR between these animals and humans. At the same time, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the current AMU in companion animal daily clinical veterinary practice both in terms of its quantitative/qualitative data and in terms of its possible negative effects. This Special Issue aims to gather and publish significant additional knowledge on all of these issues, hosting relevant research studies and reviews.

Dr. George Valiakos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

antimicrobial use
antimicrobial resistance
companion animals
pets
one health

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Antimycotic Activity and Structural Damage against Canine Malassezia pachydermatis Strains Caused by Mexican Stingless Bee Propolis

by Diana Berenice Fuentes Esquivel, Betsabé Rodríguez Pérez, Nelly Tovar Betancourt, Carlos Gerardo García Tovar, José Guillermo Penieres Carrillo, Florentina Hernández Galindo, Javier Pérez Flores and Tonatiuh Alejandro Cruz Sánchez

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(3), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11030106 - 28 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1818

Abstract

This work describes the antimycotic activity of propolis from the stingless bees Scaptotrigona mexicana and Tetragonisca angustula, collected from two Mexican regions (Veracruz and Chiapas, respectively), against three clinical isolates and the reference strain ATCC 14522 of Malassezia pachydermatis, the causative agent of canine otitis. The chemical components of the ethanolic extracts of propolis were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and sesquiterpenes were the predominant compounds. The antimycotic activity was evaluated by plate microdilution. The induced changes in the yeasts were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and staining with calcofluor white and propidium iodide. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 7.11 mg/mL, and the minimum fungicidal concentration was 21.33 mg/mL for both extracts. The EPPs of Scaptotrigona mexicana and Tetragonisca angustula caused substantial damage to yeast morphology, where the propidium iodide staining of the yeasts treated with both EEPs revealed the penetration of this marker, which indicates the destruction of the cell wall and plasma membrane of the fungi. This result suggests that these types of propolis could be used as alternative treatments for canine external otitis. To the best of our knowledge, this seems to be the first scientific report that has demonstrated structural damage in Malassezia pachydermatis by Mexican stingless bee propolis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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19 pages, 3561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multidrug-Resistant Commensal and Infection-Causing Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from Companion Animals in the Valencia Region

by Ana Marco-Fuertes, Clara Marin, Concepción Gimeno-Cardona, Violeta Artal-Muñoz, Santiago Vega and Laura Montoro-Dasi

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11020054 - 26 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1583

Abstract

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) among microorganisms to commonly used antibiotics is a growing concern in both human and veterinary medicine. Companion animals play a significant role in the epidemiology of AMR, as their population is continuously increasing, posing a risk of disseminating AMR, particularly to strains of public health importance, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus strains. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of AMR and MDR in commensal and infection-causing Staphylococcus spp. in dogs and cats in Valencia region. For this purpose, 271 samples were taken from veterinary centers to assess antimicrobial susceptibility against 20 antibiotics, including some of the most important antibiotics for the treatment of Staphylococcus infections, including the five last resort antibiotics in this list. Of all the samples, 187 Staphylococcus spp. strains were recovered from asymptomatic and skin-diseased dogs and cats, of which S. pseudintermedius (≈60%) was more prevalent in dogs, while S. felis (≈50%) was more prevalent in cats. In the overall analysis of the isolates, AMR was observed for all antibiotics tested, including those crucial in human medicine. Furthermore, over 70% and 30% of the strains in dogs and cats, respectively, exhibited MDR. This study highlights the significance of monitoring the trends in AMR and MDR among companion animals. The potential contribution of these animals to the dissemination of AMR and its resistance genes to humans, other animals, and their shared environment underscores the necessity for adopting a One Health approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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10 pages, 888 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Carried by Commensal Escherichia coli from Shelter Cats in Italy

by Delia Gambino, Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo, Luca Cicero, Roberta Cirincione, Erika Mannino, Veronica Fiore, Daniela Proverbio, Eva Spada, Giovanni Cassata and Valeria Gargano

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(12), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120680 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1443

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a widespread global health problem. The presence of resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes has been demonstrated not only in humans but also in animals, including pets. Stray cats share the urban environment with people and pets. This may facilitate transmission of resistant bacteria and resistance genes between stray animals, people and domestic animals. Several studies have investigated the role of stray cats as a fecal carrier of ESBL-producing bacteria. However, there are many genes and resistance mechanisms that can be detected in commensal E. coli, which, because of its genetic plasticity, is considered an indicator for monitoring antibiotic resistance. In this study, rectal swabs were collected from stray cats from colonies and shelters in the city of Monza (Monza Brianza, Italy) to isolate commensal E. coli. Phenotypic tests, such as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the double disc test (DDST), and molecular analyses to detect antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were used to study the resistance of these isolates. The results obtained confirm that stray cats can carry ESBL-producing E. coli (6.7%) and genes conferring resistance to other important antibiotic classes such as tetracyclines and sulfonamides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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13 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Current Situation of Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles in Pet Rabbits in Spain

by Mercedes Fernández, Biel Garcias, Inma Duran, Rafael A. Molina-López and Laila Darwich

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050352 - 14 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2190

Abstract

Research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pet rabbits is very scarce. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the current state of AMR in rabbits attended to in veterinary clinics distributed in Spain. Records of 3596 microbiological results of clinical cases submitted from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed. Staphylococcus spp. (15.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (12.7%), Pasteurella spp. (10%), Bordetella spp. (9.6%) and Streptococcus spp. (6.8%) were the most frequently diagnosed agents. Enterobacteriaceae, principally Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae, accounted for about 18% of the cases and showed the highest proportion of multi-drug resistance (MDR) isolates, with 48%, 57.5% and 36% of MDR, respectively. Regarding the antimicrobial susceptibility testing for a number of antimicrobial categories/families, the largest proportion of isolates showing resistance to a median of five antimicrobial categories was observed in P. aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkolderia spp. In contrast, infections caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus spp. and Pasteurella multocida were highly sensitive to conventional antimicrobials authorized for veterinary use (categories D and C). The emergence of AMR major nosocomial opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia and K. pneumoniae in pet rabbits can represent a serious public health challenge. Consequently, collaboration between veterinarians and human health professionals is crucial in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, to optimize, rationalize and prudently use antimicrobial therapies in domestic animals and humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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16 pages, 1179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Resulting from the Selective Pressure of Antibiotics: A Comprehensive Analysis of ESBL K. pneumoniae and MRSP Isolated in a Dog with Rhinorrhea

by Inês C. Rodrigues, Marisa Ribeiro-Almeida, Jorge Ribeiro, Leonor Silveira, Joana C. Prata, Angela Pista and Paulo Martins da Costa

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050326 - 02 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2015

Abstract

Because of public health concerns, much greater scrutiny is now placed on antibiotic use in pets, especially for antimicrobial agents that have human analogs. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from nasal swabs samples taken from a one-year-old male Serra da Estrela dog with rhinorrhea that was treated with amikacin. An extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in the first sample taken from the left nasal cavity of the dog. Seven days later, methicillin-resistant (MRSP) Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was also isolated. Nevertheless, no alterations to the therapeutic protocol were performed. Once the inhibitory action of the antibiotic disappeared, the competitive advantage of the amikacin-resistant MRSP was lost, and only commensal flora was observed on both nasal cavities. The genotypic profile of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae revealed the same characteristics and close relation to other strains, mainly from Estonia, Slovakia and Romania. Regarding MRSP isolates, although resistance to aminoglycosides was present in the first MRSP, the second isolate carried aac(6′)-aph(2″), which enhanced its resistance to amikacin. However, the veterinary action was focused on the treatment of the primary agent (ESBL K. pneumoniae), and the antibiotic applied was according to its phenotypic profile, which may have led to the resolution of the infectious process. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of targeted therapy, proper clinical practice and laboratory-hospital communication to safeguard animal, human and environmental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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11 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Isolated from Dogs and Cats, 2011–2021

by Dennis J. Woerde, Krystle L. Reagan, Barbara A. Byrne, Bart C. Weimer, Steven E. Epstein, Cory Schlesener, Bihua C. Huang and Jane E. Sykes

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(3), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030178 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2293

Abstract

The rising prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales is a significant threat to animal and human health. This study aims to describe the clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and genotypic features of infections associated with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in dogs and cats seen at a tertiary referral veterinary teaching hospital. Enterobacterales isolated from dogs and cats that underwent ESBL testing during the study period were identified using a search of the hospital antimicrobial susceptibility test software database. Medical records of confirmed ESBL isolates were reviewed, and the source of infection, clinical findings, and antimicrobial susceptibility were recorded. Genomic DNA from bacterial isolates was evaluated for antimicrobial resistance genes with whole genome sequencing. Thirty ESBL-producing isolates were identified based on phenotypic testing (twenty-nine from dogs, one from a cat); twenty-six were Escherichia coli and the remainder were Klebsiella spp. Bacterial cystitis was the most commonly identified (8/30, 27%) clinical problem associated with infection. Resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes was identified in 90% (27/30) of isolates, and all isolates were susceptible to imipenem. Over 70% of isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, and cefoxitin. Bla_CTX-M-15 was the most common ESBL gene identified, present in 13/22 (59%) isolate genomes. A wide range of clinical infections were identified. Piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin may be alternatives to carbapenem therapy. Further, larger-scale studies are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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14 pages, 3662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Recommendations for Treatment of Canine Stromal Corneal Ulcers

by Milan Joksimovic, Bradley A. Ford, Tatjana Lazic, Ivan Soldatovic, Sergey Luzetsky and Sinisa Grozdanic

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(2), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020066 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the aerobic bacterial isolates and determine corresponding antibiotic susceptibility profiles in vitro in canine clinical specimens with stromal corneal ulcers, with the goal of providing recommendations for first-line treatment with antibiotics. A total of 198 canine corneal stromal ulcer samples were studied between 2018 and 2021. A corneal swab was collected and cultured under aerobic conditions. Bacterial organisms were identified at the species level by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antibiotic susceptibility testing for commonly used topical and systemic antibiotics was performed by disk diffusion. Bacterial growth was obtained from 80% of samples. A variety of bacterial species were identified wherein the most common specimens were represented by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (22%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (12%), Staphylococcus capitis (11%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%). Based on the overall antibiotic susceptibility data, neopolybac alone (96%) or a combination of neopolybac with either ofloxacin or amikacin (each 99%) showed the best coverage for commonly isolated bacterial organisms from canine corneal stromal ulcers. Results of this study support the use of the combined antibiotics as the first-line response for the treatment of canine corneal stromal ulcers. A statically significant increase in acquired bacterial resistance was detected during the longitudinal data observation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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Review

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25 pages, 1117 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Immune Activated Cellular Therapy for Drug Resistant Infections: Rationale, Mechanisms, and Implications for Veterinary Medicine

by Lynn M. Pezzanite, Lyndah Chow, Alyssa Strumpf, Valerie Johnson and Steven W. Dow

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(11), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9110610 - 04 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation both present challenges to treatment of bacterial infections with conventional antibiotic therapy and serve as the impetus for development of improved therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy exerts an antimicrobial effect as demonstrated in multiple acute bacterial infection models. This effect can be enhanced by pre-conditioning the MSC with Toll or Nod-like receptor stimulation, termed activated cellular therapy (ACT). The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of MSC with emphasis on enhanced effects through receptor agonism, and data supporting use of ACT in treatment of bacterial infections in veterinary species including dogs, cats, and horses with implications for further treatment applications. This review will advance the field’s understanding of the use of activated antimicrobial cellular therapy to treat infection, including mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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Other

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19 pages, 1054 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Fosfomycin Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Companion Animals (Dogs and Cats)

by Marios Lysitsas, Irene Chatzipanagiotidou, Charalambos Billinis and George Valiakos

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050337 - 09 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2064

Abstract

Fosfomycin is an old antibacterial agent, which is currently used mainly in human medicine, in uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). The purpose of this review is to investigate the presence and the characteristics of Fosfomycin resistance in bacteria isolated from canine or feline samples, estimate the possible causes of the dissemination of associated strains in pets, and underline the requirements of prospective relevant studies. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines were used for the search of current literature in two databases. A total of 33 articles were finally included in the review. Relevant data were tracked down, assembled, and compared. Referring to the geographical distribution, Northeast Asia was the main area of origin of the studies. E. coli was the predominant species detected, followed by other Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococci, and Pseudomonas spp. FosA and fosA3 were the more frequently encountered Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in the related Gram-negative isolates, while fosB was regularly encountered in Gram-positive ones. The majority of the strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and co-carried resistance genes against several classes of antibiotics and especially β-Lactams, such as bla_CTX-M and mecA. These results demonstrate the fact that the cause of the spreading of Fosfomycin-resistant bacteria among pets could be the extended use of other antibacterial agents, that promote the prevalence of MDR, epidemic strains among an animal population. Through the circulation of these strains into a community, a public health issue could arise. Further research is essential though, for the comprehensive consideration of the issue, as the current data are limited. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Use in Companion Animals)

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