Staphylococcus aureus
is an important pathogen that causes mastitis in cattle, and the emergence of methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA) poses a threat to veterinary and human medicine. The ...aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) isolated from clinical mastitis, their ability to form biofilms, and the antimicrobial susceptibility of
S. aureus
strains. In addition, the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) type,
spa
type and the presence of Panton-Valentine Leucocidin in MRSA were evaluated. A total of 326 staphylococcal strains were screened by multiplex-PCR for
S. aureus
and
Staphylococcus intermedius
group (SIG) identification. The
S. aureus
strains (
n
= 163) were subjected to phenotypic testing for antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation. Molecular analysis was performed on MRSA
mec
A-positive strains. Of 163
S. aureus
isolates, 142 strains (87.1%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and all 19 MRSA strains were resistant to at least four out of five antibiotics tested. All
S. aureus
strains harboured the
ica
A gene and were biofilm producers. Nineteen MR-CoNS strains were also isolated. The most prevalent
spa
types among MRSA were t001 (57.9%) and t037 (31.6%), while one MRSA was type t008 and one was type t041. Most MRSA were SCC
mec
type I (63.2%) and III (31.6%) and only one strain was type IV. None of the MRSA isolates had the PVL gene. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant
S. aureus
in bovine mastitis is a serious concern. The finding of MRSA with
spa
types predominant in humans and infrequent in Italian cows and with SCC
mec
infrequently found in bovine milk or cheese suggest a human origin of these strains. The ability of MRSA and MR-CoNS involved in bovine mastitis to be transferred to humans and vice versa poses a public health concern.
is a Gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen, causing severe infections difficult to treat. The
infection rate has increased year by year in human medicine and it is also considered as a major cause of ...nosocomial infections worldwide. This bacterium, also well known for its ability to form biofilms, has a strong environmental adaptability and the characteristics of multi-drug resistance. Indeed, strains showing fully resistant profiles represent a worrisome problem in clinical therapeutic treatment. Furthermore,
-associated veterinary nosocomial infections has been reported in recent literature. Particularly, carbapenem-resistant
can be considered an emerging opportunistic pathogen in human medicine as well as in veterinary medicine.
The objective of the study was to review current literature to determine whether the topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes healing in experimentally-induced full-thickness skin ...wounds in animals. The hypothesis was that the adjunct of PRP has a positive effect on wound healing. An electronic search was carried out on the following databases: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Research Gate, Cochrane Wounds Group, Veterinary Information Network. No publication date nor language restrictions were applied. Randomised and not randomised controlled clinical trials comparing PRP with placebo or with other treatments were included. The reduction of open wound area in PRP-treated (test) wounds compared to control wounds was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were healing time and number of healed cases in test group compared to control. The following effect sizes were calculated: the Hedges' g for continuous variables; the odds ratio for binary data. Eighteen controlled clinical trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis, with a total of 661 wounds. All studies were published in the period 2007-2016. Eight studies were carried out on rodent/lagomorph mammals and 10 on non-rodent/lagomorph mammals. In all included studies, control wounds underwent placebo or were left untreated. The PRP group showed a better healing performance than the control group in each outcome. The effect size was statistically significant considering the primary outcome and the overall aggregation of the three outcomes. The effect size, although in favour of the treatment with PRP, was not significant considering the healing time and the number of healings. The overall heterogeneity was mild or moderate. Five studies reported a high risk of selection bias. The publication bias was always mild or absent. The results support the hypothesis of the positive effects of the PRP when compared to control groups in the treatment of experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. PRP can therefore be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in stimulating second intention healing of acute wounds in healthy animals.
To evaluate the frequency of Acinetobacter spp., belonging to both Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACB) and non-ACB complex, and their antibiotic resistance profiles in veterinary medicine, a ...three-year (2020–2022) retrospective study was carried out on sick companion animals. Epidemiological data from different clinical canine, feline, and equine samples, were acquired. For each strain, MALDI-TOF MS identification and susceptibility to a panel of 11 antibiotics, by Kirby-Bauer and E-test methods, were performed. Out of 628 bacteriological examinations, 2.5% resulted positive for strains belonging to Acinetobacter genus. Frequencies of 2.3%, 1.9%, and 3% were obtained from both in-visiting and hospitalized dogs, cats, and horses, respectively. Members of ACB-complex accounted for 50% of isolates. Since all strains resulted susceptible to aminoglycosides and polymyxins, no pandrug-resistant (PDR) species were recorded. While 12.5% A. baumannii resulted extensively-drug resistant (XDR), a higher percentage of multidrug-resistant strains was recorded among non-ACB strains (35.5%) than ACB strains (25%). Susceptibility was observed in the same percentage in both groups (62.5%). All ACB strains confirmed their intrinsic resistances. Non-ACB species showed lower resistances against antipseudomonal penicillins plus beta-lactamase inhibitors (P=0.1306), III generation cephalosporins (P=0.0547), and tetracyclines (P=0.0209) than ACB species. Carbapenem-resistance was observed for XDR A. baumannii (12.5%) and, in particular for MDR non-ACB complex members (25%). To our knowledge, A. lactucae represents the first description in two sick dogs in Italy. Furthermore, our results emphasize the role of non-ACB-complex species as important zoonotic pathogens, which could be reservoirs of clinically relevant resistance profiles.
•baumannii has become clinically significant both in human and veterinary medicine.•Other species of the genus Acinetobacter also deserve justified attention.•Companion animals can harbor zoonotic non-A. calcoaceticus-baumannii complex strains.•Relevant MDR and XDR profiles were detected both for ACB and non-ACB complex members.•First description of MDR A. lactucae in two sick dogs in Italy.
A hand-made, radiolucent, custom-designed device having a mobile and a non-mobile platforms was used to objectively quantify the in vivo cranial tibial translation, in order to assess the functional ...status of cranial-cruciate-ligament (CrCL) in dogs. The hypothesis was that changes in CrCL integrity would result in detectable changes in tibial translation. To validate the diagnostic method, data from injured (PA, n = 32), contralateral (CO, n = 32) and healthy stifles (HE, n = 32) were compared. Normalized tibial translation (ΔN) of each stifle was measured in medio-lateral radiographic projection obtained before and during standard thrust force application, in PA (43.59±12.97%), CO (20.32±6.69%) and HE (12.22±3.77%). Comparing PA with HE and CO (ΔN cut-off value: 29.73%), diagnosis could be issued with very high probability. Comparing HE with CO (ΔN cut-off value: 14.80%), high performance was obtained. The translator device could be a useful tool to objectively quantify the in vivo tibial translation in dogs with CrCL rupture, before surgery and during post-operatory follow-up.
In poultry, severe gastrointestinal diseases are caused by bacteria and coccidia, with important economic losses in the poultry industry and requirement of treatments which, for years, were based on ...the use of antibiotics and chemotherapies. Furthermore,
spp.,
, and
can cause serious foodborne diseases in people, resulting from consumption of poultry meat, eggs, and derived products. With the spread of antibiotic resistance, which affects both animals and humans, the restriction of antibiotic use in livestock production and the identification of a list of "critically important antimicrobials" became necessary. For this reason, researchers focused on natural compounds and effective alternatives to prevent gastrointestinal disease in poultry. This review summarizes the results of several studies published in the last decade, describing the use of different nutraceutical or phytonutrients in poultry industry. The results of the use of these products are not always encouraging. While some of the alternatives have proven to be very promising, further studies will be needed to verify the efficacy and practical applicability of other compounds.
A retrospective study was conducted on parrots submitted from necropsy to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary, University of Camerino, Italy, from 2007 to ...2018. From a total of 2,153 parrots examined at post-mortem, four cases were diagnosed with atypical mycosis and were considered for determination of the fungus species by PCR. A Fischer's lovebird (
), Peach-faced lovebirds (
), and two Blue and Gold Macaws (
) from four different aviaries died after some days of lethargy and ruffled feathers. Records of gross necropsy and histopathological exams (H&E, PAS, and Grocott stain) were described and biomolecular analyses were carried out. No specific gross lesions were appreciated at necropsy, while histopathology evidenced a systemic mycosis in several organs, particularly in the lungs. In affected organs, broad and non-septate hyphae, suggestive of mycoses, were observed. Molecularly,
(Fischer's lovebird) and
(Peach-faced lovebirds) were identified from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung and liver tissue. In addition,
and
spp. (respectively in male and female Blue and Gold macaws) were identified in FFPE tissue from several organs; whereas the role of
spp. as true pathogens is well-demonstrated, and the behavior of
and
spp. in macaws as opportunistic pathogens have been discussed. To our knowledge, this report is the first one reporting mucormycosis caused by
and
in lovebirds, and
and
spp. in macaws.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is enzootic in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the center, south and south-west regions of Cameroon in order to determine: the knowledge, skills and ...practices at risk of pig breeders; the prevalence of the disease in piggeries; the genome of the circulating virus. A total of 684 blood samples were collected in 209 farms for RT-PCR and ELISA analyses at the National Veterinary Laboratory (LANAVET) annex in Yaoundé. Prevalences of 15.2% (95CI: 12.5–17.9%) by ELISA, 23.8% (95CI: 20.6–27.0%) by RT-PCR, and 15.2% (95CI: 12.5–17.9%) by ELISA-PCR, were recorded. Of the farmers surveyed, 90% knew about the ASF and 55.3% have already experienced it. The 47.4% of them would not be able to recognize ASF if it occurred and, according to them, the risk of the disease introduction in farms would be 32% linked to the animal health personnel who work on farms. Molecular characterization revealed that only ASF genotype-I variable 19T-RSs is circulating. ASF is still hovering at a risky rate over the pig sector of Cameroon. The control of ASF needs an epidemiological surveillance, a better involvement of all stakeholders, sensitization of breeders and an effective State support for producers.
This
in vitro
study was carried out to evaluate the potential antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. Therapeutic formulations commonly used for regenerative medicine ...purposes (platelet-rich plasma, platelet gel, platelet lysate, fibrin glue), considering both leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor formulations, but also platelet-poor plasma and activating substances (thrombin, calcium gluconate), were tested to detect elements with potential antimicrobial properties. The antibacterial effect was tested on different bacterial strains (
Staphylococcus aureus
subspecies
aureus, Staphylococcus cohnii
subspecies
cohnii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
subspecies
pneumoniae
) isolated from canine wounds and classified as susceptible, multidrug-, extensively, and pandrug-resistant bacteria toward a known panel of human and veterinary antibiotics. The evaluation was carried out by agar gel diffusion method (Kirby–Bauer) and micro-inhibition in broth using microplates and spectrophotometer reading. The study findings confirmed the hypothesized antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. A more effective bacteriostatic effect was found against Gram-negative bacteria, drug-resistant too. The presence of leukocytes or platelets does not appear to be essential for the antibacterial effect. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the exact mechanism of action of the antimicrobial activity. However, non-transfusional hemo-components could be a useful natural aid in controlling bacterial infections in dogs.
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