In Vitro Activity of Allium cepa Organosulfur Derivatives against Canine Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae
by
, and
Alba Maroto-Tello
1, 
Tania Ayllón
2,3,*,
María Arántzazu Aguinaga-Casañas
1,
Juan José Ariza
4,
Silvia Penelo
5,*,
Alberto Baños
1,4 and
Gustavo Ortiz-Díez
6
1
Departamento de Microbiología, DMC Research Center, 18620 Granada, Spain
2
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, 28691 Madrid, Spain
3
Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
4
Departamento de Microbiología, Campus Fuente Nueva, Universidad de Granada, 18001 Granada, Spain
5
Servicio de Urgencias, Hospitalización y UCI, Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
6
Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010026
Submission received: 27 October 2023
/
Revised: 6 December 2023
/
Accepted: 29 December 2023
/
Published: 9 January 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology)
Simple Summary
The rise of drug-resistant bacteria, particularly in animals, poses a major challenge in veterinary medicine. Antibiotic development lags behind the increasing resistance. To tackle this, alternative therapies have been explored, such as the use of natural products and plant extracts. This study evaluates the laboratory efficacy of plant derivatives of the Alliaceae group (which includes garlic and onion) as antimicrobial agents, with encouraging results. Although further research is needed, these findings suggest a potential role for these natural compounds in veterinary medicine.
Abstract
Background: The increase of multi-resistant bacteria, especially Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae, constitutes a challenge in veterinary medicine. The rapid growth of resistance is outpacing antibiotic discovery. Innovative strategies are needed, including the use of natural products like Allium species (Allium sativum L. and Allium cepa L.), which have been used empirically for centuries to treat infectious diseases in humans and farm and aquaculture animals due to their antibacterial properties. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of two Allium-derived compounds, propyl propane thiosulfinate (PTS) and propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), against multi-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (n = 30) and Enterobacteriaceae (n = 26) isolated from dogs referred to a veterinary teaching hospital in Madrid. Results and Discussion: The results indicated the in vitro efficacy of PTSO/PTS against the tested bacterial strains, and 56.7% of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and 53.8% of Enterobacteriaceae showed sensitivity to PTS and PTSO compared with classic antibiotics. In addition, 50% of S. pseudintermedius strains resistant to erythromycin, ibofloxacin, difloxacin and orbifloxacin and 50% of Enterobacteriaceae strains resistant to tetracycline and doxycycline were sensitive to PTS and PTSO. Although studies are needed to verify their efficacy in vivo, the combined use of PTS and PTSO exhibits promise in enhancing bacterial sensitivity against S. pseudintermedius and Enterobacteriaceae infections, providing a first insight into the potential of both compounds in veterinary practice.
