Antimicrobial Resistance and Innovative Strategies in Veterinary Medicine

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 958

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
2. Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, Portugal
3. CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
4. Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
5. CERNAS—Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; virulence factors; genetic horizontal transfer; antibiotics; biocides; antimicrobial activity; metabolites; bacteria; One Health
1. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-458 Coimbra, Portugal
2. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; molecular epidemiology; horizontal gene transfer; fitness cost; virulence; foodborne pathogens; enterobacterales; acinetobacter

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue of the journal Animals, entitled ‘Antimicrobial Resistance and Innovative Strategies in Veterinary Medicine’.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical global threat, jeopardizing the effectiveness of treatments across species and triggering cascading risks to food safety, animal welfare, and public health. Tackling this multifaceted challenge requires a comprehensive 'One Health' approach, promoting cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration to devise effective and sustainable solutions.

The inappropriate or excessive use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine has been identified as a key driver in the emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant profiles in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria.

To address the spread of AMR, various strategies have been adopted, including legislative actions that restrict the prescription of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine and control their use across different animal species.

This Special Issue invites original research papers and reviews on the epidemiology and surveillance of AMR, including the genetic characterization, evolutionary pathways, and clone stability of bacteria from diverse animal species. It also highlights recent advancements in innovative approaches, alongside significant improvements in diagnostic tools for AMR detection and monitoring.

By fostering research and innovation, this collection aims to contribute to the global efforts against AMR and ensure the long-term effectiveness of antimicrobials for future generations.

Dr. Eduarda Silveira
Dr. Tiago Lima
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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

  • antimicrobial resistance
  • veterinary medicine
  • antimicrobial stewardship
  • bacteria
  • genetics and genomics
  • food safety
  • antimicrobial therapies
  • diagnostics tools
  • public health

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 638 KiB  
Article
Insights into Molecular Profiles, Resistance Patterns, and Virulence Traits of Staphylococci from Companion Dogs in Angola
by Romay Coragem da Costa, Francisca Guerra Cunha, Raquel Abreu, Gonçalo Pereira, Catarina Geraldes, Eva Cunha, Lélia Chambel and Manuela Oliveira
Animals 2025, 15(7), 1043; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071043 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Staphylococci are prevalent in dogs’ microbiota, with commensal strains being able to exhibit resistance and virulence traits, complicating secondary infection management. As antimicrobial resistance is a global threat, particularly in middle-income countries like Angola, surveillance of resistant bacteria is crucial. We analyzed the [...] Read more.
Staphylococci are prevalent in dogs’ microbiota, with commensal strains being able to exhibit resistance and virulence traits, complicating secondary infection management. As antimicrobial resistance is a global threat, particularly in middle-income countries like Angola, surveillance of resistant bacteria is crucial. We analyzed the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence profiles of staphylococci from dogs in Angola. Isolates were identified using VITEK® 2 Compact (bioMérieux© SA, Marcy l’Etoile, France), and their genetic diversity was assessed via PCR fingerprinting. Isolates’ susceptibility to relevant antimicrobials was determined by disk diffusion, and their virulence profiles were evaluated using plaque assays. The relationship between antibiotic resistance and animal-related factors was also assessed by statistical analysis. Isolates were identified as Mammaliicoccus sciuri (former Staphylococcus sciuri, 38%), Staphylococcus xylosus (30%), Staphylococcus equorum (13%), Mammaliicoccus vitulinus (former Staphylococcus vitulinus, 7%), Mammaliicoccus lentus (former Staphylococcus lentus, 5%), Staphylococcus aureus (2%), and Staphylococcus spp. (5%). Of these, 86% were resistant to at least one of the antimicrobials tested, and 30% were classified as multidrug-resistant, being more common in females, dogs with clinical signs of disease, and vaccinated animals. Moreover, 93% of the isolates were able to produce biofilm, 46% could produce lecithinase and gelatinase, and 23% could produce hemolysins. Companion dogs from Angola can carry resistant staphylococci able to express several virulence factors, potentially representing a One Health risk. Full article
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