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Antibiotics
Special Issues
Animal-Origin Bacteria: Diversity, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance
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Animal-Origin Bacteria: Diversity, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 3797

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juliana Menezes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
I-MVET—Research in Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University—Lisbon University Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: colistin; carbapenemase; ESBL; small animals; enterobacterales; AMR; One Health; antimicrobial resistance transfer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joana Moreira da Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
2. Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
3. Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Almada, Portugal
Interests: carbapenem resistance; pets; infection prevention and control; Acinetobacter spp.; Pseudomonas spp.; extended-spectrum β-lactamases; One Health; MRSA
Dr. Adriana Belas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. I-MVET—Research in Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University—Lisbon University Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
2. Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), Lusófona University—Lisbon University Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: veterinary microbiology; infectious diseases antimicrobial resistance; molecular epidemiology; One Health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The close interaction between humans, animals, and the environment has reinforced the importance of the One Health approach in understanding bacterial pathogens. Animals can act as reservoirs for a wide range of bacterial species, including zoonotic and food-borne pathogens, which may pose risks to both animal and human health. Understanding the pathogenic potential and antimicrobial susceptibility or resistance mechanisms of bacteria isolated from animals is, therefore, essential for shaping preventive and therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue welcomes studies focused on the isolation and comprehensive characterization of bacteria from animals, including both pathogenic and commensal strains. We encourage submissions that explore phenotypic and genotypic traits, virulence factors, host interactions, antimicrobial profiles, and molecular pathways involved in resistance acquisition. Research into innovative alternatives to traditional antibiotics for infection control is also welcome.

By promoting a multidisciplinary perspective, this issue aims to support a deeper understanding of bacterial behavior within animal populations and their broader implications for public and veterinary health, acknowledging the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health for developing sustainable strategies for monitoring and controlling bacterial pathogens.

Dr. Juliana Menezes
Dr. Joana Moreira da Silva
Dr. Adriana Belas
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 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

  • AMR
  • virulence
  • bacteria
  • zoonosis
  • companion animals
  • alternative therapy
  • food-producing animals
  • exotic animals
  • wildlife
  • One Health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 492 KB  
Article
High Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Haemolytic Escherichia coli in Colombian Pig Farms
by Adriana Pulido-Villamarín, Mattia Pirolo, Iliana C. Chamorro-Tobar, Irina Barrientos-Anzola, Carlos Daza, Raúl A. Poutou-Piñales, Mónica Pérez-Vargas and Luca Guardabassi
Antibiotics 2026, 15(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15010078 - 12 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 859
Abstract
Introduction: Haemolytic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is commonly associated with enteric disease in pigs and is frequently used as a phenotypic marker for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). This study aimed to characterise the resistance and virulence profiles of haemolytic E. coli [...] Read more.
Introduction: Haemolytic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is commonly associated with enteric disease in pigs and is frequently used as a phenotypic marker for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). This study aimed to characterise the resistance and virulence profiles of haemolytic E. coli isolated from Colombian pig farms. Methods: A total of 367 faecal samples from sows and pigs across all production stages were collected and analysed for the presence of haemolytic E. coli. Resistance and virulence genes associated with ETEC was detected by multiplex PCR, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using broth microdilution and disc diffusion. Results: Haemolytic E. coli were identified in 40.3% of samples (n = 148 non-duplicate isolates), with the highest prevalence observed in growing piglets (47.1%). ETEC occurred in 5.4% of isolates. All isolates exhibited resistance to at least three antimicrobial classes (MDR), with high levels of resistance to tetracycline (98.0%), neomycin (97.3%), chloramphenicol (95.9%), sulfamethoxazole (93.9%), trimethoprim (91.9%), ampicillin (91.9%), nalidixic acid (82.4%), and ciprofloxacin (79.7%). Colistin resistance was observed in 5.4% of isolates, mediated by mcr1 or mcr3, while cefotaxime resistance (8.8%) was extensively associated with blaCTX-M. Conclusions: These findings reveal a concerning burden of MDR E. coli in Colombia’s pig-producing regions and indicate that haemolysis alone is a poor indicator of ETEC. Integrating farm-level antimicrobial use data with genomic analyses will be essential to identify drivers of AMR and guide effective stewardship in the Colombian pig industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal-Origin Bacteria: Diversity, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance)
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13 pages, 388 KB  
Article
Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance in Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains Isolated from Traditional Sardinian Fermented Food
by Gavino Carboni, Maria E. Mura, Margherita Chessa, Giuseppe Blaiotta, Anna Nudda and Nicoletta P. Mangia
Antibiotics 2026, 15(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15010018 - 22 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1092
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of 50 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains—25 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and 25 Lacticaseibacillus paracasei—isolated from traditional Sardinian fermented foods of animal origin. Methods: The sensitivity of the isolates to antibiotics such as [...] Read more.
Background: This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of 50 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains—25 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and 25 Lacticaseibacillus paracasei—isolated from traditional Sardinian fermented foods of animal origin. Methods: The sensitivity of the isolates to antibiotics such as β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, macrolides, phenicols, and glycopeptides was initially assessed using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. Subsequently, PCR analyses were performed on both genomic DNA and plasmid DNA to detect blaZ, tet(W), strA, aac(6′)-Ie–aph(2″)-Ia, and vanX genes associated with resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. Results: The analysis revealed that L. plantarum strains frequently carried the tet(W) gene on the chromosome and strA on plasmids, while vanX was detected in most strains as a chromosomal determinant. By contrast, L. paracasei strains exhibited a predominantly plasmid-mediated distribution of resistance genes. For example, strA, aac(6′)-Ie–aph(2″)-Ia and blaZ were often found on plasmids, whereas vanX remained chromosomally encoded. Phenotypic assays confirmed high intrinsic resistance to vancomycin in both species, with L. plantarum showing a higher overall frequency and diversity of resistant phenotypes compared to L. paracasei. Conclusions: The co-occurrence of multiple resistance determinants, including plasmid-encoded ones, in most strains suggests that even autochthonous isolates from artisanal products may represent potential reservoirs for transmissible resistance genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal-Origin Bacteria: Diversity, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance)
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Review

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25 pages, 1363 KB  
Review
The Public Health Risks of Colistin Resistance in Dogs and Cats: A One Health Perspective Review
by Juliana Menezes, Laura Fernandes, Cátia Marques and Constança Pomba
Antibiotics 2025, 14(12), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121213 - 2 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1246
Abstract
Colistin, a polymyxin antibiotic considered a last-line treatment for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, has been widely used in livestock, promoting resistance in bacterial populations that can disseminate through the environment. Although rarely used in companion animals, dogs and cats can acquire and spread colistin-resistant [...] Read more.
Colistin, a polymyxin antibiotic considered a last-line treatment for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, has been widely used in livestock, promoting resistance in bacterial populations that can disseminate through the environment. Although rarely used in companion animals, dogs and cats can acquire and spread colistin-resistant strains through shared environments, acting as potential reservoirs of resistance. Reliable detection of resistant strains remains challenging due to technical limitations of routine susceptibility tests. Despite these constraints, epidemiological studies demonstrate the global presence of colistin-resistant bacteria in companion animals, with multiple plasmid-mediated colistin-resistant genes (mcr) identified in different bacteria species. Evidence of clonal and plasmid-mediated sharing of resistant strains between companion animals, humans, and, in some cases, food-producing animals highlights the complex and multidirectional nature of transmission. Although the directionality of transmission remains difficult to establish, the detection of colistin-resistant bacteria in companion animals is concerning. Addressing this challenge requires a One Health approach, integrating coordinated surveillance and infection and control measures in veterinary practices to safeguard the effectiveness of this critical last-resort antibiotic. This review summarizes current knowledge on colistin resistance mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, epidemiology, and the potential for interhost transmission, highlighting the role of dogs and cats as potential reservoirs of colistin resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal-Origin Bacteria: Diversity, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance)
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