Antibiotic and Antiparasitic Resistance in Veterinary Clinical Settings

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics in Animal Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2647

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail
Guest Editor
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: clinical research; sheep; somatic cell count; mastitis; goat; herd health; cattle; dairy farming; listeriosis; listeria monocytogenes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics and parasite resistance to antiparasitic drugs are currently significant global issues that hinder the effective treatment of animal infections and thus can contribute to the dissemination of pathogens.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts that focus on the therapeutic efforts of bacterial and parasitic diseases in animals in the face of resistance to antibacterial and antiparasitic agents. Emphasis is placed on studies related to clinical settings, which include, but are not limited to, the detection of resistance, epidemiological studies, therapeutic problems, and the evaluation of novel drugs to combat resistance.

This Special Issue welcomes papers covering all domestic and wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic, animal species. We also welcome the submission of systematic and opinionated reviews, as well as original manuscripts describing field or experimental works.

Prof. Dr. George C. Fthenakis
Dr. Daphne Lianou
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. 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

  • animal
  • cattle
  • cat
  • dog
  • goat
  • horse
  • pig
  • poultry
  • sheep
  • therapeutics
  • treatment
  • veterinary
  • wildlife

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

12 pages, 619 KiB  
Article
Pharmacokinetics of Doxycycline in Alpacas After Intravenous and Subcutaneous Administration
by José Martínez, Pedro Marín, David A. Egas, Juan Llivi-Marcatoma, José Miguel Mira-Naranjo, Elena Badillo, María Teresa Yuste, Elisa Escudero and Juan Sebastián Galecio
Antibiotics 2025, 14(3), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14030247 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 743
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Doxycycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic, is commonly used across various species to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. However, pharmacokinetic data on its use in alpacas remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Doxycycline, a tetracycline-class antibiotic, is commonly used across various species to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. However, pharmacokinetic data on its use in alpacas remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) administration in alpacas. Methods: A randomized crossover study (n = 6) was employed, with dosages of 5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg after intravenous and subcutaneous administration, respectively. Blood samples were collected at predetermined times up to 96 h after both routes of administration. Plasma doxycycline concentrations were determined using validated high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector and then analyzed based on non-compartmental pharmacokinetic methods. Results: All alpacas maintained optimal health and general condition throughout the trial period. After intravenous administration, the Vz value (0.90 L/kg) indicated a good distribution of this antibiotic in the alpacas. The maximum concentration value (Cmax) after SC administration of doxycycline was 1.40 µg/mL, reached at 1.92 h. Low bioavailability (F = 36.83%) of doxycycline was observed after SC administration. Conclusions: PK/PD ratios calculated from the pharmacokinetic data obtained, at a dose of 20 mg/kg and SC route of administration, suggest that doxycycline administered every 24 h could be effective against bacterial infections with MICs of 0.125 and 0.5 µg/mL. However, multi-dose and pharmacodynamic studies are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of using doxycycline in alpacas. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 547 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm-Forming Ability in ESBL-Producing and Non-ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Canine Urinary Samples from Italy
by Alessia Facchin, Joel Filipe, Irene Mauri, Filippo Tagliasacchi, Guido Grilli, Tiziana Vitiello, Gabriele Ratti, Laura Musa, Martina Penati, Paola Scarpa and Stefania Lauzi
Antibiotics 2025, 14(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14010031 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1392
Abstract
Background: In dogs, bacterial urinary tract infections are a frequent cause of antimicrobial prescription, increasing the risk of selecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study analyzed resistance patterns, the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and biofilm-forming capacity in E. coli and K. pneumoniae previously isolated [...] Read more.
Background: In dogs, bacterial urinary tract infections are a frequent cause of antimicrobial prescription, increasing the risk of selecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study analyzed resistance patterns, the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and biofilm-forming capacity in E. coli and K. pneumoniae previously isolated from urine samples collected from 133 selected dogs admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Milan, Italy, in 2021 and 2023. Methods: The E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were bacteriologically and genetically analyzed. Results: Overall, 53/133 (39.8%) samples had a positive microbiological culture. Thirty-four E. coli/K. pneumoniae isolates were detected, accounting for 26.5% of the examined samples. The 34 isolates included 28 E. coli and 6 K. pneumoniae. Four (11.8%) were ESBL-producing bacteria, all supported by blaCTX-M gene belonging to group 1. The K. pneumoniae isolates were significantly associated with ESBL production (p < 0.05). MIC analysis showed 11 (32.4%) multidrug-resistant isolates. Biofilm-forming capacity was observed in 23 (67.6%) isolates, regardless of bacterial species, including 20 weakly and 3 moderately adherent bacteria. All moderate biofilm producers were K. pneumoniae. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was significantly more present in strains with moderate biofilm-forming ability compared to strains with weak ability to form biofilm (p < 0.05). E. coli was confirmed as the most commonly identified urinary isolate in dogs. Conclusions: The high presence of ESBL producers and MDR in K. pneumoniae suggests mandatory in vitro susceptibility testing in the presence of this bacterium in dogs with UTI. The association of moderate biofilm production with MDR highlights the need for monitoring and surveillance of bacterial prevalence and resistance patterns of urinary isolates in dogs. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

8 pages, 699 KiB  
Brief Report
Suitability of Piperacillin–Tazobactam for Treating Dogs Infected with Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis
by Kazuki Harada, Hyo Harada, Yuka Kanao and Mizuki Kusumoto
Antibiotics 2025, 14(5), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14050425 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 191
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Piperacillin–tazobactam (TZP) is a potential alternative to carbapenems for the treatment of dogs infected with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), but its efficacy remains unestablished. In this study, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis was performed to estimate the clinical efficacy of TZP against ESBL-E [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Piperacillin–tazobactam (TZP) is a potential alternative to carbapenems for the treatment of dogs infected with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), but its efficacy remains unestablished. In this study, pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis was performed to estimate the clinical efficacy of TZP against ESBL-E infections in dogs. Methods: We determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of TZP in canine ESBL-E isolates, including Escherichia coli (n = 62), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 89), and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 31), using agar dilution. Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) was performed to estimate the probability of target attainment (PTA) based on the PK/PD characteristics of TZP. Results: The MICs that can inhibit the growth of 90% of the isolates for the three bacterial species were determined as 16/4 µg/mL. MCS analysis revealed that the piperacillin PK/PD cutoff values (highest MICs with a PTA ≥90%) were ≤0.031, ≤0.5, and ≤2 μg/mL at a bolus dose of 50 mg/kg TZP (44.4 mg/kg piperacillin) every 12, 8, and 6 h (q12h, q8h, and q6h), respectively. The cumulative fractions of response were ≤90% based on the MIC distribution of ESBL-producing E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and E. cloacae isolates from dogs: 1.60, 0.48, and 0.15% at q12h; 32.56, 14.57, and 9.65% at q8h; and 74.51, 45.85, and 43.92% at q6h, respectively. Conclusions: We believe that TZP is not recommended for the treatment of canine ESBL-E infections, except for cases with a lower MIC than the PK/PD cutoff values determined in this study. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop