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Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine

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A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics Use and Antimicrobial Stewardship".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 7078

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Dr. Tiana Florea

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Department of Dermatology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: dermatology; skin diseases; skin infections; allergies; otitis externa; antimicrobial resistance

Dr. Ilie Stelian

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Guest Editor

Department of Dermatology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: parasitology
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Dr. Degi Janos

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Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences King Mihai Ist from Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Interests: infectious diseases; infectious otitis externa; skin infections
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance continues to pose a profound threat to global public health, and the veterinary sector plays a pivotal role in this complex landscape. The use of antimicrobials in animals—whether for therapeutic, prophylactic, or growth-promoting purposes—has significant implications for the emergence and dissemination of resistant pathogens across species and into the environment.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses original research, reviews, and case studies that investigate antibiotic resistance trends in animal populations, mechanisms of resistance transmission, surveillance systems, and the impact of antimicrobial usage practices in both companion and food-producing animals. It also seeks to highlight innovative strategies and evidence-based interventions aimed at optimizing antimicrobial use while preserving therapeutic efficacy and safeguarding animal welfare.

By promoting informed stewardship and encouraging the development of alternative approaches to disease prevention and treatment, this Special Issue seeks to contribute to the sustainable use of antimicrobials in veterinary contexts.

Through this initiative, we invite the scientific community to share insights, data, and innovations that will inform policy, guide clinical practice, and advance the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Tiana Florea
Dr. Ilie Stelian
Dr. Degi Janos
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-anonymized 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

antimicrobial stewardship
antibiotics
animals
sustainability
drugs
antimicrobial resistance

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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25 pages, 4619 KB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Resistance, Serotypes, Virulence Gene Profiles, and Molecular Characterization of Streptococcus suis Isolated from Healthy Pigs in Thailand

by Phirabhat Saengsawang, Pakpoom Tadee, Prapas Patchanee, Watcharapong Mitsuwan, Sumalee Boonmar, Hidenori Kabeya, Nattinee Kittiwan, Ravisa Warin and Ratchadaporn Boripun

Antibiotics 2026, 15(7), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15070660 - 3 Jul 2026

Viewed by 686

Abstract

Streptococcus suis is an important cause of disease in pigs and an emerging source of severe human infection, with increasing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance. This study assessed the occurrence and seroprevalence of S. suis in healthy pigs and characterized the antimicrobial susceptibility, serotypes, virulence associated genes, and genomic features of colonizing isolates. A total of 58 pigs (13 farm pigs and 45 abattoir pigs) were sampled. Among 176 presumptive isolates recovered by culture, 60 were confirmed as S. suis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were subsequently analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disc diffusion method, selected resistance and virulence genes were detected by conventional PCR, and two representative isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and comparative genomic analyses. Seroprevalence was determined using an indirect ELISA detecting IgG antibodies against S. suis serotype 2 antigen. S. suis was confirmed in 60/176 presumptive isolates (34.1%), most frequently from nasal swabs and tonsils, whereas no blood isolates were detected. The seropositivity rate was 65.5%. High resistance rates were observed for ceftriaxone, ampicillin, cefepime, clindamycin, and tetracycline, and multidrug resistance was common. Tetracycline- and macrolide-associated resistance genes were frequently detected. Serotypes 2/1⁄2 predominated, whereas major classical invasive virulence genes were not detected, consistent with predominantly colonizing strains. Whole genome sequencing of two representative isolates confirmed species identity and revealed substantial genomic diversity, including a markedly larger genome in a tonsillar isolate, suggesting acquisition of accessory genetic elements. These findings demonstrate that healthy pigs can harbor genetically diverse and antimicrobial resistant S. suis, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance to support antimicrobial stewardship and reduce zoonotic risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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15 pages, 898 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Vaginal Bacteria and Antimicrobial Treatment on Pregnancy Outcomes in Healthy Breeding Bitches

by Alicia Rojahn, Anna Sophia Leps, Eva-Maria Packeiser, Ute Siesenop, Jutta Verspohl and Sandra Goericke-Pesch

Antibiotics 2026, 15(7), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15070637 - 25 Jun 2026

Viewed by 316

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Prophylactic antimicrobial use prior to mating in clinically healthy breeding bitches based on vaginal culture results is common despite lacking evidence for a beneficial effect on fertility. Thus, this practice is questionable due to the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance and dysbiosis. The study aimed to investigate whether vaginal bacteria and antimicrobial treatment influence the pregnancy outcome. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed vaginal swab results from healthy breeding bitches prior to mating. Samples were examined using aerobic culture, and bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF. The medical records provided data on antimicrobial treatment and pregnancy outcome. Results: Of the 961 available samples, 467 cases had complete information about antimicrobial use and pregnancy outcome. Overall pregnancy rates did not differ significantly between antimicrobial-treated (81.7%) and untreated bitches (79.8%) (p = 0.6922), nor in cases with monocultures (p = 0.4823), high-grade bacterial growth (p = 0.4291), or high-grade growth of Escherichia coli (p > 0.9999) and Streptococcus canis (p = 0.711). Conclusions: In this study population, antimicrobial use did not improve pregnancy rates in healthy bitches, even in cases of opportunistic bacteria. No correlation between vaginal bacteria, antimicrobial use, and pregnancy outcome was identified. Based on these findings, antimicrobial treatment of clinically healthy animals as part of breeding management cannot be recommended and should be disregarded in the context of responsible antimicrobial use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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15 pages, 1990 KB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli Recovered from Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Free-Ranging Game Ungulates in Western Romania

by Răzvan-Tudor Pătrînjan, Adriana Morar, Cristina Mirabela Gașpar, Sebastian-Alexandru Popa, Alexandra Ban-Cucerzan, Bianca Ghițan, Daiana-Ionela Cocoș and Kálmán Imre

Antibiotics 2026, 15(5), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15050475 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 455

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within a One Health framework highlights the role of wildlife as environmental reservoirs. Because wild game is an increasingly important meat source, hygienic handling during evisceration is critical to prevent carcass contamination from internal tissues such as mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and antibiotic resistance (AR) profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from the MLNs of hunted wild ungulates in western Romania to better understand microbiological hazards along the game meat supply chain. Methods: MLN samples were aseptically collected from 103 legally hunted wild boars (Sus scrofa, n = 78) and cervids (Capreolus capreolus and Cervus elaphus, n = 25) across two hunting grounds. E. coli isolation was performed utilizing selective Tryptone Bile X-Glucuronide agar. Subsequent biochemical identification and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted using the automated VITEK^® 2 system. Results: The overall E. coli isolation rate was 72.8% (75/103). Analyzed by host species, the bacterium was recovered from 79.4% of the sampled wild boars (62/78) and 52.0% of the cervids (13/25). Phenotypic resistance to at least one antibiotic agent was observed in 25.3% (19/75) of the isolates, most frequently against cephalosporins (cefalexin, 21.3%) and penicillins (ampicillin, 24.0%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was identified in 20.0% (15/75) of the isolates. Conclusions: The detection of MDR E. coli phenotypes within the MLNs of free-ranging game indicates the penetration of clinically relevant resistance mechanisms into sylvatic environments. These findings underscore the potential risk of internal carcass contamination during field evisceration, highlighting the critical need for strict hygiene practices to ensure game meat safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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17 pages, 3575 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bovine Mastitis Vis a Vis Staphylococcus spp. Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance at Animal-Human Interface in Organized and Unorganized Dairy Sectors: A Study from Two Indian States

by Devi Murugesan, Bibek R. Shome, Nimita Venugopal, Praveen K. A. Muninarayanaswamy, Rituparna Tewari, Pavan K. Nagaraja, Nagalingam Mohandoss, Somy Skariah, Yogisharadhya Revanaiah, Snigdha M. Maharana, Gandu Shanmugam, Shivasharanappa Nayakwadi, Mohan Papanna and Rajeswari Shome

Antibiotics 2026, 15(3), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15030256 - 2 Mar 2026

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Abstract

A comparative cross-sectional study was undertaken in organized and unorganized dairy sectors to evaluate the prevalence of bovine mastitis and the antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus spp. of dairy animals and their associated personnel. A total of 391 households (HH) consisting of 211 and 180 HHs from organized and unorganized sectors, respectively, were selected based on 30-cluster sampling methodology in southern and northeastern regions of India. From 391 HHs, a total of 1920 milking cows (organized dairy—533; unorganized dairy—1387) were screened for subclinical and clinical mastitis by the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Out of 1920 milk samples, 1002 milk samples, 362 associated personnel hand and nasal swabs, and 27 milking machine swabs were sourced. The samples were subjected to Staphylococcus spp. by isolation and identification by multiplex polymerase chain reactions (mPCRs) and antibiotic sensitivity testing (ABST) to determine antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. CMT results showed high mastitis prevalence (54.65%) in unorganized farms compared to organized ones (45.78%), with a significant association of mastitis to dairy sectors (p = 0.0004). On speciation, S. aureus isolates were comparatively less than those of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (3.5% and 7.7%, respectively) in the organized dairy sector, and the same was recorded for the unorganized dairy sector (0.85% and 13.19%, respectively). In both the dairy sectors, the highest antibiotic resistance for Staphylococcus spp. was observed against the β-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins) group (71.36% and 76.59%) and the lowest for nitrofurans (3.5% and 3%), oxazolidines (0.7% and 5.1%), and rifamycin (0.7% and 5.1%), respectively. In both the sectors, human isolates had comparatively high mecA positives (15.70% and 15.96%) compared to the animal isolates (8.36% and 12.94%). Based on mPCR, a smaller number of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates (3.95%) than methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) was detected in milk samples (6.05%), and the same was observed for associated personnel samples (MRCoNS (14.63%) compared to MRSA (1.05%)). In four HHs, mecA positives were detected in both animal and human samples, and this highlights the transmission dynamics of mecA between animals and humans in households. The resistance of Staphylococcus spp. to β-lactams highlights the need for cautious antibiotic use to prevent AMR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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31 pages, 1331 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance of Long-Read Metagenomic Sequencing Compared to Culture and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Detection of Bovine Respiratory Bacteria and Indicators of Antimicrobial Resistance

by Jennifer N. Abi Younes, Lianne McLeod, Simon J. G. Otto, Zhijian Chai, Stacey Lacoste, E. Luke McCarthy, Matthew G. Links, Emily K. Herman, Paul Stothard, Sheryl P. Gow, John R. Campbell and Cheryl L. Waldner

Antibiotics 2025, 14(11), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111114 - 5 Nov 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1680

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Long-read metagenomic sequencing can detect bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from bovine respiratory samples, providing an alternative to culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (C/S). This study applied Bayesian latent class models (BLCMs) to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of long-read metagenomic sequencing compared to C/S for detecting Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni, as well as associated macrolide and tetracycline resistance potential. Methods: Deep nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from fall-placed feedlot calves at arrival, 13, and 36 days on feed across two years and two metaphylaxis protocols. Samples underwent C/S and long-read metagenomic sequencing. BLCMs were used to estimate Se and Sp for the detection of bacteria and potential for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Results: Se and Sp for detecting respiratory bacteria by metagenomics were not significantly different than culture, with four exceptions. For the 2020 samples, Se for M. haemolytica was lower than culture, and Sp for H. somni was lower, while in both 2020 and 2021 samples, Se for P. multocida was higher for metagenomics than culture. The estimated Se and Sp of metagenomics for the detection of msrE-mphE, EstT, and tet(H) within bacterial reads were either not significantly different or were lower than AST, with Sp > 95% with one exception. Conclusions: This study provided BLCM-based estimates of clinical Se and Sp of metagenomics and C/S without assuming a gold standard in a large pen research setting. These findings demonstrate the potential of long-read metagenomics to support bovine respiratory disease diagnostics, AMR surveillance, and antimicrobial stewardship in feedlot cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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25 pages, 352 KB

Open AccessArticle

Respiratory Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Detected by Long-Read Metagenomic Sequencing Following Feedlot Arrival, Subsequent Treatment Risk and Phenotypic Resistance in Feedlot Calves

by Jennifer N. Abi Younes, Lianne McLeod, Stacey R. Lacoste, Zhijian Chai, Emily K. Herman, E. Luke McCarthy, John R. Campbell, Sheryl P. Gow, Paul Stothard, Matthew G. Links, Simon J. G. Otto and Cheryl L. Waldner

Antibiotics 2025, 14(11), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111098 - 1 Nov 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Long-read metagenomic sequencing can assign antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) to speciated bacterial reads. This study evaluated whether metagenomic data from respiratory bacteria derived from feedlot calves sampled in the early feeding period were associated with subsequent bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at treatment. Methods: Deep nasopharyngeal swabs (DNPSs) obtained at arrival processing (1 day on feed; DOF), 13 DOF, and the time of BRD treatment were cultured and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and long-read metagenomic sequencing. Analyses focused on macrolide (mphE-msrE, EstT) and tetracycline (tet(H)) ARGs within reads assigned to Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, or Bibersteinia trehalosi. Generalized estimating equations assessed associations between metagenomic results from 1 and 13 DOF and subsequent BRD treatment risk and AST outcomes at treatment, at both the individual animal (calf) and pen levels. Results: Calf-level detection of H. somni at 13 DOF was associated with a greater BRD treatment risk between 14 and 45 DOF. An increased pen prevalence of either M. haemolytica or P. multocida at 13 DOF was associated with a greater BRD treatment risk from 14 to 45 DOF. At 13 DOF, detections of mphE-msrE, EstT, or tet(H) in target bacteria were associated with corresponding phenotypic AMR at BRD treatment. Similarly, a higher pen-level prevalence of mphE-msrE or EstT at 13 DOF was also associated with increased macrolide resistance at BRD treatment. Conclusions: The results from long-read metagenomic sequencing of DNPSs collected at 13 DOF were associated with both BRD risk and AMR at treatment. These findings align with prior culture-based results and support the potential utility of pen-level metagenomic testing for AMR surveillance and informing antimicrobial selection in feedlots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine)

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