Epidemiology of Zoonotic Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 2293

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Immunology & Histocompatibility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Interests: microbiology; antibiotic resistance; laboratory medicine; one health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Public and One Health, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
Interests: zoonoses; antimicrobial resistance; molecular epidemiology; biofilm production; emerging pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The term zoonotic pathogens includes bacterial, viral and parasitic infectious agents that can spread to humans through any contact point with companion, livestock, domestic or wild animals. All of the above pathogens carry genes that affect their toxicity and resistance to antimicrobial agents; the transfer of genetic information between different species of pathogens leads to the emergence of the antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance in the last two decades has become a global threat to public health systems that does not recognize barriers and can spread from animals to people and the environment and vice versa.

This Special Issue aims to provide you with an overview of the latest epidemiological data on zoonoses. It is addressed to scientists, researchers and professionals working in fields related to these diseases.

Dr. Styliani Sarrou
Dr. Dimitris C. Chatzopoulos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • zoonoses
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • epidemiology
  • one health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 564 KiB  
Article
Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Carrying the PVL and Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin in Healthy Dogs in Algeria
by Fares Khermouche, Nouzha Heleili, Manel Merradi, Amina Hachemi, Antoine Drapeau, Séverine Murri, Jean-Yves Madec and Marisa Haenni
Antibiotics 2024, 13(11), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13111090 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 769
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius are major opportunistic pathogens in both humans and dogs. In pets, the dissemination of methicillin-resistant isolates (MRSA or MRSP) is problematic for the treatment of animals and is a public health issue due to their zoonotic [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius are major opportunistic pathogens in both humans and dogs. In pets, the dissemination of methicillin-resistant isolates (MRSA or MRSP) is problematic for the treatment of animals and is a public health issue due to their zoonotic potential. MRSA and MRSP may also harbor virulent genes that increase their dangerousness. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of (MR)SA and (MR)SP in healthy dogs and their owners in Algeria. Methods: Swabs were collected from various body sites of healthy dogs (n = 88) and from the nose of their owners (n = 38). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by antibiograms according to the disc diffusion method, and clonality was assessed using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). All methicillin-resistant isolates were short-read whole-genome sequenced using the Illumina technology. Results: 26 S. aureus and 17 S. pseudintermedius isolates were respectively collected from 13 dogs (13/88, 14.8%). No MRSP isolate was detected, while MRSA was found in six dogs (6.8%). Isolates belonged to ST1 (n = 3), ST 80 (n = 1), and ST 22 (n = 2, including the single-locus variant ST7118). All MRSA displayed the immune evasion cluster (IEC) type E. The ST80 isolate presented the Panton–Valentine toxin, and the ST22/ST7118 isolates carried the tst gene coding for the toxic shock syndrome toxin. Conclusions: The epidemiology of MRSA in healthy Algerian dogs mirrors the one in Algerian people. This poses a zoonotic and public health concern due to the virulence and resistance genes displayed by these isolates. Our results indicate the need for developing One Health strategies to avoid a large-scale dissemination of MRSA in Algerian dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Zoonotic Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance)
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15 pages, 928 KiB  
Article
Recovery of Staphylococci from Teatcups in Milking Parlours in Goat Herds in Greece: Prevalence, Identification, Biofilm Formation, Patterns of Antibiotic Susceptibility, Predictors for Isolation
by Charalambia K. Michael, Daphne T. Lianou, Katerina Tsilipounidaki, Dimitris A. Gougoulis, Themistoklis Giannoulis, Natalia G. C. Vasileiou, Vasia S. Mavrogianni, Efthymia Petinaki and George C. Fthenakis
Antibiotics 2023, 12(9), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12091428 - 10 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1147
Abstract
The objectives of this work are (a) to describe staphylococci on the teatcups of milking parlours in goat farms and identify predictors for the presence of staphylococcal isolates on the teatcups, (b) to evaluate relationships with total bacterial counts and somatic cell counts [...] Read more.
The objectives of this work are (a) to describe staphylococci on the teatcups of milking parlours in goat farms and identify predictors for the presence of staphylococcal isolates on the teatcups, (b) to evaluate relationships with total bacterial counts and somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk, and (c) to establish patterns of susceptibility to antibiotics for the staphylococcal isolates and identify predictors for the recovery of resistant isolates. In a cross-sectional study of 66 goat farms across Greece, swab samples were collected from 303 teatcups (upper and lower part) for staphylococcal recovery, identification, and assessment of biofilm formation. Details regarding health management on the farms (including conditions in the milking parlour) and the socio-demographic characteristics of farmers were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. A total of 87 contaminated teatcups (28.7%) were found on 35 goat farms (53.0%). Staphylococci were more frequently recovered from the upper than the lower part of teatcups: 73 versus 43 teatcups, respectively. After identification, 67 staphylococcal isolates (i.e., excluding similar isolates) were recovered from the teatcups; Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis, and Staphylococcus equorum predominated. Of these isolates, 82.1% were biofilm-forming. In multivariable analysis, the annual incidence of clinical mastitis in the herd emerged as the only significant factor associated with the isolation of staphylococci from the teatcups. Of the 67 isolates, 23 (34.3%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 14 (22.4%) were multi-resistant. Resistance was found most commonly against penicillin and ampicillin (22.4% of isolates), fosfomycin (17.9%), clindamycin (14.9%), erythromycin, and tetracycline (13.4%). In multivariable analysis, the annual incidence of clinical mastitis in the herd and the use of detergent for parlour cleaning emerged as significant factors associated with the isolation of staphylococci resistant to antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Zoonotic Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance)
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