Future Challenge: Assessing the Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Species Isolated from Canine Otitis Externa Cases in Western Romania.

INTRODUCTION

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has surfaced as a critical challenge to public health on a global scale. The precise and swift identification of resistance to antimicrobial agents, along with timely and suitable antimicrobial therapy paired with effective stewardship practices, is crucial for managing the rise and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of our investigation was to outline the antimicrobial resistance profile of spp., a significant contributor to canine otitis, a prevalent condition in dogs, isolated in Western Romania.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

All data were collected from clinical cases of canine otitis externa which presented at the University Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Timișoara/Romania. A clinical evaluation was conducted, from which era swabs are usually collected and sent for analysis at the laboratory. Laboratory analysis included the microbiological examination for identifying spp. and determining antibiotic susceptibility phenotypes. Statistical analysis was implemented on all data that were collected. The ear swabs were processed with standard procedures for cultivating and identifying bacteria. The resulting subcultures were processed to determine the staphylococcal species on the GP ID Cards of the Vitek 2 automatic system. The antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were detected by the Vitek 2 system using an AST-GP80 card. These isolated spp. strains were further processed by real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

Of all the auricular exudate samples analyzed, 76 were positive for spp. (59.38%). Within these, in 82% of auricular samples, six distinct spp. were identified (, , , and ). Our data indicate that the PCR-RFLP assay is a practical approach to identification, allowing for discrimination from the other (SIG) species and important staphylococcal pathogens of dogs. The highest frequency of resistant isolates was detected against tetracycline (21/34; 61.76%; -value 0.003), gentamicin (20/34; 58.82%), and kanamycin (20/34; 58.82%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results are essential to guide the prudent use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. They will also help design efficient control strategies and measure their effectiveness.