Equine super-bugs on the rise
Alarming ‘wake-up call’ highlights the challenges vets face
“ALARMING” levels of multi-drug-resistant bacteria are creating a challenging environment in equine veterinary clinics — posing risks to both horse and human health.
A two-year study at the Freie Universität clinic, Berlin, found a “disturbingly large fraction” of multi-drug-resistant, extended spectrum beta lactamaseproducing [antibiotic-destroying] E coli in equine patients.
The researchers, led by Birgit Walther, said the results showed more must be done to contain the bugs, which were detected in nasal swabs, wound swabs and faecal samples of incoming horses.
“It’s clear more emphasis on prevention is needed for the safety of patients, staff and the broader community,” the study reported, noting that these are zoonotic [transmissable between animals and humans] pathogens.
GROWING PROBLEM
PETER CLEGG, professor of equine surgery at the University of Liverpool, said similar results had been detected around the world.
“This data is the same as in many British veterinary hospitals and it’s going to become a bigger and bigger problem,” he said.
He added that the increased caseload of vet clinics, the evolution of anti-microbialresistant genes and a lack of new drugs have all contributed.
“Historically, antibiotics have been overused in both human and veterinary medicine, we don’t have a big repertoire for use in the horse and no new drugs have been developed for around 20 years — science hasn’t made the breakthrough to keep up with drug resistance,” he said.
“While at the moment it’s not a catastrophic problem — in the vast majority of infections in the horse, if the first antibiotic doesn’t work, you’re looking at longer treatment, a sicker horse and lab tests to identify the most effective drug — everything puts up cost and complexity.”
Prof Clegg said “sparing” use of antibiotics is necessary, and horse owners shouldn’t pressure vets to prescribe them, or enter a “blame culture” when infections occur.
“There’s always a tendency when a horse ends up with a drugresistant infection in hospital to blame someone, but it’s not usually a ‘mucky’ hospital that’s the cause — we’re doing a study of UK equine hospitals and they are much of a muchness,” he said.
“Every hospital will have this problem — unfortunately it’s the world we live in.”
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has spearheaded campaigns for responsible antibiotic use, and former president Mark Bowen said the Berlin study was another “wake-up call” — not only to the dangers of drug resistance but also the importance of good hygiene.
“The pathogens cultured
[in the Berlin study] are all potentially disease-causing in people as well. Infections from wounds or surgery do represent a risk to horse owners — and we know owners are notoriously bad at washing their hands,” he said.
While drug-resistant bacteria are no more likely to cause disease — and they are not flesh-eating superbugs — they demonstrate the armour against common pathogens is “getting smaller”.
Last November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned farmers to stop routine use of antibiotics in animals reared for food.
With global concerns over a Doomsday scenario, even if new drugs are developed, it is likely the WHO would block use for animals to protect human health.
“There have been discussions within the EU about restricting the use of non-veterinary antibiotics within the veterinary profession,” Mr Bowen added.