Current Situation of Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles in Pet Rabbits in Spain

Abstract

Research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pet rabbits is very scarce. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the current state of AMR in rabbits attended to in veterinary clinics distributed in Spain. Records of 3596 microbiological results of clinical cases submitted from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed. Staphylococcus spp. (15.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (12.7%), Pasteurella spp. (10%), Bordetella spp. (9.6%) and Streptococcus spp. (6.8%) were the most frequently diagnosed agents. Enterobacteriaceae, principally Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae, accounted for about 18% of the cases and showed the highest proportion of multi-drug resistance (MDR) isolates, with 48%, 57.5% and 36% of MDR, respectively. Regarding the antimicrobial susceptibility testing for a number of antimicrobial categories/families, the largest proportion of isolates showing resistance to a median of five antimicrobial categories was observed in P. aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkolderia spp. In contrast, infections caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus spp. and Pasteurella multocida were highly sensitive to conventional antimicrobials authorized for veterinary use (categories D and C). The emergence of AMR major nosocomial opportunistic pathogens such as P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia and K. pneumoniae in pet rabbits can represent a serious public health challenge. Consequently, collaboration between veterinarians and human health professionals is crucial in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, to optimize, rationalize and prudently use antimicrobial therapies in domestic animals and humans.

Exploring the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella and commensal Escherichia coli from Non-Traditional Companion Animals: A Pilot Study

“…The results showed 85% AMR and 82.6% MDR, in line with other studies carried out in other Spanish regions [14,15]. These percentages are alarming, as the population of small exotic mammals is continuously growing, and in close contact with their owners, thus presenting a new challenge for authorities in the legislation of new regulations to monitor AMR and MDR in this population.…”

“…However, NTCAs are still not included in monitoring and surveillance programmes, resulting in a lack of information addressing the epidemiologic situation of AMR in small mammals as new companion animals, and the potential for transmission of AMR genes and zoonotic pathogens to humans through the home environment they share [14,15]. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to assess the prevalence of commensal E. coli and whether the study population carried Salmonella, along with its AMR and MDR patterns, in small mammals from the Valencia region.…”

Antibiotic resistance spectrums of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. strains against commonly used antimicrobials from commercial meat-rabbit farms in Chengdu City, Southwest China

“…In addition, it is worth mentioning that no E. coli strain demonstrated resistance to PMB, which may be associated with less frequent medication. Although oral administration of ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanate may pose a risk of antibiotic-associated dysbiosis in certain rabbit populations ( 5 ), parenteral administration is still recommended for susceptible pathogens ( 18 , 20 ). Moreover, antibiotics from the penicillin family appear to be more readily available for veterinary use in local rabbit farming practices, which may also influence the choice of antibiotic prescription and the prevalence of relevant antimicrobial resistance.…”

“…Limited epidemiological studies have reported the presence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates in domestic or wild rabbit populations ( 18 – 21 ), exhibiting diverse AMR spectrums and distinctive ARG distribution across different geographical areas. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding updated epidemiological data in Chengdu City, which is one of largest markets for meat-rabbit production and consumption in Southwest China.…”