Diagnostic microbiology in veterinary dermatology: present and future

Abstract

Background -The microbiology laboratory can be perceived as a service provider rather than an integral part of the healthcare team.Objectives -The aim of this review is to discuss the current challenges of providing a state-of-the-art diagnostic veterinary microbiology service including the identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of key pathogens in veterinary dermatology.Methods -The Study Group for Veterinary Microbiology (ESGVM) of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) identified scientific, technological, educational and regulatory issues impacting the predictive value of AST and the quality of the service offered by microbiology laboratories.Results -The advent of mass spectrometry has significantly reduced the time required for ID of key pathogens such as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. However, the turnaround time for validated AST methods has remained unchanged for many years. Beyond scientific and technological constraints, AST methods are not harmonized and clinical breakpoints for some antimicrobial drugs are either missing or inadequate. Small laboratories, including in-clinic laboratories, are usually not adequately equipped to run up-to-date clinical microbiologic diagnostic tests.Conclusions and clinical importance -ESGVM recommends the use of laboratories employing mass spectrometry for ID and broth micro-dilution for AST, and offering assistance by expert microbiologists on pre-and post-analytical issues. Setting general standards for veterinary clinical microbiology, promoting antimicrobial stewardship, and the development of new, validated and rapid diagnostic methods, especially for AST, are among the missions of ESGVM.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus species isolated from cats and dogs

“…The Phoenix automated system has been widely reported as an effective tool for the identifications and antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci; however, a few (Bannoehr et al, 2007). For instance, S. pseudintermedius is easily misdiagnosed with S. aureus, due to very close phenotypic characteristics requiring molecular methods for definite identification, such matrix assisted laser desorption ionizationtime of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) or PCR methods (Guardabassi et al, 2017). In the present study and due to limited available resources only the most significant genes associated with clinical complications were screened (i.e., mecA and pvl genes) and further molecular and epidemiological analysis are required.…”

Molecular identification of Salmonella Typhimurium from village chickens based on invA and spvC genes

“…There are different methods of identifying pathogenic microbes from clinical samples [13]. The best choices consider techniques which are cost-effective, accurate, rapid, and easier to use to improve diagnostic testing with the outcome of right treatments in a shorter time [14].…”

Of Animal and Men: The Importance of Animal Environment to Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Approach

“…In veterinary medicine clinical practice, diseases such as pyodermitis, external otitis, urinary tract, and respiratory infections are the most frequent causes for the implementation of antibiotic therapy in dogs and cats. Wide-spectrum antimicrobials also prescribed in human medicine are commonly used in these treatments, such as aminopenicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, Of Animal and Men: The Importance of Animal Environment to Antimicrobial Resistance… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92118 macrolides, aminoglycosides, and potentiated sulfonamides [66]. As a result, the extensive and indiscriminate use of such antimicrobials in companion animals, coupled with their proximity to humans, gives canine and feline species importance as sources of antimicrobial resistance spread [67].…”