The use of aminoglycosides in animals within the EU: development of resistance in animals and possible impact on human and animal health: a review

Abstract

Aminoglycosides (AGs) are important antibacterial agents for the treatment of various infections in humans and animals. Following extensive use of AGs in humans, food-producing animals and companion animals, acquired resistance among human and animal pathogens and commensal bacteria has emerged. Acquired resistance occurs through several mechanisms, but enzymatic inactivation of AGs is the most common one. Resistance genes are often located on mobile genetic elements, facilitating their spread between different bacterial species and between animals and humans. AG resistance has been found in many different bacterial species, including those with zoonotic potential such as Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and livestock-associated MRSA. The highest risk is anticipated from transfer of resistant enterococci or coliforms (Escherichia coli) since infections with these pathogens in humans would potentially be treated with AGs. There is evidence that the use of AGs in human and veterinary medicine is associated with the increased prevalence of resistance. The same resistance genes have been found in isolates from humans and animals. Evaluation of risk factors indicates that the probability of transmission of AG resistance from animals to humans through transfer of zoonotic or commensal foodborne bacteria and/or their mobile genetic elements can be regarded as high, although there are no quantitative data on the actual contribution of animals to AG resistance in human pathogens. Responsible use of AGs is of great importance in order to safeguard their clinical efficacy for human and veterinary medicine.

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Animals in Greece

“…Genes associated with aminoglycoside resistance were detected in all the E. coli isolates, although only 12 expressed a resistant phenotype. Aminoglycosides are extensively used in veterinary medicine [56], a fact that could explain the wide dissemination of the respective resistance genes. Recent studies that molecularly characterized ESBL-producing strains, confirmed a high frequency of aminoglycoside resistance genes among isolates from pigs and abattoir workers in Cameroon [57] as well as from retail raw pork and beef meat in Singapore [58].…”

Comparative Analysis of Milk Microbiomes and Their Association with Bovine Mastitis in Two Farms in Central Russia

“…Mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the mammary glands and similar to all other host-pathogen related diseases, has its own signature of microbiota composition [ 2 ]. Several studies has demonstrated that it is not possible to exclude transmission from animal to human [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], and dissemination of milk of pathogenic microorganisms may colonize both animals and humans, causing secondary diseases [ 8 , 9 ]. Another important aspect of this disease is the probable presence of toxins in milk produced by the pathogens, as many bacterial toxins are known to facilitate allergy development [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Microorganisms Resistant to Antimicrobials in Wild Canarian Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis)

“…Resistance to amikacin, which has been withdrawn from community use, is also relevant. It has been demonstrated than the use of aminoglycosides in human and veterinary medicine is associated with an increase in resistance to this group of antimicrobials [31]. Aminoglycosides, such as amikacin or gentamicin, are important antimicrobials for the treatment of human and animal infections, and are classified by the WHO as critically important antimicrobials for human medicine [32].…”