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Rhodococcus equi is an opportunistic soil-borne bacterium that is eliminated in feces of multi-host animals. An increase in multidrug-resistant R. equi isolates has been reported in humans and domestic animals, and it has been hypothesized that the treatment of R. equi in foals could increase the selective pressure on multidrug-resistant isolates and favor human infections by resistant isolates. We investigated the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance of 41 R. equi strains from humans, which were isolated from patients with pulmonary signs, using 19 antimicrobials from 10 distinct classes, recommended exclusively to humans, recommended exclusively to domestic animals and used in both. All isolates were subjected to mass spectrometry and identified as R. equi. Among the antimicrobials used exclusively in humans, tigecycline and vancomycin showed 100% efficacy. Amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, imipenem, levofloxacin, clarithromycin, rifampin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin, used in both humans and animals, revealed high efficacy (97-100%). Conversely, a higher frequency of isolates was resistant to penicillin (87.8%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (43.9%), which are used in both humans and animals. Among the antimicrobials used only in animals, isolates were resistant to florfenicol (46.4%), ceftiofur (17.1%), and enrofloxacin (2.5%). Multidrug resistance was observed in 34% of isolates. The identification of drug-resistant R. equi isolated from humans used exclusively in animals is circumstantial evidence of the pathogen transmission from domestic animals to humans. This study contributes to the molecular identification of Rhodococcus species from humans and to the epidemiological vigilance of the multidrug-resistant isolates.

Problem: A high-fat diet (HFD) predisposes animals to glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and testicular oxidative stress, and impairs sperm production in rats. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipolytic actions and is a potential supplement to combat the oxidative stress caused by HFD and its harmful effects on reproduction. This study evaluated the effects of quercetin supplementation at doses of 10 and 20 mg/day on reproductive parameters and testicular oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed a diet rich in pork fat and fructose., Method of Study: The rats received a basal diet or HFD for 2 months, after which the animals fed the HFD received daily supplementation of 0, 10, or 20 mg of quercetin for another 2 months. Oxidative stress, histological alterations, and the expression of oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic mediators in the testes were evaluated., Results: Animals fed the HFD had a lower dietary intake and body, epididymis, and duct weights, regardless of the presence of quercetin. There were no changes in testicular weight, germinal epithelium diameter, sperm motility and morphology, or expression of testicular inflammatory genes (p > 0.05). There was a reduction in the oxidative stress index and oxidized glutathione in rats that received the HFD and 20 mg of quercetin compared with the HF group without quercetin. No difference was observed in the expression of BAX, BCL2, TNFα, caspase 3, or AR between the groups., Conclusion: Daily quercetin supplementation dose-dependently reduces testicular oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed a diet rich in pork fat and fructose., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bacterial peritonitis infections comprise a life-threatening clinical condition in domestic animals that commonly lead to sepsis and high mortality. A set of bacterial pathogens have been identified in septic peritonitis in livestock and companion animals. Nonetheless, most descriptions are restricted to case reports or limited to only one domestic species, and a restrict number of comprehensive studies involving this infection has focused on a great number of domestic animals. Here, we retrospectively investigated selected epidemiological data (with an emphasis in outcome), clinical signs, bacteriological culturing, and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of microorganisms isolated of peritoneal fluid from 160 domestic animals (2009-2023) compatible with septic peritonitis. Bacteria were isolated from 71.9% (115/160) of the peritoneal fluid from 75 dogs (75/115 = 65.2%), 22 cats (22/115 = 19.1%), 14 horses (14/115 = 12.2%), and 4 cattle (4/115 = 3.5%). Among animals with bacterial isolation, Escherichia coli (34/115 = 29.6%), alfa-hemolytic Streptococcus (12/115 = 10.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (8/115 = 6.9%), beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (7/115 = 6.1%), and Pasteurella multocida (6/115 = 5.2%) were predominant in pure culture, in addition to a miscellaneous of other bacteria isolated in minor frequency, e.g., Pseudomonas sp., Trueperella pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella sp. In general, in vitro susceptibility tests of isolates revealed that florfenicol, chloramphenicol, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid showed moderate effectivity (≥ 60%). Conversely, most of isolates exhibited resistance mainly to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin, and penicillin (> 60%). Additionally, multidrug resistance was found in 42.6% (49/115) of the isolates. Data related to the outcome were available in 37.4% (43/115) of animals that had bacterial isolation and, from these, the mortality rate was 79.1% (34/43), with a significant association (p < 0.036) between mortality and septic peritonitis by gram-negative bacteria. Neoplasia (7/43 = 16.3%), pneumonia/pulmonary abscess (5/43 = 11.6%), hepatitis (5/43 = 11.6%), metritis/pyometra (4/43 = 9.3%), and gall bladder rupture (3/43 = 7%) represented the probable main sources of septic peritonitis. Anorexia (34/115 = 29.6%), emesis (29/115 = 25.2%), lethargy (26/115 = 22.6%), respiratory distress (25/115 = 21.7%), ascites (20/115 = 17.4%), and fever (19/115 = 16.5%) were the most frequent clinical signs among animals with bacterial isolation. A variety of bacteria were isolated in the peritoneal fluid of animals, with a predominance of Enterobacteriaceae, streptococci, and staphylococci, highlighting the opportunistic nature of the pathogens in septic peritonitis. High in vitro multidrug resistance of isolates and high mortality of animals reinforce the need for early diagnosis and therapy based on the in vitro antimicrobial profile of the pathogens involved in septic peritonitis. Our results contribute to the etiological characterization, clinical-epidemiological findings, and vigilance of multidrug-resistant bacteria in septic peritonitis among livestock and companion animals., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Background: Although critical to the overall condition of animals under human care, there is still limited information about oral health in neotropical primates., Methods: We analyzed the main oral conditions and microbiota using mass spectrometry from 13 capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) under human care. The findings were registered on odontograms following the Triadan system., Results: The most prevalent conditions were dental fractures (n = 9), mainly enamel fractures, and periodontal disease (n = 8), mainly grade 1 calculi. When exanimating teeth, alterations were identified in 90 out of the 416 evaluated pieces, being periodontal disease the most common (n = 60), followed by enamel fracture (n = 15) and missing teeth (n = 10). In the oral microbiota analyses, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species were the most prevalent, although no obvious association was observed between isolated organisms and oral conditions., Conclusions: These findings hold the potential to prevent oral disorders, including fractures and periodontal diseases, contribute to molecular identification of oral microbiota, and to improve the well-being of primates under human care., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The coinfections by some microorganisms have been related to severe diseases in humans and animals, where immunosuppressive agents favor opportunistic behavior of other pathogens. A 4-month-old, female mixed-breed dog with a two-week history of inappetence, prostration, emaciation, and respiratory distress was admitted at a veterinary hospital in Brazil. Tachycardia, pale mucous membranes, severe respiratory distress, and a large number of ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.) in different body regions were observed at clinical examination. Hematological examination of dog showed leukocytosis, neutrophilia, mild anemia, and thrombocytopenia, whereas unremarkable values in biochemical tests. Thoracic radiography revealed a pleural effusion image. Blood and the pleural fluid (purulent aspect) samples were subjected to qPCR (16S rRNA and dsb genes) and sequencing, which identified Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys coinfection. An aggregate of coccoid-to-branching or long filamentous microorganisms, surrounded by pyogranulomatous inflammatory reaction was seen at the cytology of the pleural fluid. Bacteriological culture of pleural effusion showed colonies compatible with the genus Nocardia, which revealed gram-positive filamentous organisms with a tendency of fragmentation and were identified as Nocardia otitidiscaviarum in mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Therapy of N. otitidiscaviarum isolate using levofloxacin (supported by a previous in vitro susceptibility testing) and doxycycline for E. canis and A. platys resulted in complete resolution of the clinical picture. Here, we report for the first time a triple coinfection by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum, A. platys, and E. canis in a dog with pleural effusion, where debilitating or immunosuppressive conditions induced by A. platys and E. canis coinfection probably contributed to the opportunistic behavior of N. otitidiscaviarum., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Central nervous system (CNS) infections comprise life-threatening clinical conditions in domestic species, and are commonly related to severe sequelae, disability, or high fatality rates. A set of bacterial pathogens have been identified in central nervous infections in livestock and companion animals, although the most of descriptions are restricted to case reports and a lack of comprehensive studies involving CNS-related bacterial infections have been focused on a great number of domestic species. In this scenario, we retrospectively investigated selected epidemiological data, clinical findings, bacteriological culture, and in vitro susceptibility patterns of 136 nonrepetitive neurologic cases in domestic species (2005-2021). Bacterial isolates were recovered from 25% (34/136) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampled. The isolates were obtained from cattle (9/136 = 6.6%), dogs (7/136 = 5.1%), horses (6/136 = 4.4%), goats (3/136 = 2.2%), pigs (3/136 = 2.2%), sheep (3/136 = 2.2%), cats (2/136 = 1.5%), and asinine (1/136 = 0.7%). Among animals with bacterial isolation, Staphylococcus aureus (6/34 = 17.6%), Escherichia coli (5/34 = 14.7%), Staphylococcus beta-hemolytic (5/34 = 14.7%), and Trueperella pyogenes (3/34 = 8.8%) were predominant, in addition to a miscellaneous of other bacteria isolated in minor frequency, e.g., Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Enterobacter cloacae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. In vitro susceptibility tests of isolates revealed that amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (11/13 = 84.6%), cephalexin (9/11 = 81.8%), and florfenicol (9/12 = 75%) were the most effective antimicrobials. Conversely, isolates exhibited resistance mainly to tetracycline (6/10 = 60%), penicillin (6/11 = 54.5%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (5/11 = 45.5%). Also, multidrug resistance to ≥ 3 classes of antimicrobials was found in 23.5% (8/34) strains. Data relative to the outcome was available in 79.4% (27/34) of animals that had bacterial isolation, and from these, the lethality rate was 92.6% (25/27). Incoordination (14/34 = 41.2%), recumbency (11/34 = 32.4%), apathy (10/34 = 29.4%), anorexia (9/34 = 26.5%), blindness (7/34 = 20.6%), seizure (6/34 = 17.6%), limb paresis (5/34 = 14.7%), head-pressing (4/34 = 11.8%), and nystagmus (3/34 = 8.8%) were the most frequent clinical signs. A variety of bacterial pathogens were identified in the CSF of domestic species showing neurologic signs, with a predominance of staphylococci, streptococci, and enterobacteria. High lethality of cases, poor in vitro efficacy of conventional antimicrobials, and a high in vitro multidrug resistance pattern of isolates were seen. Our results contribute to etiological characterization, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and clinical-epidemiological findings of bacterial infections in domestic species with neurological signs., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)