Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections.
Authors: Khalid Esraa, Tartor Yasmine H, Ammar Ahmed M, Abdelaziz Rewan, Mahmmod Yasser, Abdelkhalek Adel
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Antimicrobial resistance among equine pathogens represents an increasingly serious clinical problem, particularly in Arabian horses where limited therapeutic options exist for managing complex wound infections. Researchers examined 100 clinical samples using multiplex PCR and phenotypic identification alongside antimicrobial susceptibility testing across 37 antibiotics, isolating Streptococcus equi (58.6% of respiratory cases), Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium ovis biovar equi from wounds, with all recovered bacteria demonstrating multidrug or extensively drug-resistant phenotypes—notably, pan-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified in one infected wound. Two lytic bacteriophages (vB_Pae_LP125 and vB_Pae_LS225) isolated from equine faeces demonstrated broad-spectrum lytic activity, stability across temperature and pH ranges, and when combined with gentamicin significantly accelerated wound closure compared to gentamicin monotherapy, with statistically significant improvements recorded at days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 post-treatment. These findings indicate that phage-antibiotic combinations may provide a viable complementary approach for practitioners managing antibiotic-resistant wound infections in horses, particularly where conventional therapies have failed, though further clinical work is needed to establish optimal dosing protocols and long-term efficacy in field conditions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Wound infections in Arabian horses are increasingly caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria; conventional antibiotics alone may be ineffective and combination therapies should be considered
- •Bacteriophage therapy shows promise as a practical adjunct to antibiotic treatment for resistant bacterial wound infections, with topical application improving healing timelines
- •Practitioners should maintain awareness of resistance patterns in their region and consider phage-antibiotic combinations when standard antimicrobial protocols fail
Key Findings
- •Streptococcus equi was the most prevalent respiratory pathogen (58.6%), with all isolated bacteria showing multidrug or extensive drug resistance phenotypes
- •Pan-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolate was detected in infected wounds, showing resistance to ticarcillin, clavulanic acid, and colistin
- •Two lytic bacteriophages (vB_Pae_LP125 and vB_Pae_LS225) isolated from horse manure demonstrated stability across temperature and pH ranges with broad-spectrum lytic activity
- •Bacteriophage cocktail combined with gentamicin significantly improved wound closure rates compared to gentamicin alone, with significant differences observed by day 3 (p < 0.05)