Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.
Authors: Toombs-Ruane L J, Riley C B, Rosanowski S M, Kendall A T, Benschop J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Antimicrobial resistance represents an escalating challenge in equine medicine, yet epidemiological data specific to equine populations remain sparse—particularly outside traditional research-focused regions. New Zealand's equine industry presented a compelling case study, as stud farms in the region had reportedly administered antibiotics for respiratory conditions with minimal veterinary oversight, creating conditions conducive to resistance development. This collection of clinical research abstracts from the 2015 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress examined resistance patterns across the New Zealand equine population, seeking to characterise the prevalence and nature of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in circumstances where antimicrobial stewardship was demonstrably suboptimal. The findings underscore a critical gap between evidence-based prescribing practices and on-farm reality, with significant implications for infection control protocols, prophylactic strategies, and the urgency of implementing structured antimicrobial governance frameworks across equine facilities. For practitioners working with breeding stock and performance horses, these data reinforce the necessity of veterinary-directed diagnostic confirmation before antimicrobial therapy and highlight how informal, non-veterinary treatment protocols—however well-intentioned—pose genuine risks to individual animal health and broader population-level resistance trends.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Antimicrobial stewardship is critical in equine practice; avoid unnecessary antibiotic use for respiratory disease without veterinary assessment
- •Multi-drug resistant bacteria pose an increasing threat to equine health in some regions; maintain awareness of local resistance patterns
- •Work with veterinarians to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately and only when clinically indicated
Key Findings
- •Little is known about antimicrobial resistance prevalence in the New Zealand equine population
- •Multi-resistant bacteria emergence is a concern, particularly on NZ stud farms
- •Antibiotics are frequently used for respiratory disease on NZ stud farms without veterinary input