Authors: Soza-Ossandón Paula, Rivera Dácil, Tardone Rodolfo, Riquelme-Neira Roberto, García Patricia, Hamilton-West Christopher, Adell Aiko D, González-Rocha Gerardo, Moreno-Switt Andrea I
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Salmonella enterica represents a significant threat to equine hospital operations and personnel safety, yet environmental contamination patterns and antimicrobial resistance profiles remain poorly characterised in these settings. Over a 12-month period, researchers collected 545 samples from human and animal contact surfaces across an equine hospital receiving both domestic and international horses, identifying 22 Salmonella isolates from environmental surfaces and one from a hospitalised patient. Molecular analysis revealed that 86% of isolates were *Salmonella* Typhimurium, with 91% demonstrating resistance to at least one antimicrobial class and nine isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) to up to eight different agents including fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides and beta-lactams; notably, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis established three persistent PFGE patterns circulating throughout the hospital environment during the study period. The presence of endemic MDR *Salmonella* clones, combined with the international movement of horses through the facility, suggests that equine hospitals serve as potential reservoirs for resistant pathogen dissemination to both personnel and broader equine populations. These findings underscore the necessity for enhanced biosecurity protocols—including rigorous environmental sanitation, staff hygiene measures, and quarantine procedures for imported horses—to interrupt transmission cycles and limit the establishment of persistent environmental contamination in equine facilities.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine hospitals receiving international horses face significant risk of endemic Salmonella establishment; enhanced biosecurity protocols are critical to prevent facility closure and personnel zoonotic exposure
- •MDR Salmonella persistence in hospital environments suggests standard cleaning protocols may be inadequate—targeted environmental monitoring and decontamination strategies should be implemented
- •The high prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant isolates limits treatment options and increases infection control challenges; biosecurity measures are more effective than relying on antimicrobial therapy alone
Key Findings
- •22 Salmonella isolates recovered from environmental and hospitalized patient samples over 12 months in an equine hospital
- •18 isolates identified as Salmonella Typhimurium and 3 as Salmonella Infantis, with 19 of 22 (86%) showing resistance to at least one antimicrobial class
- •9 multidrug-resistant S. Typhimurium isolates identified with resistance to up to 8 antimicrobial classes
- •Three persistent PFGE patterns identified in hospital environment indicating endemic Salmonella presence despite infection control measures