Multiple drug resistance (MDR) in fecal bacteria isolated from north-west Indian apparently healthy and sick foals of less than three month of age
Abstract
Diarrhoea is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in foals. Bacteriological examination of faecal swabs from 45 apparently healthy, 41 diarrhoeic and 3 arthritic foals resulted in isolation of a total of 25 E. coli, 14 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 7 Enterobacter agglomerans, 5 Proteus mirabilis, 14 Enterococcus faecalis, 10 E. faecium, 8 E. cecorum, 3 E. casseliflavus and 3 Streptococcus mitis strains. Escherichia coli, K. pneumoniae, mirabilis and E. agglomerans could be isolated from sick as well as healthy foals. Enterocooccus faecalis, E. faecium and 8 E. cecorum were significantly more common in foals with chronic diarrhoea. All the three foals with polyarthritis were positive for E. casseliflaus. Streptococcus mitis were detected only from three of the diarrhoeic foals. All Grampositive and 98% of Gram-negative bacteria had multiple-drug-resistance (MDR). Resistance in bacteria was detected even against newer antimicrobial drugs viz., gatifloxacin, imipenem and ceftriaxone. Study concluded that MDR bacteria were much more common in faeces of sick foals than in apparently healthy foals.
