Fluoroquinolone resistance in Staphylococcus intermedius

Four canine isolates of S. intermedius resistant to enrofloxacin were isolated amongst a total of 429 screened. Two of these were shown to exhibit resistance also to marbofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Whilst molecular studies have shown the mechanism of resistance to these quinolone antibiotics to be similar in a number of staphylococcal species, it was not possible to confirm this mechanism in Staphylococcus intermedius .     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in 11 dogs

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection was identified in 11 dogs. The infection was associated with surgical treatment especially orthopaedic surgery. Infection after traumatic wounding, and recurrent pyoderma was also seen. Oral antibiotic treatment improved or resolved the infection in nine of the 11 dogs, although the methicillin-resistant isolates were susceptible to relatively few antibiotics.     

Inhibition of the growth in vitro of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton erinacei and Microsporum persicolor by miconazole and chlorhexidine

An agar dilution technique was used to assess the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of miconazole, chlorhexidine and a 1:1 combination of both agents for 9 isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 9 isolates of Trichophyton erinacei and 5 isolates of Microsporum persicolor. MICs of chlorhexidine did not vary significantly between the three dermatophyte species tested, but the MICs of miconazole alone and in combination with chlorhexidine for T. erinacei were significantly greater that those for T. mentagrophytes and M. persicolor. A synergistic drug interaction was noted with one isolate of T. erinacei and one isolate of M. persicolor. An additive effect was demonstrated for 13 isolates (5 T. mentagrophytes, 6 T. erinacei, 2 M. persicolor), and indifference was noted in 8 isolates (4 T. mentagrophytes, 2 T. erinacei, 2 M. persicolor). Although synergy was less often seen when compared with a previous study of Microsporum canis, the synergistic or additive effects seen with the majority (15 out of 23) of isolates studied in vitro provides a rationale for the combined use of miconazole and chlorhexidine in the adjunctive topical therapy of dermatophytosis caused by T. mentagrophytes, T. erinacei and M. persicolor.     

Linking veterinary and human public-health education: collaborations at the University Of Tennessee

The increasing demand for veterinarians in public health has created an environment for innovative educational approaches, providing opportunities for veterinary students to gain additional education in public health. At the University of Tennessee, this environment has enabled a collaboration between the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences to establish a veterinary concentration in an existing Master of Public Health degree program. The veterinary public-health concentration was approved in 2004. In addition, other courses and initiatives have been developed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, creating stronger collaborations with academic units and public-health professionals.     

Symptoms and Pathology Produced By Toxic Microcystis Aeruginosa NRC-1 In Laboratory and Domestic Animals

Toxicity tests with lyophilized M. aeruginosa NRC-1 cells have been conducted using mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, two calves and one lamb as the test animals.

The symptoms and pathological changes are described. On an equivalent weight basis it required three to five times the oral dosage to kill the large animals and birds as it did to kill the laboratory animals. The symptoms were less pronounced and the survival times were longer in the more resistant animals. Enlargement and congestion of the liver with necrosis of the hepatic cells were constant and pathognomonic. These findings are in general agreement with the observations of other workers who have examined the toxicity of naturally occurring Microcystis waterblooms.

The toxicities and structures of microcystin and of six other biologically active cyclic polypeptides are summarized. The pathological effects produced by microcystin in laboratory and domestic animals resemble those produced in man but differ from those produced in animals by the toxic peptides of Amanita phalloides.