Authors : Anastasios Minas , Evanthia Petridou , Eleftheria Bourtzi-Chatzopoulou , Aggelos Papaioannou , Vasilios Krikelis , Kaliopi Georgatza and Alexandros Vondas
Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance is a phenomenon of increasing importance, as demonstrated by the results of different antimicrobial resistance-monitoring programs. The aim of the present study was to assess the antimicrobial resistance in indicator bacteria isolated from cattle and swine in Greece. The resistance of the bacteria was assessed by the determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of each antibiotic used in the study using the microdilution method. E. coli isolated from cattle and swine showed resistance to at least one antibiotic used in the study at 75.79 and 88.52%, respectively. The resistance of E. faecalis and E. faecium isolated from cattle was determined at 68.42 and 66.66%, whereas the resistance of the same bacteria isolated from swine was 81.51 and 72.64%, respectively. Resistance of E. coli, isolated from both animal species, to tetracycline and streptomycin was the most commonly observed, although considerable resistance to ampicillin was observed. Enterococcus sp. isolated from cattle and swine showed a high level of resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin and erythromycin. In both animal species, multi-resistance occurred in more than 10% of isolated strains of Enterococcus sp. and E. coli. The results of the study indicate a high level of resistance in indicator bacteria from cattle and swine in Greece, suggesting that a veterinary antimicrobial resistance-monitoring program is needed in Greece to monitor bacterial resistance in animals.
Anastasios Minas , Evanthia Petridou , Eleftheria Bourtzi-Chatzopoulou , Aggelos Papaioannou , Vasilios Krikelis , Kaliopi Georgatza and Alexandros Vondas , 2007. Antibiotic Resistance in Indicator Bacteria Isolated from Cattle and Swine in Greece . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 317-322.