Towards harmonized laboratory methodologies in veterinary clinical bacteriology: outcomes of a European survey.

Introduction: Veterinary clinical microbiology laboratories play a key role in antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and prevention of healthcare associated-infections. However, there is a shortage of international harmonized guidelines covering all steps of veterinary bacterial culture from sample receipt to reporting.

Methods: In order to gain insights, the European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT) designed an online survey focused on the practices and interpretive criteria used for bacterial culture and identification (C&ID), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of animal bacterial pathogens.

Methicillin-resistant outbreak in a Dutch equine referral clinic.

In 2020 and 2022, nine cases of surgical site infections with a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) were diagnosed in horses in an equine referral clinic. Sixteen isolates (horses, =9; environment, =3; and staff members, =4) were analysed retrospectively using Nanopore whole-genome sequencing to investigate the relatedness of two suspected MRSA outbreaks (2020 and 2022). The MRSA isolates belonged to ST398 and ST612.

Companion Animal Owners' Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal.

While multiple studies have focused on the motivations surrounding antibiotic prescription among veterinarians, little is known about companion animal owners' knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) regarding the topic. A nationwide survey directed toward Portuguese dog and cat owners was conducted online and at veterinary practices to characterize their KAP regarding antibiotics. After database curation, a total of 423 valid submissions were considered.

Azole Resistance in Veterinary Clinical Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates in the Netherlands.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic fungal pathogen that causes opportunistic infections in animals and humans. Azole resistance has been reported globally in human A. fumigatus isolates, but the prevalence of resistance in isolates from animals is largely unknown.

Equine ulcerative keratitis in the Netherlands (2012-2021): Bacterial and fungal isolates and antibiotic susceptibility.

Background: Ulcerative keratitis is a common ophthalmic disease in horses which can be complicated by microbial infection and requires immediate, accurate treatment to prevent loss of visual function or the eye.

Objectives: To report the results of microbial cultures, antibiotic susceptibility tests and corneal cytology in horses with ulcerative keratitis presented to a referral clinic, to assess agreement between cytology and culture results, to investigate whether previous topical treatment affected microbial culture results and whether the incidence of antimicrobial resistance changed during the study period.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers in Dutch hospitals after the 2020 first wave: a multicentre cross-sectional study with prospective follow-up.

Background: We aimed to estimate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence and describe its determinants and associated symptoms among unvaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) after the first wave of the pandemic.

Methods: HCWs from 13 Dutch hospitals were screened for antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in June-July 2020 and after three months. Participants completed a retrospective questionnaire on determinants for occupational and community exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 experienced since January 2020.

Contribution of cats and dogs to SARS-CoV-2 transmission in households.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is known to jump across species. The occurrence of transmission in households between humans and companion animals has been shown, but the contribution of companion animals to the overall transmission within a household is unknown. The basic reproduction number () is an important indicator to quantify transmission.

Quantifying topical antimicrobial use before and during participation in an antimicrobial stewardship programme in Dutch companion animal clinics.

The emergence of bacterial strains resistant to topical antimicrobials in both human and veterinary medicine has raised concerns over retaining the efficacy of these preparations. Yet, little information is available regarding the use of topical antimicrobials in either sector for planning targeted interventions. This study aims to quantify the use of topical antimicrobials in 44 Dutch companion animal clinics before and during their participation in an antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP), to explore the effect of the intervention on topical antimicrobial use (AMU).

Harbor Porpoise Deaths Associated with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the Netherlands, 2021.

In August 2021, a large-scale mortality event affected harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Netherlands. Pathology and ancillary testing of 22 animals indicated that the most likely cause of death was Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection. This zoonotic agent poses a health hazard for cetaceans and possibly for persons handling cetacean carcasses.

Corneal stromal ulcerations in a referral population of dogs and cats in the Netherlands (2012-2019): Bacterial isolates and antibiotic resistance.

Objective: To evaluate bacterial isolates from corneal stromal ulcerations in dogs and cats in the Netherlands, review their antibiotic susceptibility, determine whether recent topical treatment affected bacterial culture results, and investigate whether (multi-drug) resistance patterns changed over time.

Animals Studied: Client-owned dogs and cats were diagnosed with corneal stromal ulceration at the Utrecht University Clinic for Companion Animals between 2012 and 2019.

Procedures: Retrospective analysis.

Molecular Characterization and Clinical Relevance of Taxonomic Reassignment of Staphylococcus schleiferi Subspecies into Two Separate Species, Staphylococcus schleiferi and Staphylococcus .

Staphylococcus schleiferi is an opportunistic pathogen in humans and dogs. Recent taxonomic reassignment of its subspecies ( subsp. and subsp.

Cellular and humoral immune responsiveness to inactivated Leptospira interrogans in dogs vaccinated with a tetravalent Leptospira vaccine.

Vaccination is commonly used to protect dogs against leptospirosis, however, memory immune responses induced by canine Leptospira vaccines have not been studied. In the present study, antibody and T cell mediated responses were assessed in dogs before and 2 weeks after annual revaccination with a commercial tetravalent Leptospira vaccine containing serogroups Canicola and Australis. Vaccination significantly increased average log IgG titers from 6.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats is associated with contact to COVID-19-positive household members.

Several domestic and wild animal species are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Reported (sero)prevalence in dogs and cats vary largely depending on the target population, test characteristics, geographical location and time period. This research assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive cats and dogs (PCR- and/or antibody positive) in two different populations.

Within-Household Transmission and Bacterial Diversity of .

can be transmitted between dogs and their owners and can cause opportunistic infections in humans. Whole genome sequencing was applied to identify the relatedness between isolates from human infections and isolates from dogs in the same households. Genome SNP diversity and distribution of plasmids and antimicrobial resistance genes identified related and unrelated isolates in both households.

First Case of Human Brucella canis Infection in the Netherlands.

A patient was diagnosed with Brucella canis following exposure to infected dogs in her breeding facility. Transboundary spread of B. canis through (illegal) import of infected dogs to non-endemic countries in Europe suggest that B.

Review and Analysis of National Monitoring Systems for Antimicrobial Resistance in Animal Bacterial Pathogens in Europe: A Basis for the Development of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Veterinary Medicine (EARS-Vet).

The monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens of animals is not currently coordinated at European level. To fill this gap, experts of the European Union Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI) recommended building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet). In this study, we (i) identified national monitoring systems for AMR in bacterial pathogens of animals (both companion and food-producing) among 27 countries affiliated to EU-JAMRAI, (ii) described their structures and operations, and (iii) analyzed their respective strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT).

Canine : Case Report from The Netherlands.

has been reported worldwide in humans, while reported non-human cases are sparse. Its complete epidemiology, alongside its infectivity and pathogenicity in humans and non-humans, remain to be clarified. Here, we describe the first reported canine , causing a deep wound infection in a Labrador retriever after orthopedic surgery.

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): a bottom-up and One Health approach.

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach.

Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet.

Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts.

Serological Screening for Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Dutch Shelter Cats.

The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns that companion animals might be infected with, and could become a reservoir of, SARS-CoV-2. As cats are popular pets and susceptible to Coronavirus, we investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in shelter cats housed in Dutch animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this large-scale cross-sectional study, serum samples of shelter cats were collected during the second wave of human COVID-19 infections in The Netherlands.

Absence of Host-Specific Genes in Canine and Human as Inferred from Comparative Genomics.

is an important pathogen in dogs that occasionally causes infections in humans as an opportunistic pathogen of elderly and immunocompromised people. This study compared the genomic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance genes using genome-wide association study (GWAS) to examine host association of canine and human isolates. Canine ( = 25) and human ( = 32) methicillin-susceptible (MSSP) isolates showed a high level of genetic diversity with an overrepresentation of clonal complex CC241 in human isolates.