Etiology, multidrug resistance, and acute-phase proteins biomarkers as in equine septic arthritis

EnglishEtiology, multiple antibiotic resistance index, and acute-phase protein profile in the serum and synovial fluid of 44 horses presenting septic arthritis were investigated. Young animals up to 24 months of age not yet submitted to taming were sampled. Synovial samples from the horses were submitted to culture and bacterial isolates subjected to 18 antimicrobials to investigate the in vitro multidrug resistance pattern. Also, hematological aspects, fibrinogen, and serum levels of some acute-phase proteins (total protein, albumin, globulin, amyloid A, and C-reactive protein) were assessed. To statistical analysis, microbiological isolation were divided into four groups: G1 = animals with negative isolation, G2 = isolation of Gram-negative bacteria, G3 = isolation of Gram-positive bacteria), and G4 = isolation of fungi. Microbial isolation was obtained from 77.2% (32/44) of the synovial samples. Escherichia coli (7/44 = 15.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (5/44 = 11.4%), Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (3/44 = 6.8%), Aspergillus niger (3/44 = 6.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2/44 = 4.5%), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (1/44 = 2.3%), Trueperella pyogenes (1/44 = 2.3%), and Rhodococcus equi (1/44 = 2.3%) were prevalent bacterial agents. Aspergillus niger is reported by the first time as a primary agent of septic arthritis in horses. Gentamicin (84.9%), marbofloxacin (79.3%) and ceftriaxone (72.4%) were the most effective antimicrobials, whereas high resistance of the isolates (>50%) was found to erythromycin (75.9%), clarithromycin (75.9%), penicillin (69%), clindamycin (58.6%), and streptomycin (55.2%). Multiple antibiotic resistance index (≥ 0.3) was identified in 50% (16/32) of the isolates, with highest resistance in Gram-negative bacterial isolates. Serum levels of amyloid A, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, globulin, and total protein, as well as the number of nucleated cells in the synovial fluid had values above the reference for horses, reinforcing acute-phase proteins as biomarkers in diagnosis of septic arthritis. We highlighted the diversity of microorganisms that may be involved in equine septic arthritis, the high resistance of bacterial isolates to conventional antimicrobials, the high lethality of young horses with septic arthritis, and importance of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility pattern tests to therapeutic approaches in the disease. portuguesForam investigados a etiologia, o indice de resistencia multipla aos antibioticos e o perfil de proteinas de fase aguda, no soro ou liquido sinovial, de 44 equinos com sinais clinicos compativeis com artrite septica. Foram amostrados animais ate 24 meses de idade nao submetidos a doma. As amostras de liquido sinovial dos 44 animais foram submetidas a cultura bacteriologica e fungica, e os isolados bacterianos submetidos in vitro diante de 18 antimicrobianos visando investigar a multirresistencia. Tambem foram avaliados os aspectos hematologicos e o fibrinogenio serico, bem como os niveis sericos de certas proteinas de fase aguda (proteina total, albumina, globulina, amiloide serico A e proteina C reativa). O isolamento microbiano das amostras foi dividido em quatro grupos: G1 = animais com isolamento negativo; G2 = isolamento de bacterias Gram-negativas; G3 = isolamento de bacterias Gram-positivas e G4 = isolamento fungico. O isolamento microbiano foi obtido em 77,2% (32/44) das amostras de liquido sinovial. Escherichia coli (7/44 = 15,9%), Staphylococcus aureus (5/44 = 11,4%), Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (3/44 = 6,8%), Aspergillus niger (3/44 = 6,8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2/44 = 4,5%), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (1/44 = 2,3%), Trueperella pyogenes (1/44=2,3%) e Rhodococcus equi (1/44 = 2,3%) foram os patogenos mais frequentes. Aspergillus niger e relatado pela primeira vez como agente primario de artrite septica em cavalos. Gentamicina (84,9%), marbofloxacino (79,3%) e ceftriaxona (72,4%) foram os antimicrobianos mais eficazes, enquanto elevada resistencia dos isolados (>50%) foi encontrada para eritromicina (75,9%), claritromicina (75,9%), penicilina (69%), clindamicina (58,6%) e estreptomicina (55,2%). O indice de resistencia multipla aos antibioticos (≥ 0,3) foi identificado em 50% (16/32) dos isolados, com maior resistencia obervada em bacterias Gramnegativas. Os niveis sericos de amiloide A, proteina C reativa, fibrinogenio, globulina e concentracao total de proteinas, bem como o numero de celulas nucleadas no liquido sinovial apresentaram valores acima da referencia para equinos saudaveis, reforcando o uso destas proteinas de fase aguda como biomarcadores no diagnostico da doenca. O presente estudo enfatiza a diversidade de microrganismos que podem estar envolvidos na artrite septica equina, a alta resistencia dos isolados aos antimicrobianos convencionais, a alta mortalidade de equinos jovens com artrite septica e a importância de realizar o tratamento da afeccao com respaldo em testes de sensibilidade microbiana in vitro.