Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolated from the airways of animals with chronic respiratory disease.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a nonfermentative bacterium, which is naturally resistant against a panel of commonly-used antibiotics. It is frequently isolated from humans with chronic respiratory disease, e.g. cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In veterinary medicine S. maltophilia is perceived to be a mere coloniser. We herewith report 7 strains of S. maltophilia isolated from animals, of which 5 strains were harvested from 3 horses, a dog and a cat with chronic respiratory disease. The dog isolate showed resistance to trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole, which was confirmed by detection of the sul 1 gene. Analysis with pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed that 2 horses, which were boarded in the same clinic but two years apart, harboured the same strain of S. maltophilia. This is indicative of a hospital acquired colonisation / infection, which contradicts involvement in the pre-existing chronic disease.
Albini
S
S
Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern. salbini@vetbakt.uzh.ch
Abril
C
C
Franchini
M
M
Hüssy
D
D
Filioussis
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*