title: Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from sea otters (Enhydra lutris).
abstract: Bacterial infections are an important cause of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) mortality, and some of these infections may originate from terrestrial and anthropogenic sources. Antimicrobials are an important therapeutic tool for management of bacterial infections in stranded sea otters and for prevention of infection following invasive procedures in free-ranging otters. In this study, susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobials was determined for 126 isolates of 15 bacterial species or groups from necropsied, live-stranded injured or sick, and apparently healthy wild sea otters examined between 1998 and 2005. These isolates included both gram-positive and gram-negative strains of primary pathogens, opportunistic pathogens, and environmental flora, including bacterial species with proven zoonotic potential. Minimal evidence of antimicrobial resistance and no strains with unusual or clinically significant multiple-drug resistance patterns were identified. Collectively, these findings will help optimize selection of appropriate antimicrobials for treatment of bacterial diseases in sea otters and other marine species.
authors: California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, 1451 Shaffer Rd. Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Brownstein
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Miller
authors: Stori C
authors: SC
authors: Oates
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Byrne
authors: Spencer
authors: S
authors: Jang
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Murray
authors: Verena A
authors: VA
authors: Gill
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Jessup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D010041:Otters / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents