title: [Bacterial biofilms: their importance in animal health and public health].
abstract: Bacterial biofilms are structured communities of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymer matrix that is attached to a surface. Biofilms protect and allow bacteria to survive and thrive in hostile environments. Bacteria within biofilms can withstand host immune responses, and are much less susceptible to antibiotics and disinfectants when compared to their planktonic counterparts. The ability to form biofilms is now considered an attribute of many microorganisms. Diseases associated with biofilms require novel methods for their prevention, diagnosis and treatment; this is largely due to the properties of biofilms. Furthermore, the presence of biofilms on surfaces found at farms, slaughterhouses or food processing plants will have an impact on the efficacy of disinfection protocols. Surprisingly, biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens of veterinary or zoonotic importance has received relatively little attention. The objective of this brief Review article is to bring awareness about the importance of biofilms to animal health stakeholders.(Translated by the authors).
authors.affiliation: Réseau canadien de recherche sur la mammite bovine et la qualité du lait (Tremblay, Jacques); Centre de recherche en infectiologie porcine (Tremblay, Hathroubi, Jacques); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada J2S 7C6.
authors.forename: Yannick D N
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.affiliation: Réseau canadien de recherche sur la mammite bovine et la qualité du lait (Tremblay, Jacques); Centre de recherche en infectiologie porcine (Tremblay, Hathroubi, Jacques); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada J2S 7C6.
authors.forename: Skander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hathroubi
authors.affiliation: Réseau canadien de recherche sur la mammite bovine et la qualité du lait (Tremblay, Jacques); Centre de recherche en infectiologie porcine (Tremblay, Hathroubi, Jacques); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada J2S 7C6.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents