Comparative susceptibilities of various animal-pathogenic mycoplasmas to fluoroquinolones

Synergistic effect of doxycycline and aqueous extract of irradiated khella on structure of nanobacteria isolated from kidney stones: In vitro and in vivo studies

Kidney stones have been associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney diseases, end-stage renal failure. This study is devoted to isolate nanobacteria from patients with active urolithiasis and investigate the in vitro and in vivo antinanobacterial activity of some antibiotics alone or in combination with extracts of irradiated herbs from certain medicinal plants. Nanobacteria were detected using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, protein electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and DNA profile. The antimicrobial susceptibility of some biofilm-producing nanobacterial isolates was evaluated. The effect of medicinal plant extracts on growth was tested. A combination treatment between the most potent extracts and antibiotics was tested on biofilm production, protein profile, release of 260 nm absorbing material, protein content, and ultrastructure of the strongest biofilm producers. In vivo study of nanobacteria and its treatment by the most potent agents was evaluated on male rats. Renal function was measured in serum; histological examination and oxidative stress parameters were determined in kidney tissues. Results showed that streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, and water extracts of irradiated khella at 6 kGy had antinanobacterial activity. Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of the aqueous extract of irradiated Khella and doxycycline showed higher inhibition activity on microbial growth and biofilm production. They affected dramatically the strength of its cell membrane and subsequently its ultrastructure. Moreover, these results are confirmed by ameliorations in renal function and histological alterations. It could be concluded that the combination of DO and an aqueous extract of irradiated khella has an antinephrotoxic effect against nanobacteria-induced renal toxicity.

Towards a Standardized Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Method for Mycoplasma hyorhinis

Conducting antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in a comparable manner requires the availability of a standardized method. Organizations, such as the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST), provide standardized protocols for a range of fastidious bacteria but not for Mycoplasma hyorhinis. We developed a broth microdilution method for testing M. hyorhinis in a standardized and harmonized way using a modified Friis broth devoid of antimicrobial or otherwise bacterial growth-inhibiting agents. The type strain M. hyorhinis DSM 25591 was chosen to establish the methodology. The antimicrobial agents of interest were doxycycline, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, gentamicin, marbofloxacin, tetracycline, tiamulin, tilmicosin, tulathromycin, and tylosin, tested by using commercial Sensititre^TM microtiter plates. In addition, the suitability of the methodology was evaluated via variation of the individual ingredients of the modified Friis broth by either using different batches or choosing other distributors. Despite these alterations, the method provided reliable results. We obtained repeatable minimal inhibitory concentrations for all six tested field isolates and the M. hyorhinis type strain. With this newly proposed method, we aim to provide an improved AST method for diagnostic laboratories and monitoring purposes with better comparability between times and countries. In addition, this new method will allow for an improvement of targeted treatments using antimicrobial agents and thereby reduce the options for resistance development.

Genomic Diversity of a Globally Used, Live Attenuated Mycoplasma Vaccine

The Mycoplasma synoviae live attenuated vaccine strain MS-H (Vaxsafe MS; Bioproperties Pty., Ltd., Australia) is commonly used around the world to prevent chronic infections caused by M. synoviae in birds and to minimize economic losses in the poultry industry. MS-H is a temperature-sensitive strain that is generated via the chemical mutagenesis of a virulent M. synoviae isolate, 86079/7NS. 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms have been found in the genome of MS-H compared to that of 86079/7NS, including 25 in predicted coding sequences (CDSs). There is limited information on the stability of these mutations in MS-H in vitro during the propagation of the vaccine manufacturing process or in vivo after the vaccination of chickens. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of MS-H genomes after in vitro and in vivo passages under different circumstances. Studying the dynamics of the MS-H population can provide insights into the factors that potentially affect the health of vaccinated birds. The genomes of 11 in vitro laboratory passages and 138 MS-H bird reisolates contained a total of 254 sequence variations. Of these, 39 variations associated with CDSs were detected in more than one genome (range = 2 to 62, median = 2.5), suggesting that these sequences are particularly prone to mutations. From the 25 CDSs containing previously characterized variations between MS-H and 86079/7NS, 7 were identified in the MS-H reisolates and progenies examined here. In conclusion, the MS-H genome contains individual regions that are prone to mutations that enable the restoration of the genotype or the phenotype of wild-type 86079/7NS in those regions. However, accumulated mutations in these regions are rare. IMPORTANCE Preventative measures, such as vaccination, are commonly used for the control of mycoplasmal infections in poultry. A live attenuated vaccine strain (Vaxsafe MS; MS-H; Bioproperties Pty. Ltd., Australia) is used for the prevention of disease caused by M. synoviae in many countries. However, information on the stability of previously characterized mutations in the MS-H genome is limited. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of the whole-genome sequences of MS-H seeds used for vaccine manufacturing, commercial batches of the vaccine, cultures minimally passaged under small-scale laboratory and large-scale manufacturing conditions, MS-H reisolated from specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens that were vaccinated under controlled conditions, and MS-H reisolated from vaccinated commercial poultry flocks around the world. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of genome stability in MS-H after in vitro and in vivo passages under different circumstances and suggests that most of the mutations in the attenuated MS-H vaccine strain are stable.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Mycoplasma hyorhinis strains isolated from five European countries between 2019 and 2021

Mycoplasma hyorhinis is an emerging swine pathogen bacterium causing polyserositis and polyarthritis in weaners and finishers. The pathogen is distributed world-wide, generating significant economic losses. No commercially available vaccine is available in Europe. Therefore, besides improving the housing conditions for prevention, antimicrobial therapy of the diseased animals is the only option to control the infection. Our aim was to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ten antimicrobials potentially used against M. hyorhinis infection. The antibiotic susceptibility of 76 M. hyorhinis isolates from Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Poland collected between 2019 and 2021 was determined by broth micro-dilution method and mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA). Low concentrations of tiamulin (MIC₉₀ 0.312 μg/ml), doxycycline (MIC₉₀ 0.078 μg/ml), oxytetracycline (MIC₉₀ 0.25 μg/ml), florfenicol (MIC₉₀ 2 μg/ml) and moderate concentrations of enrofloxacin (MIC₉₀ 1.25 μg/ml) inhibited the growth of the isolates. For the tested macrolides and lincomycin, a bimodal MIC pattern was observed (MIC₉₀ >64 μg/ml for lincomycin, tulathromycin, tylosin and tilmicosin and 5 μg/ml for tylvalosin). The results of the MAMA assay were in line with the conventional method with three exceptions. Based on our statistical analyses, significant differences in MIC values of tiamulin and doxycycline were observed between certain countries. Our results show various levels of antimicrobial susceptibility among M. hyorhinis isolates to the tested antibiotics. The data underline the importance of susceptibility monitoring on pan-European level and provides essential information for proper antibiotic choice in therapy.

The Monitoring of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations during the Last Decade (2010–2020) Seems to Reveal a Comeback of Susceptibility to Macrolides, Tiamulin, and Lincomycin

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg) is a highly contagious avian pathogen responsible for significant economic losses for the poultry industry. In some circumstances, antimicrobial treatment is useful to contain clinical signs of Mg infection in birds. However, antimicrobial resistance emergence is now common among animal pathogens, becoming a worldwide health concern. The collection of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data is fundamental for an appropriate antimicrobial use and for fighting antimicrobial resistance emergence. However, MIC data can only be generated in specialized laboratories, and therefore they are not regularly available. MICs of 67 non-vaccine-derived Mg isolates collected in Italy between 2010 and 2020 were obtained. Although 79.1% of the Mg isolates showed enrofloxacin MICs ≥ 8 µg/mL, a statistically significant trend toward low MICs of erythromycin, tylosin, tilmicosin, spiramycin, tiamulin, and lincomycin was observed, indicating a comeback to susceptibility of Mg toward these drugs. Doxycycline proved to be slightly more effective than oxytetracycline. The present study shows that Mg changed its susceptibility toward many of the drugs most commonly used for its containment over a ten-year period.

Antibiotic resistance of Mycoplasma Synoviae strains isolated in China from 2016 to 2019

Background

In the past decade, Mycoplasma synoviae (M. synoviae) infection has become widely prevalent in China, has caused serious economic losses and has become one of the most important diseases in the chicken industry. Medication is a general approach for the control of M. synoviae infection, but antibiotics are sometimes ineffective in clinical practice. To investigate the sensitivity of M. synoviae to antimicrobials commonly used in the treatment of M. synoviae infection, the antibiotic susceptibility of 32 M. synoviae strains isolated from China from 2016 to 2019 were determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method.

Results

All isolates had low MIC values for the combination of lincomycin and spectinomycin, pleuromutilin, and macrolides. However, the M. synoviae isolates displayed variance in MICs for doxycycline hydrochloride with a range of 0.25 to 8 μg/mL, and oxytetracycline hydrochloride with a range of 0.5 to 8 μg/mL. Three and one M. synoviae isolates showed intermediate MIC values to doxycycline hydrochloride and oxytetracycline hydrochloride, respectively. High MIC values for enrofloxacin were detected in all isolates with MICs ranging from 4 to 32 μg/mL. Furthermore, comparison of the parC QRDR identified a mutation at nucleotide position 254 (C254T) resulting in a Thr 85 Ile amino acid change in all M. synoviae isolates and the reference strain ATCC 25204 being resistant to enrofloxacin. Moreover, mutations at Glu 804 Gly and Thr 686 Ala of gyrA QRDR were identified in all M. synoviae isolates and ATCC 25204. The mutation in the QRDR of the parE gene resulted in amino acid changes at positions 197 (Pro to Ser) in 27/32 M. synoviae isolates.

Conclusion

Three nonsynonymous mutations in gyrA and parE were first identified to be related to enrofloxacin resistance. Our results showed that M. synoviae resistance to enrofloxacin is widespread.

Resistance to 16-Membered Macrolides, Tiamulin and Lincomycin in a Swine Isolate of Acholeplasma laidlawii

Acholeplasma (A.) laidlawii is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to disseminate resistance determinants to antibiotics; however, its resistance to macrolides has been less studied. The aim of the present study was to characterize the mechanisms responsible for the resistance to macrolides, tiamulin and lincomycin found in a strain of A. laidlawii isolated from a pig with pneumonia. MICs of erythromycin, 15- and 16-membered macrolides, tiamulin and lincomycin were determined by microdilution method with and without reserpine, an inhibitor of ABC efflux pumps and regions of the genome were sequenced. Reserpine only decreased lincomycin MIC but it did not change the MICs of macrolides and tiamulin. The analysis of the DNA sequence of 23S rRNA showed nucleotide substitutions at eight different positions, although none of them were at positions previously related to macrolide resistance. Five mutations were found in the L22 protein, one of them at the stop codon. In addition, two mutations were found in the amino acid sequence of L4. The combination of multiple mutations in the ribosomal proteins L22 and L4 together with substitutions in 23S rRNA DNA sequence was associated with the resistance to macrolides, the pleuromutilin and lincomycin in the studied A. laidlawii strain.

Characterization of Biofilm Producer Nanobacteria Isolated from Kidney Stones of Some Egyptian Patients

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Nanobacteria (NB) appear to contribute to many calcifying diseases including kidney stones which represent a common problem with inadequate prevention exist. NB framing itself with a mineral coat that assists as a primary defence shield against the immune system, antibiotics. This study aims to collect and detect nanobes from different kidney stones from patients with active urolithiasis then investigated the anti-nano-bacterial activity of some antibiotics alone or in combination with extracts of irradiated herbs of certain medicinal plants which will represent a new approach to therapy for patients with kidney stones. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Total of 32 nanobes were isolated from 54 kidney stones. Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that calcium and phosphate are the main components of stones. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), showed that nanobes were Gram-ve cocci with size ranged from (375:600 nm). The biofilm production ability of nanobes was estimated qualitatively and quantitatively. <b>Results:</b> The results revealed that all were strong biofilm producers. Further, the antibiotic susceptibility test indicates their resistance towards most of the tested antibiotics. Molecular identification of the strong biofilm producer isolates by ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) revealed that it is indicated by 85.37% to <i>Bartonella apis</i> strain PEB0122. <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings of the current study evidenced that combination treatment between Doxycycline (DO) and water extract of khella exhibited a significant reduction in biofilm formation ability of the strongest producers nanobes. Therefore, this treatment can play a role in enhancing public health, especially with patients who suffer from recurrent kidney stone formation.

Development of a molecular biological assay for the detection of markers related to decreased susceptibility to macrolides and lincomycin in Mycoplasma hyorhinis

The control of Mycoplasma hyorhinis infection relies mainly on antimicrobial therapy. However, the antibiotic susceptibility testing of the bacteria is usually not performed before applying the treatment, and thus therapeutic failures are not uncommon. In the case of M. hyorhinis, several antibiotic-resistance-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known but assays for their detection have not been described yet. The aims of the present study were to investigate macrolide- and lincomycin-resistance-related SNPs in Hungarian M. hyorhinis isolates and to develop mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMA) to detect the identified resistance markers. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of different drugs and whole genome sequences of 37 M. hyorhinis isolates were used to find the resistance-related mutations. One MAMA assay was designed to detect the mutation of the 23S rRNA gene at nucleotide position 2058 (Escherichia coli numbering). For further evaluation, the assay was challenged with 17 additional isolates with available MIC data and 15 DNA samples from clinical specimens. The genotypes of the samples were in line with the MIC test results. The developed assay supports the practice of targeted antibiotic usage; hence it may indirectly reduce some bacterial resistance-related public health concerns.

A case of pericarditis caused by Mycoplasma hyorhinis in a weaned piglet

BACKGROUND

Mycoplasma hyorhinis (M. hyorhinis) is a bacterium commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy pigs and an agent of polyserositis and polyarthritis. Moreover, it can carry antibiotic resistance genes (Wu et al, Vet. Microbiol. 76: 25-30, 2000). Economic losses caused by M. hyorhinis can be reduced by antibiotic therapy, however, isolation and antimicrobic susceptibility profile are rarely performed.

CASE PRESENTATION

The present report describes a case of pericarditis caused by M. hyorhinis in a weaned piglet with respiratory symptoms and reduced growth performance. At post mortem examination, the main macroscopic finding was a severe fibrinous pericarditis and M. hyorhins was the only agent isolated from the pericardial fluid. In this strain, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination revealed resistance to various antimicrobial molecules such as erythromycin, tylosin and tilmicosin.

CONCLUSION

This paper highlights the importance of including M. hyorhins in the differential diagnosis of polyserositis in swine. Moreover, due the possible presence of multidrug resistance, the determination of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern should be performed on a regular basis.

Danofloxacin pharmacokinetics and tissue residues in Bilgorajska geese

Danofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone developed for veterinary medicine and used in avian species for the treatment of numerous bacterial infections. However, no pharmacokinetic data have been reported in geese. The aim of the study was three-fold: (i) to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin in geese after single oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) administrations; (ii) to define its residue depletion profile in different goose tissues, and (iii) to recreate a multiple-dose simulation in the practical context of large-scale breeding. Twenty-four healthy geese were randomly divided in three groups each composed of eight animals. Group 1 received danofloxacin IV (5 mg/kg) and groups 2 and 3 were treated PO with the same dose. Blood was collected until 24 h (IV; group 1) and 48 h (PO; group 2) after administration. Two animals from group 3 were sacrificed at 6, 10, 24 and 48 h to collect samples of muscle, heart, kidney, liver, and lung. Danofloxacin was quantified in each matrix using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with spectrofluorimetric detection and the pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using non-compartmental and compartmental approaches. Danofloxacin showed a moderate elimination half-life (6.61 h), a slow clearance (0.35 mL/g*h) and a large volume of distribution (1.46 mL/g). The peak plasma concentration after PO administration and the time to reach it were 0.96 μg/mL and 1.70 h, respectively. The oral bioavailability was moderate (58%). Higher residue concentration was found in liver and kidney, compared to the other tissues. If the AUC_(0-24) value found in the present study is included in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index (AUC_(0-24)/MIC) for the prediction of fluoroquinolones' efficacy, danofloxacin seems to be effective in geese against gram-negative bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) < 0.076 μg/mL and against S. pneumoniae with a MIC < 0.29 μg/mL after a single PO dose of 5 mg/kg. Liver and kidney showed the highest drug tissue penetration value, with an explorative withdrawal time of 2.6 and 3.8 days, respectively. A practical multiple-dose regimen simulation does not lead to significant plasma drug accumulation.

Antimicrobial susceptibility monitoring of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae isolated from seven European countries during 2015-2016

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the causative agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia, a chronic respiratory disease, causing significant economic losses. Results from the 2015-2016 MycoPath pan-European antimicrobial susceptibility monitoring survey of M. hyopneumoniae are presented. In total, 147 M. hyopneumoniae porcine isolates from Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, and Spain were tested. One isolate per farm was retained from pigs that had not been recently treated with antimicrobial agents. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 13 antimicrobial agents was determined in a central laboratory using a broth microdilution method, with Friis Medium, incubated at 35 ± 1 °C for 5-12 days. M. hyopneumoniae NCTC 10110 was used as Quality Control. MIC₅₀/MIC₉₀ (mg/L) values were: enrofloxacin 0.06/1; marbofloxacin 0.06/2; spiramycin 0.06/0.25; tulathromycin ≤0.001/0.004; gamithromycin 0.06/0.5; tylosin 0.016/0.06; tilmicosin 0.06/0.5; florfenicol 0.5/1; doxycycline 0.25/1; oxytetracycline 0.25/2; lincomycin 0.06/0.25; tiamulin 0.016/0.06 and valnemulin ≤0.001/0.004. Compared with the data from 2010 to 2012 MycoPath study (50 isolates), MIC_50/90 results were similar and the majority were within ± two dilution steps, except for the MIC₅₀ of oxytetracycline which is more than two dilution steps higher in the present study. Between-country comparisons show some differences in the MIC values for the fluoroquinolones, tulathromycin and tylosin, but the limited sample size per country precludes performing meaningful country comparisons for several countries. Standardized laboratory methods and interpretive criteria for MIC testing of veterinary mycoplasmas are clearly needed; there are currently no clinical breakpoints available to facilitate data interpretation and correlation of MICs with in vivo efficacy.

Antimicrobial treatment of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) is the primary agent of enzootic pneumonia, a chronic and economically important respiratory disease of pigs. Control and prevention of M. hyopneumoniae infections can be accomplished by optimization of management and housing conditions, and by vaccination. The present paper summarizes the current knowledge on the main characteristics and efficacy of antimicrobials used for the treatment of clinical M. hyopneumoniae infections, the in vitro and in vivo activities of these antimicrobials and the reported resistance mechanisms against some. Potentially active antimicrobials against M. hyopneumoniae include tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, pleuromutilins, amphenicols, aminoglycosides, aminocyclitols and fluoroquinolones. Antimicrobial treatment can be administered either orally or parenterally. Based on the overall results of efficacy studies performed under experimental and/or field conditions, the majority of agents belonging to these antimicrobial classes improved clinical parameters (clinical signs, lung lesions) and reduced performance losses due to M. hyopneumoniae infection. Antimicrobials may, however, not be able to prevent infection or to eradicate the bacterium from the respiratory tract. The decision to medicate should, therefore, be considered carefully. M. hyopneumoniae shows an intrinsic resistance against β-lactam antibiotics, sulfonamides and trimethoprim. A few reports have shown acquired antimicrobial resistance against some antibiotics, along with associated resistance mechanisms. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing are difficult to interpret in terms of treatment outcome, as no clinical breakpoints have been defined for M. hyopneumoniae.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Caprine and Ovine Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Isolates

The objective of this study was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nine antimicrobials (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, gentamicin, spectinomycin, oxytetracycline, tylosin, florfenicol, and tiamulin) against 24 Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae isolates obtained from sheep and goats and to compare the resulting antimicrobial profiles. Enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin had the lowest MIC₅₀ values (<0.03 μg/mL) and MIC₉₀ values (0.25 μg/mL) for all tested isolates. The highest MIC₅₀ value (2 μg/mL) was obtained for florfenicol, while oxytetracycline and tylosin exhibited the highest MIC₉₀ values (16 μg/mL). The MIC values for all fluoroquinolones and oxytetracycline were significantly lower for sheep isolates. Sheep isolates were considerably more susceptible to norfloxacin and tylosin than were goat isolates. This study demonstrated differences in antimicrobial susceptibilities between sheep and goat isolates, revealing M. ovipneumoniae in goat isolates to be less susceptible. The results suggest a possible link between antimicrobial profiles of M. ovipneumoniae isolates and their host ruminant species.

Development of molecular biological tools for the rapid determination of antibiotic susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae isolates

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the etiologic agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia, a contagious respiratory disease, causing significant economic losses worldwide. Antibiotic treatment is commonly utilised in the pig industry to control M. hyopneumoniae infection. Since the conventional antibiotic susceptibility test is time-consuming, taking up to weeks' period, antibiotics are usually empirically chosen. Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms in the parC (C239A/T, G250A) and gyrA (G242C, C247 T, A260 G) genes show correlation with decreased fluoroquinolone susceptibility by the change of the target site. Furthermore, the nucleotide alteration A2059 G in the 23S rRNA sequence correlates with significantly decreased macrolide and lincosamide susceptibility of M. hyopneumoniae. Mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMA) and high resolution melt (HRM) analysis, capable to detect the mentioned resistance markers, were developed in the present study, in order to provide susceptibility data in a considerably shorter time than the conventional methods. The results of the MAMA and HRM assays were congruent with the results of the conventional antibiotic susceptibility method of the tested M. hyopneumoniae field isolates. The sensitivity of the MAMAs was 10³-10⁴ copy numbers, while that of the HRM assay was 10⁵-10⁶ copy numbers. To the best of our knowledge this was the first time that MAMA and HRM assays were developed for the rapid detection of decreased fluoroquinolone, macrolide or lincosamide susceptibility in M. hyopneumoniae strains.

Pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) after intravenous and intramuscular administrations

The plasma pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin was studied in healthy African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) following a single intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) administration of 10 mg/kg at 22 °C. Catfish were divided into two groups (each group containing 78 fish), then danofloxacin mesylate (10 mg/kg) was administered IV (into the caudal vein) in Group 1 and IM (into the right epaxial muscle) in Group 2, and blood was obtained from the caudal vein before (0 h) and after (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h) of drug administration. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for the determination of plasma concentration, and a non-compartmental model was used for the analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters. After IV administration, elimination half-life (t_1/2λz, 24.49 h), mean residence time (MRT, 30.14 h), volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss, 1.07 L/kg) and total body clearance (CL_T, 0.035 L/h/kg) were determined. After IM administration, t_1/2λz, MRT, peak concentration (C_max), time to reach C_max and bioavailability were 47.64 h, 61.06 h, 5.22 µg/mL, 1 h and 67.12%, respectively. After IM administration, danofloxacin showed good bioavailability and long t_1/2λz. The favourable pharmacokinetic characteristics after IM administration support the use of danofloxacin for the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections in catfish.

Evaluation of Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations for 154 Mycoplasma synoviae isolates from Italy collected during 2012-2017

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is a highly prevalent bacterial species in poultry causing disease and severe economic losses. Antibiotic treatment is one of the control strategies that can be applied to contain clinical outbreaks in MS-free flocks, especially because this bacterium can be transmitted in ovo. It becomes, then, very important for veterinarians to know the antibiotic susceptibility of the circulating strains in order to choose the most appropriate first-line antibiotic molecule as a proactive role in fighting antibiotic resistance. We evaluated the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, tylosin, tilmicosin, spiramycin, tiamulin, florfenicol and lincomycin for MS isolates collected between 2012 and 2017 in Italy. A total of 154 MS isolates from different poultry commercial categories (broiler, layer, and turkey sectors) was tested using commercial MIC plates. All MS isolates showed very high MIC values of erythromycin (MIC90 ≥8 μg/mL) and enrofloxacin (MIC90 ≥16 μg/mL). MIC values of doxycycline and oxytetracycline obtained were superimposable to each other with only a one-fold dilution difference. Discrepancies between MIC values of tylosin and tilmicosin were observed. Interestingly, seven isolates showed very high MIC values of lincomycin and tilmicosin, but not all of them showed very high MIC values of tylosin. Most of the MS isolates showed low MIC values of spiramycin, but seven strains showed a MIC ≥16 μg/mL. In the observation period, the frequency of the different MIC classes varied dependently on the tested antibiotic. Interestingly, tilmicosin MICs clearly showed a time-dependent progressive shift towards high-concentration classes, indicative of an on-going selection process among MS isolates. Until standardized breakpoints become available to facilitate data interpretation, it will be fundamental to continue studying MIC value fluctuations in the meantime in order to create a significant database that would facilitate veterinarians in selecting the proper drug for treating this impactful Mycoplasma.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Integration of Doxycycline Against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in an In Vitro Model

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. It is used widely to treat diseases caused by Mycoplasma species. We investigated the antibacterial activity of doxycycline against the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain ATCC25934. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of doxycycline against M. hyopneumoniae determined by a microdilution method was 0.125 μg/ml. Static time-kill curves with constant drug concentrations (0-64 MIC) showed that a bacteriostatic effect occurred if the doxycycline concentration reached 4 MIC. Doxycycline produced a maximum antimycoplasmal effect (reduction of 2.76 log₁₀CFU/ml) at 64 MIC within 48 h. The effect of doxycycline against M. hyopneumoniae was analyzed by a sigmoid E _max model, and there was high correlation between the kill rate and doxycycline concentration (R ² = 0.986). A one-compartment open model with first-order absorption was adopted and was used to simulate doxycycline pharmacokinetics in porcine plasma. The dynamic time-concentration curve showed that the area under the curve at 24 h (AUC_{24 h}) and C _max (peak concentration) after each drug administration was 1.78-48.4 μg h/ml and 0.16-3.41 μg/ml, respectively. The reduction of M. hyopneumoniae (log₁₀CFU/ml) for 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg/kg body weight was 0.16, 1.29, 1.75, 2.94, 3.35, 3.91, 4.35, and 5.77, respectively, during the entire experiment, respectively. When the dose was >10 mg/kg body weight, continuous administration for 3 days could achieve a bactericidal effect. The correlation coefficient of AUC_{24 h}/MIC, C _max/MIC, and %T > MIC (the cumulative percentage of time over a 24-h period that the drug concentration exceeds the MIC) with antibacterial effect was 0.917, 0.923, and 0.823, respectively. Doxycycline showed concentration-dependent activity, and the value of AUC_{24 h}/MIC and C _max/MIC required to produce a drop of 1 log₁₀CFU/ml was 164 h and 9.89, respectively.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Mycoplasma spp

Mycoplasmas are intrinsically resistant to antimicrobials targeting the cell wall (fosfomycin, glycopeptides, or β-lactam antibiotics) and to sulfonamides, first-generation quinolones, trimethoprim, polymixins, and rifampicin. The antibiotics most frequently used to control mycoplasmal infections in animals are macrolides and tetracyclines. Lincosamides, fluoroquinolones, pleuromutilins, phenicols, and aminoglycosides can also be active. Standardization of methods used for determination of susceptibility levels is difficult since no quality control strains are available and because of species-specific growth requirements. Reduced susceptibility levels or resistances to several families of antimicrobials have been reported in field isolates of pathogenic Mycoplasma species of major veterinary interest: M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae in poultry; M. hyopneumoniae, M. hyorhinis, and M. hyosynoviae in swine; M. bovis in cattle; and M. agalactiae in small ruminants. The highest resistances are observed for macrolides, followed by tetracyclines. Most strains remain susceptible to fluoroquinolones. Pleuromutilins are the most effective antibiotics in vitro. Resistance frequencies vary according to the Mycoplasma species but also according to the countries or groups of animals from which the samples were taken. Point mutations in the target genes of different antimicrobials have been identified in resistant field isolates, in vitro-selected mutants, or strains reisolated after an experimental infection followed by one or several treatments: DNA-gyrase and topoisomerase IV for fluoroquinolones; 23S rRNA for macrolides, lincosamides, pleuromutilins, and amphenicols; 16S rRNAs for tetracyclines and aminoglycosides. Further work should be carried out to determine and harmonize specific breakpoints for animal mycoplasmas so that in vitro information can be used to provide advice on selection of in vivo treatments.

Antibiotic susceptibility testing of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae field isolates from Central Europe for fifteen antibiotics by microbroth dilution method

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections are responsible for significant economic losses in the swine industry. Commercially available vaccines are not able to inhibit the colonisation of the respiratory tract by M. hyopneumoniae absolutely, therefore vaccination can be completed with antibiotic treatment to moderate clinical signs and improve performances of the animals. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of M. hyopneumoniae is time-consuming and complicated; therefore, it is not accomplished routinely. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility to 15 different antibiotics of M. hyopneumoniae isolates originating from Hungarian slaughterhouses and to examine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes affecting susceptibility to antimicrobials. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the examined antibiotics against 44 M. hyopneumoniae strains were determined by microbroth dilution method. While all of the tested antibiotics were effective against the majority of the studied strains, high MIC values of fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin 2.5 μg/ml; marbofloxacin 5 μg/ml) were observed against one strain (MycSu17) and extremely high MIC values of macrolides and lincomycin (tilmicosin, tulathromycin and lincomycin >64 μg/ml; gamithromycin 64 μg/ml; tylosin 32 μg/ml and tylvalosin 2 μg/ml) were determined against another, outlier strain (MycSu18). Amino acid changes in the genes gyrA (Gly81Ala; Ala83Val; Glu87Gly, according to Escherichia coli numbering) and parC (Ser80Phe/Tyr; Asp84Asn) correlated with decreased antibiotic susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and a SNP in the nucleotide sequence of the 23S rRNA (A2059G) was found to be associated with increased MIC values of macrolides. The correlation was more remarkable when final MIC values were evaluated. This study presented the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of M. hyopneumoniae strains circulating in the Central European region, demonstrating the high in vitro efficacy of the tested agents. The observed high MIC values correlated with the SNPs in the examined regions and support the relevance of susceptibility testing and directed antibiotic therapy.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin in healthy and Pasteurella multocida infected ducks

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) infection causes substantial economic loss in the duck industry. Danofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone solely used in animals, shows good antibacterial activity against P. multocida. In this study, the in vitro pharmacodynamics of danofloxacin against P. multocida was studied. The serum and lung tissue pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin were studied in healthy and P. multocida infected ducks following oral administration of a single dose of 5 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). The MIC, MBC and MPC of danofloxacin against P. multocida (C48-1 ) were 0.25, 1 and 3.2 μg/ml, respectively. The Cmax was 0.34 μg/ml, attained at 2.03 hr in healthy ducks, and was 0.35 μg/ml, attained at 2.87 hr in diseased ducks. Compared to the serum pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin in healthy ducks, the absorption rate and extent were similar in healthy and diseased animals. In contrast, the elimination rate was slower, with an elimination half-life (T1/2β ) of 13.17 and 16.18 hr for healthy and infected animals, respectively; the AUCs in the two groups were 5.70 and 7.68 μg hr/ml, respectively, which means the total amount of drug in the circulation was increased in the infected ducks. The maximum concentration in lung tissues between healthy and infected animals was not significantly different (8.96 vs. 8.93 μg/g). However, the Tmax in healthy ducks was longer than that in infected ducks (4 hr vs. 1.75 hr), which means that the distribution rate of danofloxacin was slower in healthy ducks. The concentration of danofloxacin in lung tissues was approximately 24-fold higher than that in the serum. In the serum pharmacokinetic profiles, the ƒAUC0-24 hr /MIC was 18.19 in healthy ducks and was 25.04 in P. multocida infected ducks at the clinical recommended dose, which is far from the PK/PD target (125 hr) of fluoroquinolones. Danofloxacin, at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w., seems to be insufficient for ducks infected with P. multocida, with an MIC equal to 0.25 μg/ml.

Plasma and tissue disposition of danofloxacin in brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) after intravenous and intramuscular administrations

Plasma and muscle pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin were investigated after 10 mg/kg intravenous (IV, caudal vein) and intramuscular (IM, right epaxial muscles) administrations in 168 healthy brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) at 10°C-13°C. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine its plasma and muscle concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed with a non-compartmental model. After IV administration, elimination half-life (t_1/2ʎz), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC_0-∞), mean residence time (MRT_0-∞), volume of distribution at steady state, total body clearance in plasma and AUC_Muscle/AUC_Plasma ratio were 22.22 h, 140.66 h*µg/mL, 23.15 h, 2.28 L/kg, 0.07 L/h/kg and 3.79, respectively. After IM administration, t_1/2ʎz, AUC_0-∞, MRT_0-∞, peak concentration (C_max), time to reach C_max, bioavailability in plasma and AUC_Muscle/AUC_Plasma ratio were 28.28 h, 84.39 h*µg/mL, 37.31 h, 4.79 µg/mL, 1 h, 59.99% and 8.46, respectively. Danofloxacin exhibited long t_1/2ʎz and good bioavailability after IM administration. Therefore, 10 mg/kg IM administration of danofloxacin in brown trout can provide AUC_0-24/MIC of > 125 and C_max/MIC of > 10 to treat diseases caused by susceptible bacteria with ≤ 0.336 µg/mL MIC.

Evidence for Multidrug Resistance in Nonpathogenic Mycoplasma Species Isolated from South African Poultry

One hundred seventy-eight mycoplasma strains isolated from South African poultry flocks between 2003 and 2015 were identified by full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and were classified as follows: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (25%), M. gallinarum (25%), M. gallinaceum, (23%), M. pullorum (14%), M. synoviae (10%), and M. iners (3%), as well as one Acheoplasma laidlawii strain (1%). MIC testing was performed on the axenic samples, and numerous strains of each species were resistant to either chlortetracycline or tylosin or both, with variable sensitivity to enrofloxacin. The strains of all species tested remained sensitive to tiamulin, except for one M. gallinaceum sample that demonstrated intermediate sensitivity. The mutation of A to G at position 2059 (A2059G) in the 23S rRNA gene, which is associated with macrolide resistance, was found in the South African M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae strains, as well as a clear correlation between macrolide resistance in M. gallinarum and M. gallinaceum and mutations G354A and G748A in the L4 ribosomal protein and 23S rRNA gene, respectively. No correlation between resistance and point mutations in the genes studied could be found for M. pullorum Only a few strains were resistant to enrofloxacin, apart from one M. synoviae strain with point mutation D420N, which has been associated with quinolone resistance, and no other known markers for quinolone resistance were found in this study. Proportionally more antimicrobial-resistant strains were detected in M. gallinaceum, M. gallinarum, and M. pullorum than in M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae Of concern, three M. gallinaceum strains showed multidrug resistance to chlortetracycline, tylosin, and oxytetracycline.IMPORTANCE Nonpathogenic poultry Mycoplasma species are often overlooked due to their lesser impact on poultry health and production compared to the OIE-listed pathogenic strains M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae The use of antimicrobials as in-feed growth promoters and for the control of mycoplasmosis is common in poultry production across the world. Here, we provide evidence that certain nonpathogenic Mycoplasma species are acquiring multidrug resistance traits. This would have significant implications if these species, for which no vaccines are applied, are able to transfer their antibiotic resistance genes to other mycoplasmas and bacteria that may enter the human food chain.

Relationship between danofloxacin PK/PD parameters and emergence and mechanism of resistance of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in In Vitro model

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is a serious pathogen for poultry that causes chronic respiratory disease in chickens. Increased embryonic mortality, as well as reduced weight gain and egg production have been found in infected chickens, which can lead to considerable economic losses in poultry production. Increased antibiotic resistance compromises the use of tetracyclines, macrolides and quinolones in the farm environment. In the present study, danofloxacin concentrations were simulated below the MIC₉₉, between the MIC₉₉ and MPC (the mutant prevention concentration), and above the MPC in an in vitro dynamic model against M. gallisepticum. The relationship between the simulated danofloxacin pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) parameters and development of resistance for M. gallisepticum was explored based on the available data obtained from various dosing regimens in the in vitro model. Danofloxacin concentration, counts of viable cell and susceptibility were determined during the experiment. The mutations in gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE as well as efflux pumps were examined. The MIC of danofloxacin against M. gallisepticum was increased when drug concentrations were between the lower and upper boundaries of the mutant selection window. The upper boundary of the selection window in vitro was estimated as a C_max/MPC value of 1. The lower boundary was estimated as C_max/MPC value of 0.05. Both in terms of the MIC and resistance frequency, M. gallisepticum resistance was developed when danofloxacin concentrations fell inside the mutant selection window (ratios of C_max to MPC between 0.05 and 1). The single mutation in gyrA (Ser-83→Arg) was found in all mutants, while double mutations in gyrA and parC (Ala-64→Ser) were observed only in the mutant with the highest MIC. In addition, no change of susceptibility in the mutants was observed in the presence of reserpine and carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). This suggested that ATP-binding cassette superfamily (ABC transporter) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS transporter) did not play a role in danofloxacin efflux.

Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Mycoplasma synoviae strains originating from Central and Eastern Europe

BACKGROUND

Mycoplasma synoviae causes infectious synovitis and respiratory diseases in chickens and turkeys and may lead to egg shell apex abnormalities in chickens; hence possesses high economic impact on the poultry industry. Control of the disease consists of eradication, vaccination or medication. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility to 14 different antibiotics and an antibiotic combination of M. synoviae strains originating from Hungary and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

RESULTS

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of a total of 41 M. synoviae strains were determined by the microbroth dilution method. The strains were collected between 2002 and 2016 and originated from Hungary (n = 26), Austria (n = 3), the Czech Republic (n = 3), Slovenia (n = 3), Ukraine (n = 3), Russia (n = 2) and Serbia (n = 1). Tetracyclines (with MIC50 values of 0.078 μg/ml, ≤0.25 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml for doxycycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline, respectively), macrolides (with MIC50 values of ≤0.25 μg/ml for tylvalosin, tylosin and tilmicosin), pleuromutilins (with MIC50 values of 0.078 μg/ml and ≤0.039 μg/ml for tiamulin and valnemulin) and the combination of lincomycin and spectinomycin (MIC50 1 μg/ml (0.333/0.667 μg/ml)) were found to be the most effective antibiotic agents against M. synoviae in vitro. High MIC values were detected in numerous strains for fluoroquinolones (with MIC50 values of 1.25 μg/ml and 2.5 μg/ml for enrofloxacin and difloxacin), neomycin (MIC50 32 μg/ml), spectinomycin (MIC50 2 μg/ml), lincomycin (MIC50 0.5 μg/ml) and florfenicol (MIC50 4 μg/ml). Nevertheless, strains with elevated MIC values were detected for most of the applied antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

In the medical control of M. synoviae infections the preliminary in vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing and the careful evaluation of the data are crucial. Based on the in vitro examinations doxycycline, oxytetracycline, tylvalosin, tylosin and pleuromutilins could be recommended for the therapy of M. synoviae infections in the region.

Update on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections in pigs: Knowledge gaps for improved disease control

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) is the primary pathogen of enzootic pneumonia, a chronic respiratory disease in pigs. Infections occur worldwide and cause major economic losses to the pig industry. The present paper reviews the current knowledge on M. hyopneumoniae infections, with emphasis on identification and analysis of knowledge gaps for optimizing control of the disease. Close contact between infected and susceptible pigs is the main route of M. hyopneumoniae transmission. Management and housing conditions predisposing for infection or disease are known, but further research is needed to better understand M. hyopneumoniae transmission patterns in modern pig production systems, and to assess the importance of the breeding population for downstream disease control. The organism is primarily found on the mucosal surface of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. Different adhesins and lipoproteins are involved in the adherence process. However, a clear picture of the virulence and pathogenicity of M. hyopneumoniae is still missing. The role of glycerol metabolism, myoinositol metabolism and the Mycoplasma Ig binding protein-Mycoplasma Ig protease system should be further investigated for their contribution to virulence. The destruction of the mucociliary apparatus, together with modulating the immune response, enhances the susceptibility of infected pigs to secondary pathogens. Clinical signs and severity of lesions depend on different factors, such as management, environmental conditions and likely also M. hyopneumoniae strain. The potential impact of strain variability on disease severity is not well defined. Diagnostics could be improved by developing tests that may detect virulent strains, by improving sampling in live animals and by designing ELISAs allowing discrimination between infected and vaccinated pigs. The currently available vaccines are often cost-efficient, but the ongoing research on developing new vaccines that confer protective immunity and reduce transmission should be continued, as well as optimization of protocols to eliminate M. hyopneumoniae from pig herds.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and multilocus sequence typing of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum is one of the causative agents of contagious agalactia (CA). Nevertheless, there is still a lack of information about its antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic characteristics. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial and genetic variability of different Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum field isolates. For this purpose, the growth inhibition effect of 18 antimicrobials and a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme based on five housekeeping genes (fusA, glpQ, gyrB, lepA and rpoB) were performed on 32 selected field isolates from Italy and Spain.The results showed a wide range of growth inhibitory effects for almost all the antimicrobials studied. Macrolides presented lower efficacy inhibiting Mcc growth than in previous works performed on other CA-causative mycoplasmas. Erythromycin was not able to inhibit the growth of any of the studied strains, contrary to doxycycline, which inhibited the growth of all of them from low concentrations. On the other hand, the study of the concatenated genes revealed a high genetic variability among the different Mcc isolates. Hence, these genetic variations were greater than the ones reported in prior works on other mycoplasma species.

Determination of the Mutant Selection Window and Evaluation of the Killing of Mycoplasma gallisepticum by Danofloxacin, Doxycycline, Tilmicosin, Tylvalosin and Valnemulin

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is a common etiological cause of a chronic respiratory disease in chickens; its increasing antimicrobial resistance compromises the use of tetracyclines, macrolides and quinolones in the farm environment. Mutant selection window (MSW) determination was used to investigate the propensity for future resistance induction by danofloxacin, doxycycline, tilmicosin, tylvalosin and valnemulin. Killing of M. gallisepticum strain S6 by these antimicrobials was also studied by incubating M. gallisepticum into medium containing the compounds at the minimal concentration that inhibits colony formation by 99% (MIC₉₉) and the mutant prevention concentration (MPC). Based on the morphology and colony numbers of M. gallisepticum on agar plates, the four kinds of sera in the order of the applicability for culturing M. gallisepticum were swine serum > horse serum > bovine serum > mixed serum. The MPC/MIC₉₉ values for each agent were as follows: danofloxacin > tilmicosin > tylvalosin > doxycycline > valnemulin. MPC generated more rapid and greater magnitude killing than MIC₉₉ against M. gallisepticum. Under exposure of 10⁵–10⁹ CFU/mL at MPC drug levels, valnemulin had the slowest rate of reduction in viable organisms and danofloxacin had the highest rate of reduction.

High Prevalence of Diverse Insertion Sequences within the rRNA Operons of Mycoplasma bovis

Insertion sequences (ISs) are widespread in the genome of Mycoplasma bovis strain PG45, but no ISs were identified within its two tandemly positioned rRNA operons (rrn1 and rrn2). However, characterization of the rrn locus in 70 M. bovis isolates revealed the presence of ISs related to the ISMbov1 (IS30 family) and ISMbov4 (IS4 family) isomers in 35 isolates. ISs were inserted into intergenic region 1 (IGR-1) or IGR-3, which are the putative promoter regions of rrn1 and rrn2, respectively, and into IGR-5, located downstream of the rrl2 gene. Seven different configurations (A to G) of the rrn locus with respect to ISs were identified, including those in five annotated genomes. The transcriptional start site for the single rrn operon in M. bovis strain 88127 was mapped within IGR-1, 60 bp upstream of the rrs gene. Notably, only 1 nucleotide separated the direct repeat (DR) for ISMbov1 and the promoter -35 element in configuration D, while in configuration F, the -35 motif was a part of the ISMbov1 DR. Relative quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR analysis and growth rate comparisons detected a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the expression of the rrs genes and in the number of viable cells during log phase growth (8, 12, and 16 h) in the strains with configuration F in comparison to strains with one or two rrn operons that did not have ISs. A high prevalence of IS elements within or close to the M. bovis rrn operon-promoter region may reflect their important role in regulation of both ribosome synthesis and function.

IMPORTANCE

Data presented in this study show a high prevalence of diverse ISs within the M. bovis rrn locus resulting in intraspecies variability and diversity. Such abundance of IS elements near or within the rrn locus may offer a selective advantage to M. bovis Moreover, the fact that expression of the rrs genes as well as the number of viable cells increased in the group of strains with IS element insertion within a putative promoter -35 sequence (configuration F) in comparison to that in strains with one or two rrn operons that do not have ISs may serve as a basis for understanding the possible role of M. bovis IS elements in fundamental biological processes such as regulation of ribosome synthesis and function.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Profiles of Tiamulin in an Experimental Intratracheal Infection Model of Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is the most important pathogen in poultry among four pathogenic Mycoplasma species. Tiamulin is a pleuromutilin antibiotic that shows a great activity against M. gallisepticum and has been approved for use in veterinary medicine particularly for poultry. However, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) profiles of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum are not well understood. Therefore, in the current studies, we investigated the in vivo PK/PD profiles of tiamulin using a well-established experimental intratracheal infection model of M. gallisepticum. The efficacy of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum was studied in 8-day-old chickens after intramuscular (i.m.) administration at 10 doses between 0–80 mg/kg. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to evaluate the PK parameters of tiamulin following i.m. administration at doses of 5, 40, and 80 mg/kg in Mycoplasma gallisepticum-infected neutropenic chickens. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used for quantitative detection of M. gallisepticum. The MIC of tiamulin against M. gallisepticum strain S6 was 0.03 μg/mL. The PK/PD index, AUC_24h/MIC, correlated well with the in vivo antibacterial efficacy. The in vivo data suggest that animal dosage regimens should supply AUC_24h/MIC of tiamulin of 382.68 h for 2 log₁₀ ccu equivalents M. gallisepticum reduction. To attain that goal, the administered dose is expected to be 45 mg/kg b.w. for treatment of M. gallisepticum infection with an MIC₉₀ of 0.03 μg/mL.

16S rRNA gene mutations associated with decreased susceptibility to tetracycline in Mycoplasma bovis

Mycoplasma bovis isolates with decreased susceptibilities to tetracyclines are increasingly reported worldwide. The acquired molecular mechanisms associated with this phenomenon were investigated in 70 clinical isolates of M. bovis. Sequence analysis of the two 16S rRNA-encoding genes (rrs3 and rrs4 alleles) containing the primary binding pocket for tetracycline (Tet-1 site) was performed on isolates with tetracycline hydrochloride MICs of 0.125 to 16 μg/ml. Mutations at positions A965T, A967T/C (Escherichia coli numbering) of helix 31, U1199C of helix 34, and G1058A/C were identified. Decreased susceptibilities to tetracycline (MICs, ≥2 μg/ml) were associated with mutations present at two (A965 and A967) or three positions (A965, A967, and G1058) of the two rrs alleles. No tet(M), tet(O), or tet(L) determinants were found in the genome of any of the 70 M. bovis isolates. The data presented correlate (P<0.0001) the mutations identified in the Tet-1 site of clinical isolates of M. bovis with decreased susceptibility to tetracycline.

In vitro activity of tylvalosin against Spanish field strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is involved in the porcine enzootic pneumonia and respiratory disease complex; therefore, the search for new treatment options that contribute to the control of this organism is relevant. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations of tylvalosin and 19 other antimicrobial agents against 20 Spanish field isolates of M. hyopneumoniae were determined using the broth microdilution method, with the type strain (J) as a control strain. Tylvalosin had MIC50 and MIC90 values of 0.016 and 0.06 µg/ml, respectively, and was the second-most effective of the assayed antibiotics, after valnemulin. Tiamulin, tylosin and lincomycin were also among the antibiotics with the lowest MIC50 and MIC90 values against the 20 field isolates (0.06-0.25 µg/ml). However, resistance to tylosin and spiramycin, which like tylvalosin, are 16-membered macrolides, was observed. The MIC50 and MIC90 values for ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin ranged from 0.125 to 1 µg/ml; the corresponding values ranged from 2 to 4 µg/ml for oxytetracyline, which was the most active tetracycline. Furthermore, tylvalosin and valnemulin exhibited the highest bactericidal activities. In conclusion, the macrolide tylvalosin and the pleuromutilin valnemulin exhibited the highest in vitro antimicrobial activities against M. hyopneumoniae field isolates in comparison with the other tested antibiotics.

Overall decrease in the susceptibility of Mycoplasma bovis to antimicrobials over the past 30 years in France

Mycoplasma (M.) bovis is frequently implicated in respiratory diseases of young cattle worldwide. Today, to combat M. bovis in Europe, only antimicrobial therapy is available, but often fails, leading to important economical losses. The antimicrobial susceptibility of M. bovis is not covered by antimicrobial resistance surveillance networks. The objectives of this study were to identify resistances that were acquired over the last 30 years in France and to determine their prevalence within contemporary strains. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values of 12 antimicrobials, considered active on M. bovis, were compared, using an agar dilution method, between 27 and 46 M. bovis isolates respectively obtained in 1978-1979 and in 2010-2012 from 73 distinct respiratory disease outbreaks in young cattle all over France. For eight antimicrobials, resistances were proven to be acquired over the period and expressed by all contemporary strains. The increase of the MIC value that inhibited 50% of the isolates (MIC50) was: i) substantial for tylosin, tilmicosin, tulathromycin and spectinomycin, from 2 to >64, 2 to >128, 16 to 128 and 4 to >64 µg/mL, respectively, ii) moderate for enrofloxacin, danofloxacin, marbofloxacin and oxytetracycline, from 0.25 to 0.5, 0.25 to 0.5, 0.5 to 1, 32 to >32 µg/mL, respectively. No differences were observed for gamithromycin, tildipirosin, florfenicol and valnemulin with MIC50 of 128, 128, 8, <0.03 µg/mL, respectively. If referring to breakpoint MIC values published for respiratory bovine pathogens, all contemporary isolates would be intermediate in vivo for fluoroquinolones and resistant to macrolides, oxytetracycline, spectinomycin and florfenicol.

Molecular characterization of acquired enrofloxacin resistance in Mycoplasma synoviae field isolates

The in vitro activity of enrofloxacin against 73 Mycoplasma synoviae field strains isolated in Israel and Europe was determined by broth microdilution. Decreased susceptibility to enrofloxacin was identified in 59% of strains, with the MICs ranging from 1 to >16 μg/ml. The estimated MIC50 and MIC90 values for enrofloxacin were 2 and 8 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, this study showed that 92% of recent Israeli field isolates (2009 to 2011) of M. synoviae have MICs of ≥ 2 μg/ml to enrofloxacin. Comparison of the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) in M. synoviae isolates revealed a clear correlation between the presence of one of the amino acid substitutions Asp79-Asn, Thr80-Ala/Ile, Ser81-Pro, and Asp84-Asn/Tyr/His of the ParC QRDR and decreased susceptibility to enrofloxacin (MIC, ≥ 1 μg/ml). Amino acid substitutions at positions GyrA 87, GyrB 401/402, and ParE 420/454 were also identified, but there was no clear-cut correlation with susceptibility to enrofloxacin. Comparison of vlhA molecular profiles revealed the presence of 9 different genotypes in the Israeli M. synoviae field isolates and 10 genotypes in the European isolates; only one vlhA genotype (type 4) was identified in both cohorts. Based on results of vlhA molecular typing, several mechanisms for emergence and dissemination of Israeli enrofloxacin-resistant M. synoviae isolates are suggested.

In vitro susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae field isolates and occurrence of fluoroquinolone, macrolides and lincomycin resistance

A total of 159 Thai isolates of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae isolated from pneumonic lungs of pigs during 2006-2011 were investigated for their in vitro susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents. Low activity of chlortetracycline was indicated by the MIC range from 3.12-100 μg/ml and MIC90 of 50 μg/ml. Seventy-six isolates showed resistance to enrofloxacin, whereas 2 isolates showed resistance to macrolides and lincomycin. In addition, a point mutation at A2058G was revealed by sequence analysis of 23S ribosomal RNA in both isolates. The present results confirmed the rapid increase of resistant M. hyopneumoniae isolates against chlortetracycline, enrofloxacin, macrolides and lincomycin in Thailand. Selection of drugs to control swine diseases in Thailand must be done more prudently in consideration of reducing the antimicrobial resistance.

Determination of orbifloxacin in sheep plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection after intravenous and intramuscular administration

INTRODUCTION

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of orbifloxacin (2.5mg/kg body weight) were determined in clinically normal female Patanwadi sheep (n=6) following intravenous and intramuscular administration.

METHODS

Orbifloxacin concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The concentration-time data were analyzed by non-compartmental kinetic method.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Following a single intravenous injection, an elimination half-life (t(1/2β)) of 8.31±0.102h. Steady-state volume of distribution (Vd(ss)) and total body clearance (Cl(B)) were 3.09±0.282L/kg and 0.158±0.006L/kg/h, respectively. Following intramuscular administration, an elimination rate constant (β), the area under the curve from zero to infinity (AUC(0-∞)) and the mean absorption time (MAT) were 0.015±0.001h(-1), 23.49±1.722μg·h/mL and 7.50±0.58h, respectively. The peak plasma concentration (C(max)) of 1.81±0.005µg/mL was achieved at 1.00±0.00h. The mean residence time (MRT) was 26.25±1.083h and the absolute bioavailability was 150.8±12.35%, respectively. Orbifloxacin could be useful for the treatment of bacterial infections in sheep that are sensitive to this drug.

In-vitro Antimycoplasmal Activity of Triclosan in Combination with Fluoroquinolones against Five mycoplasma Species

Mycoplasmosis caused by mycoplasma has immensely reduced the performance of commercial animal husbandry, along with prevalence and increase of drug resistance in mycoplasma, thus new agents and therapies are urgently needed. Triclosan is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent with a favorable safety profile. In the present study, we tested the antimycoplasmal activity of triclosan alone, as well as the in-vitro interaction of triclosan and the fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin (GAT), moxifloxacin (MXF), levofloxacin (LVX), sparfloxacin (SPX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), enrofloxacin (EFX), and norfloxacin (NOR), against five mycoplasma species. This study demonstrated that triclosan had antimycoplasmal activity against both fluoroquinolones-sensitive species and a fluoroquinolones-resistant species isolated from clinic, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 16.0-64.0 μg/mL and 64.0 μg/ mL, respectively. A synergistic antimycoplasmal effect between triclosan and GAT, MFX or EFX against the five mycoplasma species was observed, with modulation factors (MFs) of 4-8, 4-16, 8-32, respectively, and fractional inhibitory concentration indexes (FICIs) of 0.375- 0.500, 0.350-0.500, 0.281-0.375, respectively. The combination of triclosan with LVX, SPX, CIP or NOR displayed either synergistic activity or indifference against the same mycoplasma species with MFs of 2-64, 4-16, 2-16, 2-64, respectively, while FICI values range from 0.516- 0.750, 0.500-0.625, 0.306-0.750, and 0.615-0.750, respectively. No antagonism was observed for any drug combination against any of the species tested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that triclosan has synergistic activity with fluoroquinolones against mycoplasma species.