01
29/9/09
15:32
Page 1
The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine
October/November 09 £2.95
New fears over vets’ overuse of antibiotics By Louise Cordell THE overuse of antibiotics by equine vets is leading to the widespread development of drug resistant bacteria, according to new findings. A new study has found that hospitalised horses are now at significantly increased risk of developing antibiotic resistance. Researchers working at Liverpool University have discovered that E. coli bacteria in a horse’s intestine appear to acquire multiple drug resistance while the animal is in hospital. The study was led by Adele Williams, with funding from equine charity The Horse Trust, as part of a clinical training programme in equine internal medicine. She said: “We found a much higher degree of antibiotic resistance after the horses had been in hospital for a week – we don’t know exactly where this resistance comes from, but it shows that there are more resistance genes available to bacteria in a hospital environment.” Adele confirmed that the findings are particularly important in terms of treating bacterial diseases as there are only limited numbers of antibiotics licensed for use in horses. This means that vets need to be very careful that they are only used when absolutely necessary.
She added: “Currently many are being used for treating fairly minor injuries and this overuse could speed up resistance. Instead we should be trying to cut down on treatment – we need to protect the small number that are available to us and slow things down.” Randomly selected horses were studied at Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital over an 18 month period between 2006 and 2008. The researchers found a significant increase in resistance during the week's hospitalisation for 7 of the 8 antibiotics tested. The resistance also increased even in horses not treated with antibiotics and to antibiotics that were not used in the hospital. Adele added: “We need to be aware that high antibiotic use will accelerate the prevalence of resistant bacteria - so treatment needs to be targeted and appropriate. I think we can slow down progression, but we will never be able to stop this resistance from occurring. “We need to remember that, as a vet, it will become very difficult to treat an animal if every antibiotic we try is failing to work. “New antibiotics are being produced, but the rate of development has slowed considerably and there is no guarantee that there will be a new treatment around the corner to help us out when we need it.”
A group of 12 brave vets and vet nurses from Lancashire have taken part in a ‘Calendar Girls’ photoshoot to raise money for Animals Asia Foundation – the BVNA’s chosen charity for 2010. The animal welfare charity works in China and is well known for its campaign to rescue moon bears from bile farming. The women from the Rufford Veterinary Group posed with their favourite horses, dogs, rabbits and cats to produce the
calendar, which is available now at www.calendarvets.co.uk. The project is the brainchild of Gillian Williams who hopes to raise over £100,000 for the cause. She said: “Every penny raised will help those beautiful moon bears and help AAF to put a stop to bile farming in China. I hope the whole vet community and its suppliers will get behind us.” Pictured: Sara and Rosie