ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM EQUINE URINE

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to perform a microbiological examination of urine from horses, to isolate and identify bacterial agents and to determine their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Samples were taken from 29 horses. Bacterial microflora was isolated from 14 samples. By conventional laboratory methods, 14 strains were identified, of which 7 strains (50%) Pseudomonas spp., 5 strains (35.7%) Klebsiella spp. and 2 strains (14.3%) Streptococcus spp. Gram-negative bacteria showed preserved sensitivity to gentamicin, ceftazidime and fluorinated quinolones and resistance to tetracycline and the combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, while streptococci showed sensitivity to amoxicillin, augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) and ceftazidime and variable resistance to gentamicin, tetracycline and the combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. This is the first study in Bulgaria on the susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of bacterial agents isolated from horse urine. Such studies would be of great importance, both from a scientific and research point of view and of immense practical importance.