Walking On Volume 3, Issue 8, September 2016 | Page 9

For the Health of It humans, food animals, and the environment, equine infections are probably inevitable. Yet, while attracting less attention, the endemic level of resistance to cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides is likely of greater relevance in horses because of their increasing incidence and the limited treatment options. Regardless, awareness of emerging trends in humans is important. As new issues emerge in humans, it is possible that the same problems will emerge in horses given the close contact between humans and horses, the potential for interspecies transmission (in both directions), and the potential for common source infection (e.g. from food animals or the environment). Veterinarians increasingly are encountering horses infected with multidrug resistant pathogens, and the pathogens of concern continue to change. Twenty years ago, MRSA and ESBLs in horses were of little interest. Now, they are far from rare. It is almost certain that the next 20 years (if not the next five years) will be accompanied with new antimicrobial resistant pathogens and challenges. There are no simple answers for battling the scourge of antimicrobial resistance. However, awareness of the issues, optimizing antimicrobial use, and focusing on infection control measures to reduce the need for antimicrobials are important basic and practical matters that every equine veterinarian and horse caretaker can undertake. –J.Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DipACVIM [email protected] Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, ON, N1G2W1 The Walking On B ulletin B oard! Advertise your farm or business. 30 words - text only - $40 for one year. 30 words with photo or logo - $75 for one year. (phone, email & website do not count toward 30 word limit) Don’t miss out on this affordable advertising opportunity. Email [email protected] to place your ad today! Attire / Tack Awards This could be Your Ad! 9