New antimicrobial susceptibility data from monitoring of Mycoplasma bovis isolated in Europe

Abstract

Mycoplasma bovis is an important respiratory pathogen of cattle across Europe and is included in the MycoPath pan-European antimicrobial susceptibility monitoring programme. M. bovis strains (232) were isolated from cattle, not recently treated with antimicrobials, at diverse geographical locations in France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy and Spain during 2014 to 2016. Only one isolate per farm and per outbreak was retained. For each isolate, the MICs of ten antimicrobials were determined in a central laboratory using a broth microdilution method with modified Eaton's medium and incubation at 35 °C ± 1 °C for 24 ± 6 h. MIC₅₀/MIC₉₀ (mg/L) values for the 232 strains were: danofloxacin 0.25/1; enrofloxacin 0.5/8; marbofloxacin 1/4; gamithromycin >64/>64; spiramycin 8/16; tilmicosin >64/>64; tulathromycin >64/>64; tylosin 64/>64; florfenicol 4/8; oxytetracycline 8/32. Minor between-country differences in the MIC₉₀ values were observed for the fluoroquinolones, spiramycin and oxytetracycline, whilst the MIC values for the other compounds were similar. Spain and Italy had the higher MIC₉₀ values for the fluoroquinolones. Compared with the 2010-2012 study (156 isolates) results are similar, with an overall MIC₅₀ increase of at most one doubling dilution for enrofloxacin, spiramycin, tylosin, florfenicol and oxytetracycline. In contrast, the MIC₉₀ value for oxytetracycline decreased from >64 to 32 mg/L. 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.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility; Cattle; Minimal inhibitory concentrations; Mycoplasma bovis; Surveillance.