Equine Gram-Negative Oral Microbiota: An Antimicrobial Resistances Watcher?

Horses are considered as reservoirs of multidrug resistant bacteria that can be spread through the environment and possibly to humans. The aim of this study was to characterize the oral Gram-negative microbiota of healthy horses and evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibility profile in a One Health approach. For this purpose, samples were collected from the gingival margin of healthy horses, free of antimicrobial therapy, cultured in selective mediums, identified, and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Fifty-five Gram-negative isolates were identified, with 89.5% being zoonotic and 62% affecting humans, which were also found commonly in the environment. Forty-eight isolates (96%) were MDR. The phenotypic resistance presented as higher to macrolides (81.8%), β-lactams (55.4%), and quinolones (50%), and lower to sulfonamides (27.3%), tetracyclines, and amphenicols (both with 30.9%). In total, 51.5% of the isolates presented resistance to carbapenems. In addition to being the first report on the commensal oral microbiota of horses and respective susceptibility profile, this study highlights the horse as a valuable sentinel that can control the evolution and transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria between the “One Health triad” since it is in contact with humans, other animals, and the environment, in different geographic locations.