Antimicrobial resistance profile of Clostridium perfringens isolated from swine

• Grant number: 10/19004-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Micke Moreno
• Grantee: Melissa de Lima Oliveira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram positive bacterium, anaerobic, spore producer, and one of the most important pathogens involved in enteric diseases in domestic animals. In humans the agent can cause two distinct signs of infection, one associate to biotype A with diarrhea and a second that is rare related to biotype C, with severe necrotic enteritis. In swine, the agent is related to necrotic hemorrhagic enteritis, enterotoxaemia, that affect piglets until two weeks of age or mild enteritis. Unweaned pigs enteritis can cause important economic losses to swine industry by mortality and development reduction in affected animals. Despite infections caused by C. perfringens biotype A and C are largely studied, few reports as the goal to evaluate antimicrobial resistance profile to drugs used to treat this infections. The evaluation of this agent about development of antimicrobial resistance often used in veterinary and human medicine will be of great importance to determine sanitary programs used in swine production and in the reduction of antimicrobial use.