Assessment of animal diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: Horses.

Abstract

In this opinion, the antimicrobial-resistant bacteria responsible for transmissible diseases that constitute a threat to the health of horses have been assessed. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collected via an extensive literature review and expert judgement. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. A global state of play of antimicrobial-resistant <i>Actinobacillus equuli, Dermatophilus congolensis, Enterococcus</i> spp.<i>, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pasteurella</i> spp.<i>, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rhodococcus equi, Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Streptococcus dysgalactiae</i> subsp<i>. dysgalactiae/equisimilis</i> and <i>Streptococcus equi</i> subsp. <i>equi</i> and subsp. <i>zooepidemicus</i> has been provided. Among those bacteria, EFSA identified <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>R. equi</i> with more than 66% certainty as the most relevant antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the EU, given their importance as causative agents of clinical disease in horses and the significant levels of resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials. The animal health impact of these 'most relevant' bacteria as well as their eligibility of being listed and categorised within the animal health law framework will be assessed in separate scientific opinions.