Browsing by Author "Ruple, Audrey"

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    Antimicrobial susceptibility and risk factors for resistance among Escherichia coli isolated from canine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Indiana, 2010-2019
    Ekakoro, John E.; Hendrix, G. Kenitra; Guptill, Lynn F.; Ruple, Audrey (Public Library of Science, 2022-08)
    Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common Gram-negative pathogen isolated in human infections. Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) E. coli originating from dogs may directly or indirectly cause disease in humans. The objective of this study was to calculate the proportion of antimicrobial susceptible E. coli isolated from canine specimens submitted to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and to identify temporal patterns of susceptibility among these isolates. Susceptibility data of 2,738 E. coli isolates from dogs from 2010 through 2019 were used in this study. Proportions of isolates susceptible to the various antimicrobials were calculated using SAS statistical software and the Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to investigate the temporal trends in susceptibility. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was built to investigate the association between host factors and AMR. Overall, 553/2,738 (20.2%) of the isolates were susceptible to 17 of the 27 antimicrobials examined. Of the 2,638 isolates examined for amikacin susceptibility, 2,706 (97.5%) were susceptible, 2,657/2,673 (99.4%) isolates were susceptible to imipenem, and 2,099/2,670 (78.6%) were susceptible to marbofloxacin. A significant decreasing trend in susceptibility was observed for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (P<0.0001), ampicillin (P<0.0001), Cefazolin (P<0.0001), ceftazidime (P = 0.0067), chloramphenicol (P<0.0001), and orbifloxacin (P = 0.008). The overall percentage of AMR isolates (isolates not susceptible to at least one antimicrobial) was 61.7% (1,690/2,738) and 29.3% (801/2,738) of isolates were multidrug resistant. Multivariable regression analyses showed significant associations between AMR and age (P = 0.0091), breed (P = 0.0008), and sample isolation site/source (P<0.0001). The decreasing trend in the proportion of isolates susceptible to several beta-lactam antimicrobials suggests that resistance of Escherichia coli in dogs to these antimicrobials could be increasing in Indiana. The decreasing trend in susceptibility to these drugs could be due to selection pressure from antimicrobial use.
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    Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria Isolated from Freshwater Mussels in the Wildcat Creek Watershed, Indiana, United States
    Ekakoro, John E.; Guptill, Lynn F.; Hendrix, G. Kenitra; Dorsey, Lauren; Ruple, Audrey (MDPI, 2023-04-08)
    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis that threatens the health of humans and animals. The spread of resistance among species may occur through our shared environment. Prevention of AMR requires integrated monitoring systems, and these systems must account for the presence of AMR in the environment in order to be effective. The purpose of this study was to establish and pilot a set of procedures for utilizing freshwater mussels as a means of surveillance for microbes with AMR in Indiana waterways. One hundred and eighty freshwater mussels were sampled from three sites along the Wildcat Creek watershed in north-central Indiana. Specimens were evaluated for the presence of ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter species), Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella species, and the isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance. A total of 24 bacterial isolates were obtained from tissue homogenates of freshwater mussels collected at a site directly downstream from Kokomo, Indiana. Of these, 17 were Enterobacter spp., five were Escherichia coli, one was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one was Klebsiella pneumoniae. All isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drug classes. Further work is necessary to determine the source of the bacterial species found in the mussels.
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    Approaches Used to Construct Antibiograms for Dogs in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the United States
    Ekakoro, John E.; Guptill, Lynn; Hendrix, Kenitra; Anderson, Melinda; Ruple, Audrey (MDPI, 2023-06-09)
    Non-judicious antimicrobial use (AMU) is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In human hospitals, cumulative antibiograms are often used by clinicians to evaluate local susceptibility rates and to select the most appropriate empiric therapy with the aim of minimizing inappropriate AMU. However, the use of cumulative antibiograms to guide empiric antimicrobial therapy in veterinary hospitals in the United States is limited, and there are no specific guidelines or standardized methods available for the construction of antibiograms in veterinary clinical settings. The objective of this methods article is to describe the approaches that were used to construct antibiograms from clinical samples collected from dogs seen at a veterinary teaching hospital. Laboratory data for 563 dogs for the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 was utilized. We used the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for use in the construction of the antibiograms in human healthcare settings as the basis for the veterinary antibiograms. One general antibiogram and antibiograms stratified by hospital section, the anatomic region of sample collection/by sample type, were created and the challenges encountered in preparing these antibiograms were highlighted. The approaches described could be useful in guiding veterinary antibiogram development for empiric therapy.
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    Factors Associated with Behavioral Euthanasia in Pet Dogs
    Hitchcock, Miranda (Virginia Tech, 2023-02-10)
    When pet dogs demonstrate unwanted or problematic behaviors, particularly severe behaviors, owners may choose to euthanize. While the topic of behavioral euthanasia is becoming more common among dog behavior experts, shelters, and rescues, there has been little research in this area. The Behavioral Euthanasia in Pet Dogs Questionnaire was developed to gather detailed information about dogs that were euthanized for behavior reasons. This exploratory study found that aggression, particularly aggression toward people, was the most common behavior that led to euthanasia. Results indicated that behavioral euthanasia occurs across a wide age range of dogs, and that most of these dogs had been living in their home and exhibiting the problem behavior for a long time prior to euthanasia. Additionally, reports of bites and self-harm indicate the severity of the problematic behaviors that led to euthanasia. This research provides a foundation for future study and provides an overview of the behavioral factors associated with behavioral euthanasia.
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    Serum thymidine kinase 1 activity as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with chemotherapy-treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
    Zaidi, Bushra; Mukhopadhyay, Abhijit; Ramos-Vara, Jose A.; Dhawan, Deepika; Ruple, Audrey; Childress, Michael O. (Wiley, 2023-01-18)
    Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is frequently treated with chemotherapy incorporating cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP), which induces remission in 80% to 95% of cases. However, not all dogs derive meaningful benefit from CHOP, and prognostic factors for dogs with DLBCL are poorly defined. Serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) activity, a marker of tumour cell proliferation, has shown promising initial results as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with multicentric lymphomas. The purpose of this study was to determine if baseline serum TK1 activity is associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHOP-treated DLBCL. Baseline serum TK1 activity was measured in banked sera from 98 dogs with CHOP-treated DLBCL using a commercially available ELISA kit. Data on other potential prognostic factors were abstracted retrospectively from electronic medical records. Multivariable statistical methods were used to identify associations between TK1 and other potential prognostic factors with progression-free survival (PFS) and attainment of complete remission. TK1 activity at baseline was not associated with PFS (p =.299) or attainment of complete remission (p =.910) following CHOP chemotherapy. Of the other prognostic factors analysed, only purebred (vs. mixed breed) status (HR 8.81, 95% CI 1.68–46.30, p =.010), attainment of complete (vs. partial) remission (HR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.49, p =.006), and baseline serum C-reactive protein concentration (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07–1.32, p =.001) were independently associated with PFS. Based on these findings, baseline serum TK1 activity does not appear to be a useful prognostic biomarker in dogs with CHOP-treated DLBCL.
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    The standards of reporting randomized trials in pets (PetSORT): Methods and development processes
    Ruple, Audrey; Sargeant, Jan M.; Selmic, Laura E.; O'Connor, Annette M. (Frontiers, 2023-03)
    BackgroundReporting of clinical trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dog and cat populations is not optimal, which inhibits the ability to assess the reliability and validity of trial findings and precludes the ability to include some trials in evidence synthesis. ObjectiveTo develop a reporting guideline for parallel group and crossover trials that addresses the unique features and reporting requirements for trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dog and cat populations. DesignConsensus statement. SettingVirtual. ParticipantsFifty-six experts from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia working in academia, government (research and regulatory agencies), industry, and clinical veterinary practice. MethodsA steering committee created a draft checklist for reporting criteria based upon the CONSORT statement and the CONSORT extensions for reporting of abstracts and crossover trials. Each item was presented to the expert participants and was modified and presented again until >85% of participants were in agreement about the inclusion and wording of each item in the checklist. ResultsThe final PetSORT checklist consists of 25 main items with several sub-items. Most items were modifications of items contained in the CONSORT 2010 checklist or the CONSORT extension for crossover trials, but 1 sub-item pertaining to euthanasia was created de novo. ConclusionThe methods and processes used to develop this guideline represent a novel departure from those used to create other reporting guidelines, by using a virtual format. The use of the PetSORT statement should improve reporting of trials conducted in client- and shelter-owned dogs and cats and published in the veterinary research literature.