Veterinary Bacteriology

Veterinary bacteriology examines the diverse bacteria that afflict domestic animals, wildlife and aquaculture species, exploring their taxonomy, pathogenic mechanisms and interactions with host immunity. Key areas include the molecular basis of adhesion, invasion and toxin production; the epidemiology of zoonotic agents; and the role of antimicrobial resistance in treatment failure. Advances in genome sequencing, metagenomics and proteomics have transformed our understanding of strain diversity, virulence determinants and transmission pathways. Diagnostic innovation spans rapid molecular assays, imaging techniques and immunological methods to detect subclinical infections. Control strategies integrate biosecurity, vaccination, antimicrobial stewardship and alternatives such as probiotics or phytochemicals. The field operates within a One Health framework, recognising that bacterial pathogens traverse species barriers and environmental reservoirs, thereby demanding coordinated approaches across veterinary and human medicine to safeguard animal welfare, public health and sustainable food production.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A multilocus sequence analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility survey of Mycoplasma synoviae from commercial poultry in Thailand revealed two predominant genetic types with distinct resistance profiles. The study validated a PCR–RFLP assay for rapid differentiation of vaccine and field strains and highlighted emerging fluoroquinolone resistance, underscoring the need for tailored regional treatment guidelines. In equine health, longitudinal ultrasonographic monitoring of foals on endemic farms correlated specific lung‐abscess dimensions with the onset of clinical rhodococcal pneumonia. Quantitative thresholds improved early diagnosis, enabling more judicious therapeutic decisions and reducing reliance on prophylactic macrolide–rifampicin combinations linked to multidrug‐resistant Rhodococcus equi.

Research from all publishers

In porcine enteric disease, a novel flow cytometry antibody test employing live‐attenuated Lawsonia intracellularis achieved high sensitivity and specificity for large‐scale serosurveillance. Complementary work established a rapid spectrophotometric method to estimate bacterial loads under microaerophilic conditions, streamlining pathogenesis studies. A probiotic ferment intervention demonstrated marked reductions in ileal colonisation, restoration of mucosal integrity and modulation of gut microbiota, leading to improved growth performance in infected piglets.

Post‐weaning diarrhoea interventions against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli have progressed beyond antibiotics. Bispecific single‐chain antibodies targeting K88 and F18 fimbriae inhibited bacterial adhesion by over 70 % in vitro. Phytochemical trials with berberine reduced diarrhoea incidence by attenuating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB–mediated inflammation and rebalanced microbiota. Probiotic supplementation with Bacillus coagulans preserved villus architecture and antioxidant defences, mitigating feed‐intake decline in challenged piglets.

Emerging diagnostics for Brachyspira infections include a quadruplex TaqMan real‐time PCR assay capable of simultaneous detection of four porcine gastrointestinal pathogens, offering high throughput surveillance. Long‐read whole‐genome sequencing of field strains has enabled accurate prediction of pleuromutilin and tetracycline resistance by correlating specific transporter and ribosomal mutations with phenotypic profiles, laying groundwork for sequencing‐based antimicrobial stewardship.

Veterinary Bacteriology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in veterinary bacteriology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

One Health: An integrative approach recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health in disease control.

TaqMan qPCR: A real‐time PCR method employing fluorescent probes for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple DNA targets.

Flow cytometry antibody test (FCAT): A serological assay that uses flow cytometry to detect antibodies bound to whole bacterial cells for high‐precision immunoprofiling.

Pan‐genome: The full complement of genes within all strains of a species, comprising core genes shared by all isolates and accessory genes variably present.

Bispecific scFv: An engineered antibody fragment combining two single‐chain variable regions that target distinct epitopes, enabling dual specificity.

Microaerophilic conditions: An environment with reduced oxygen concentration, necessary for growth of certain fastidious bacteria.

References

1. Introduction to Veterinary Bacteriology.
2. Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Thai Mycoplasma synoviae isolates. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Investigation of the relationship between pulmonary lesions based on lung ultrasound and respiratory clinical signs in foals with suspected pulmonary rhodococcosis. Scientific Reports (2023).
4. Development and validation of a flow cytometry antibody test for Lawsonia intracellularis. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
5. Alleviative Effect of Probiotic Ferment on Lawsonia intracellularis Infection in Piglets. Biology (2023).
6. Preparation of Bispecific IgY-scFvs Inhibition Adherences of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (K88 and F18) to Porcine IPEC-J2 Cell. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
7. Berberine alleviates ETEC-induced intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress damage by optimizing intestinal microbial composition in a weaned piglet model. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
8. Bacillus coagulans prevents the decline in average daily feed intake in young piglets infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 by reducing intestinal injury and regulating the gut microbiota. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2023).
9. Development and application of a quadruplex TaqMan real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay for four porcine digestive pathogens. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2024).
10. Predictive Power of Long-Read Whole-Genome Sequencing for Rapid Diagnostics of Multidrug-Resistant Brachyspira hyodysenteriae Strains. Microbiology Spectrum (2023).