Laura Huber

Auburn University | AU · Department of Pathobiology

OBJECTIVE To compare the antibacterial activities of different types of honey against common bacterial isolates cultured from wounds of dogs and cats. METHODS 4 types of honey were used including a medical-grade manuka honey, a non–medical-grade manuka honey, a locally sourced non–medical-grade honey (non-MGH), and a commercially sourced non-MGH....

The objective of this study was to determine prevalence and perform genomic analysis of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. isolated from different stages of an integrated NAE broiler complex. Environmental samples were screened with 3M-Molecular Detection System (MDS) and MDS positive samples were further processed for confirmation of results a...

Background Down cow syndrome is commonly described in dairy cattle. The diagnosis and treatment of nonambulatory cattle is challenging and prognostic indicators of this condition in beef cattle have not been determined. Objectives Evaluate records of beef cattle (≥2 years of age) presented to 2 referral hospitals for inability to stand and identif...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of primary or booster intranasal vaccination of beef steers on clinical protection and pathogen detection following simultaneous challenge with bovine respiratory syncytial virus and bovine herpes virus 1. METHODS 30 beef steers were randomly allocated to 3 different treatment groups starting at 2 months of age....

Maternal antibodies interfere with BRSV vaccine responses and efficacy in young calves. The objective of this study was to determine if vaccination before the complete absorption of colostral antibodies results in adequate immune priming and clinical protection of beef calves. Within 6 h of life, calves were randomly assigned to 2 different treatme...

Thailand is undergoing rapid intensification of livestock production where small subsistence farms and medium sized commercial farms coexist. In medium farms, antimicrobials are prescribed by a veterinarian, whereas in small farms antimicrobial use remains largely unsupervised. The impact of these differences as well as other farming practices on t...

Objectives: To compare initial titers, duration, and residual clinical protection of passively transferred bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) nasal immunoglobulin (Ig) G-1 and IgA, and serum neutralizing (SN) antibodies. Animals: 40 three-month-old beef steers born either to unvaccinated or vaccinated cows. Procedures: During the last t...

Rhodococcus equi is a common cause of severe pneumonia in foals. Emergence of macrolide-resistant R. equi isolated from foals and their environment has been reported in the United States. A novel erm(51) gene was recently identified in R. equi in soil from horse farms in Kentucky. Our objective was to determine the effect of the erm(51) gene and as...

Use of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations for the diagnosis of PPID in equids requires awareness of other factors that might influence ACTH concentrations, including breed and time of year. This study was designed to investigate effects of breed on plasma ACTH concentrations and potential interactions between breed and time of...

Studies suggest that high cortisol resulting from lameness-associated pain decreases testosterone and disrupts spermatogenesis leading to decreased fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lameness on cortisol and testosterone concentrations and breeding soundness examination of beef bulls presented to a veterinary te...

Pneumonia in foals caused by the bacterium Rhodococcus equi has a worldwide distribution and is a common cause of disease and death for foals. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarise recent developments pertaining to the epidemiology, immune responses, treatment, and prevention of rhodococcal pneumonia of foals. Screening tests have b...

Antimicrobial use contributes to the global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In 2014, the poultry industry in Canada initiated its Antimicrobial Use Reduction Strategy to mitigate AMR in the poultry sector. We monitored trends in antimicrobial use and AMR of foodborne bacteria (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter) in broiler chic...

In Thailand, pig production has increased considerably in the last decades to meet a growing demand for pork. Antimicrobials are used routinely in intensive pig production to treat infections and increase productivity. However, the use of antimicrobials also contributes to the rise of antimicrobial resistance with potential consequences for animal...

The development and spread of antimicrobial resistance are major concerns for human and animal health. The effects of the overuse of antimicrobials in domestic animals on the dissemination of resistant microbes to humans and the environment are of concern worldwide. Rhodococcus equi is an ideal model to illustrate the spread of antimicrobial resist...

Objective: To compare soil concentrations of macrolide- and rifampicin-resistant Rhodococcus equi strains (MRRE) on horse-breeding farms that used thoracic ultrasonographic screening (TUS) to identify foals with subclinical pneumonia combined with subsequent administration of macrolides and rifampin to affected foals (TUS farms) versus soil concen...

Demand for animal protein is rising globally and has been facilitated by the expansion of intensive farming. However, intensive animal production relies on the regular use of antimicrobials to maintain health and productivity on farms. The routine use of antimicrobials fuels the development of antimicrobial resistance, a growing threat for the heal...

The use of mass antimicrobial treatment has been linked to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in human and animal pathogens. Using whole genome (SMRT) sequencing, we characterized genomic variability of multidrug‐resistant R. equi isolated from soil samples from 100 farms endemic for R. equi infections in Kentucky. We discovered the novel er...

The combination of a macrolide and rifampicin has been the mainstay of therapy in foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia for decades. Recent studies suggest that mass antimicrobial treatment of subclinically affected foals over time has selected for antimicrobial resistance. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of R. equi strains resistant t...

Rhodococcus equi causes severe pneumonia in foals and is most often recognized in people as an opportunistic pathogen. Longitudinal studies examining antimicrobial-resistant R. equi from environmental samples are lacking. We hypothesized that antimicrobial-resistant R. equi would be detectable in the ground (pasture soil or stall bedding) and air a...

Objective: To determine the prevalence of R. equi strains resistant to macrolides and rifampicin over time in clinical samples from foals submitted to diagnostic laboratories in central Kentucky. Methods: Retrospective observational study of all clinical samples from foals that were submitted to veterinary diagnostics laboratories in Kentucky betwe...

Rhodococcus equi, a soil saprophyte, is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and a frequent opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed people. Because it is widespread in the environment, R. equi can be detected in the feces of most horses. However, the exact timing and rate of shedding relative to infection is unknown. The objectives of this study...

Rhodococcus equi is one of the most important causes of disease in foals. Infection is typically characterized by pyogranulomatous pneumonia although extrapulmonary infections occur occasionally. Uveitis and polysynovitis have been reported in foals naturally infected with R. equi and are thought to be the result of an immune-mediated process. Howe...

Pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi is an insidious disease of young foals in which clinical signs may not be apparent until pathologic changes are well progressed. Thus, early and accurate diagnosis of foals with R. equi pneumonia is crucial. Thoracic ultrasound screening and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from fecal and nasal swab samples were...