Prevalence of Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus tetracyclines resistance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Brucellosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, which are typically transmitted through contact with infected animals, unpasteurized dairy products, or airborne pathogens. Tetracyclines (tetracycline and doxycycline) are antibiotics commonly used to treat brucellosis; however, antibiotic resistance has become a major concern. This study assessed the worldwide prevalence of tetracycline-resistant Brucella isolates. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE using relevant keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms until August 13, 2022, to identify relevant studies for meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to estimate the proportion of resistance. Meta-regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and examination of outliers and influential studies were also performed. Results: The prevalence rates of resistance to tetracycline and doxycycline were estimated to be 0.017 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.009-0.035) and 0.017 (95%CI, 0.011-0.026), respectively, based on 51 studies conducted from 1983 to 2020. Both drugs showed increasing resistance over time (tetracycline: r = 0.077, P = 0.012; doxycycline: r = 0.059, P = 0.026). Conclusion: The prevalence of tetracycline and doxycycline resistance in Brucella was low (1.7%) but increased over time. This increase in tetracycline and doxycycline resistance highlights the need for further research to understand resistance mechanisms and develop more effective treatments.

Automated summary

This study assessed the worldwide prevalence of tetracycline-resistant Brucella isolates and found that the prevalence of tetracycline and doxycycline resistance in Brucella was low (1.7%) but increased over time.