An official website of the United States government.
<p>We hypothesize that wildlife are important reservoirs and vectors for the transmission of antimicrobial resistant organisms to food-producing animals. Our proposal includes objectives that will </p>
<p>1) determine the extent, diversity, and carriage of antimicrobial resistant elements at the wildlife-livestock interface; </p>
<p>2) assess the potential for intra-farm (farm-to-household) and inter-farm (farm-to-farm) transmission of antimicrobial resistant elements; and </p>
<p>3) evaluate the impact of wildlife control on antimicrobial resistance in livestock. In addition a comprehensive plan for knowledge synthesis and transfer (outreach/extension) includes the development of risk and economic assessment models, a scoping review of the literature, development of target-audience specific educational materials, and the development of a collection of tools and resources (i.e., knowledge synthesis handbook, literature database, and workshop) that stakeholders can use to enhance the value of the data collected in this and other food safety research programs.</p>
<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/> There is an increasing body evidence to implicate wildlife in the transmission of antibiotic resistant organisms from farm to farm and as a source of infection for food producing animals. The proposed study will determine what role birds and other small mammals actually play in the transmission of these organisms. We will approach this question from a variety of scientific angles- using laboratory experiments and field studies that complement each other. At the completion of this study we will fill a critical gap in our current understanding how food-producing animals acquire antibiotic resistant organisms and how this transmission can be mitigated. This knowledge will contribute to the overall control of antibiotic resistance throughout the food chain and enhance the safety of the food supply. The information will be communicated to a variety
of stakeholders: the public, farmers, other scientists, and policy-makers.
APPROACH: A variety of complementary scientific approaches will be used to assess the role of wildlife in the dissemination of antibiotic resistant organisms and genes to food animals and foods: Molecular epidemiological approaches will be used to compare genetic elements and transmission pathways of commensal organisms among wildlife, food animals, the kitchen environment and foods. Models of disease transmission will be developed using data generated from experimental infections of animals with antibiotic resistant organisms, laboratory (in vitro) experiments, prevalence, intervention, and telemetry studies and systematic search of the literature. Possible intervention strategies will be proposed. Economic feasibility of proposed interventions will be calculated. Data will be synthesized and transferred to stakeholders via venues most appropriate for each target
audience. Information recipients will be followed over time to determine the utility of the information acquired and the extent to which the information has resulted in behavior or management changes.
<p>PROGRESS: 2012/09 TO 2013/08<br/>Target Audience: Feedlot owners in TX, MO, CO, IA and KS involved in participatory reserach Participants (academics, students, industry, government) at IAFP symposium. Changes/Problems: Dr. Liang, previously of The Ohio State Univeristy has move to University of Florida Dr.L Goodridge, previously of Colorado State University, has moved to McGill University. The subawards for these individuals will be transfered to their new institutions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? USDA Wildlife Services employees and academics have been able to work collaboratively and exchange technical expertise. One graduate studentpresented at the IAFP symposium (UF). One graduate student (Guelph)is supported on this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? International
Association for Food Protection Sympopsium (2013). Advisory committee meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Analyze and report on intervention data Analyze AMR data from livestock, wildlife and households Publish Scoping review Hold Knowledge Sythesis and Transfer workshop
<p>PROGRESS: 2011/09/01 TO 2012/08/31<br/>OUTPUTS: Following the development of the study protocol, an expert Advisory Group was established and a survey was administered to solicit insight on the scope and framing of the study questions. The results of the survey helped validate and expand the project scope and rank the importance of specific questions for research and decision-making. Questionnaire results were summarized and consensus was reached on the final scope of the project and targeted end users. A comprehensive search strategy was developed and implemented using seven databases; results were de-duplicated and uploaded to an online application designed specifically for the screening and data extraction phases of systematic review. One hundered and one fecal and environmental samples were collected from one dairy farm, two poultry farms, and one wastewater
treatment site. Different approaches to collecting wild bird feces were tested, including baited tarps, unbaited tarps near roosting sites, and environmental swabs. The quad plate agars were used to screen for the desired AMR phenotypes in each sample. Additionally, a fifth agar containing ceftiofur was used to screen for AmpC-type resistance in E. coli. Recovery from directly plating fecal suspensions was compared with recovery using a pre-enrichment in antibiotic-containing broths for all samples. Benefits and costs of mitigation strategies have been identified from published literature and methodology to capture these benefits during field studies has been outlined. Primary benefits include increased weight gain at livestock facilities with reduced AMR and reduced veterinary expenses. To measure the regional economic impacts associated with contamination of livestock facilities with
AMR bacteria and the mitigation of that contamination a REMI PI+ model was constructed. Remi PI+ is a computer-based model of the US economy that is capable of forecasting the regional economic and macroeconomic impacts associated with a change in livestock production. The model includes Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties in Colorado as well as 12 additional regions encompassing the rest of the United States. The model has been constructed with 70 sectors and 14 different types of agricultural production. Obtained all necessary research permitting and authorizations to conduct the feedlot intervention aim. Built stakeholder support with cattleman associations within Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas. Purchased all field supplies and began organizing material for shipment to the individual states. Enrolled individual producers over the five states encompassing the study area to
participate in study. A field study was initiated in 2012 that 1) sampled infection with AMR bacterial strains in wild small- to medium-size mammals and marked them with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags at livestock facilities in Colorado, 2) sampled small mammal feces for infection with AMR bacterial strains, using passive collection devices, and 3) measured visitation rates to feed troughs in feedlots by PIT tagged individuals. PARTICIPANTS: Project Co-PI's: The Ohio State University: LeJeune, J.; Wittum, T. E.; University of Florida: Liang, S.; University of Guelph: Pearl, D.; Jardine, C.; University of British Columbia: Allen, K.; Colorado State University: Goodridge, L.; USDA Wildlife Services: Franklin, A.; Linz, G.; Homan, J.; Rajic, A.; Shwiff, S Public Helath Agency of Canada: Greig, J; Young, I FAO: Rajic, A TARGET AUDIENCES: Feedlot, dairy and poultry farmers. Other
reseachers in food safety: academic and industry. Policy-makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.