The initial activity is to identifying the occurrence and genetic location of ARGs in veterinary pathogens. The general tool for this will be whole genome sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic processing investigating the genetic location of the ARGs in relation to mobile elements. Most isolates and WGS data that will be included are already available in other ongoing and finished projects, among others utilizing pre-existing data and in conjunction with the activities in the ongoing PAHW projects. However, some collection of isolates and WGS needs to be performed within this project, to obtain knowledge needed to estimate risks and perform comparisons between countries. Additional data needed the use of antimicrobials, disinfectants, and metals along with farm and management factors. Data on antimicrobial usage, management etc. exist at different resolution in different countries. It can be expected that also data obtained from experts with knowledge to the general production practices in the different countries will be utilised in this comparison.
The project also includes laboratory-based studies to address the dynamics and risks of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria, and the maintenance and sustainment of AMR carried on mobile genetic elements. These studies will generate knowledge about which transfer mechanisms are involved in and frequencies of horizontal transfer of ARGs. An area where data is severely lacking, especially on veterinary pathogens, and this data is needed to evaluate the risk of spread. Several activities will focus on the transfer of plasmids. The in-vitro studies will also aim to identify factors which can modulate the degree of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria, affecting plasmid carriage, persistence, and transmission.
Overall, the data and knowledge generated in the project are needed to better understand the spread of AMR, and the risk of dissemination to and between veterinary pathogens. This information is essential in understanding the risk of dissemination and sustainment among and between livestock, and to perform accurate risk assessments.
Project managers at The Norwegian Veterinary Institute:
Stefan Börjesson (also co-chair for the whole project)
Chair: Håkan Vigre, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) (Danmark)
Aarhus University (Danmark)
AGES – Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH (Österrike)
ANSES – Agence nationale de la sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Frankrike)
Copenhagen University / Københavns Universitet (Danmark)
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) (Danmark)
Eesti Maaülikool (Estonian University of Life Sciences) (Estland)
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit (Tyskland)
INIA-IRTA / Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) (Spanien)
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” – Teramo (Italien)
Panstwowy Instytut Weterynaryjny – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (Polen)
Sciensano (Belgien)
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Storbritannien)
Universidad de León (Spanien)
Università degli Studi di Padova (Italien)
Università degli Studi di Torino (Italien)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) (Spanien)
Universiteit Gent (Ghent University) (Belgien)
Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University) (Nederländerna)
University of Edinburgh (Storbritannien)
University of Surrey (Storbritannien)
Univerza v Ljubljani (University of Ljubljana) (Slovenien)
