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One Health interventions to prevent zoonotic spread of antimicrobial multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms (#1Health-PREVENT)

09/2017-08/2020

This third-party funded project is conducted in the framework of the BfR research programme on human, animal and environmental health (One Health).

BMBF grant number: 01KI1727C

Project homepage: -

Project description:

The consortium #1Health-PREVENT aims to perform epidemiological studies and interventions to prevent the zoonotic spread of various antimicrobial multidrug-resistant bacterial mircoorganisms (MDRO) focusing on direct transmission routes as well as on primary preventive approaches. The results of the consortium should indicate concrete successful interventions to limit zoonotic MDRO dissemination, which can be directly established as part of preventive bundles for humans (e.g. farmers, veterinarians), in veterinary clinics and livestock holdings. Moreover, #1Health-PREVENT will answer open epidemiological questions related to zoonotic AMR spread.

BfR parts of the project:

MRSA as a mastitis-causing pathogen in dairy cows is a veterinary health issue and the possible spread of zoonotic MDRO from dairy cows via direct and/or indirect (raw milk) contact is also of relevance for human health. Thus, the major aim of the project, which perfectly addresses the One Health approach of the consortium, is the overall reduction of MDRO in dairy farming by tackling mastitis cases in dairy cows and limiting further spread of zoonotic MDRO such as MRSA to humans. Overall, the project aims to address the following main research questions:

1. What are likely sources of zoonotic MRSA and other MDRO in dairy farming systems?

2. What are the factors driving the dissemination of zoonotic MRSA mastitis in dairy cattle?

3. Does dry cow therapy with beta-lactams contribute to the selection for AMR bacteria in the mammary gland, possibly resulting in an increase of zoonotic MRSA and other MDRO?

4. Are zoonotic MRSA and other MDRO occurring in the dairy cow food chain of human health relevance, in particular for livestock professionals in close contact with dairy cows?

5. Does consumption of raw milk or the consumption of raw milk products contribute to the dissemination of zoonotic MRSA and other MDRO and resistance determinants to humans?

By answering these main research questions we hypothesise that appropriate interventions can be established to reduce the total burden of zoonotic MRSA mastitis in dairy cattle, subsequently preventing further spread and transmission of zoonotic MDRO from animals to humans. The addressed strategies will be of direct interest to the industry and will not necessarily require any direct action by veterinary authorities.

Project partners:

• Münster University Hospital, Germany (coordination)
• South Westphalia University, Germany
• Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
• University of Würzburg, Germany
• Robert Koch-Institute, Germany

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