Category Research project
  • Mikrobiologie

Discovering the sources of Salmonella, Campylobacter, VTECshort forVero toxin-producing E. coli and antimicrobial resistance

Project status
Completed
Project start
Jan 2020
Project end
Dec 2022
Acronym
EJP DISCoVeR
Department
Biologische Sicherheit
Website
https://onehealthejp.eu/jrp-discover/

Description and Objective

The project aims to use a network of experts from different disciplines (microbiology, bioinformatics, and epidemiology) and sectors (veterinary medicine, food safety, healthcare, environmental health) to evaluate different methods and models for estimating the importance of pathogen reservoirs for infection in humans. At the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, based on data available or collected in the consortium, a model is to be developed and published to estimate the importance of various sources for consumer exposureExposureTo glossary to ESBL-producing E. colishort forEscherichia coli.

Result

Several publications have been produced. It was found that the available data are insufficient to assess the role of a wide range of animal species and environmental compartments.In a first study, we analyzed data from different studies in Germany and grouped ESBL-producing E. coli from different sources and human cases into subtypes based on their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics (ESBL-genotype, E. coli phylogenetic group and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance pattern). Then, a source attribution model was developed in order to attribute the human cases to the considered sources. The sources were from different animal species (cattle, pig, chicken, dog and horse) and also from patients with nosocomial infections. The human isolates were gathered from community cases which showed to be colonized with ESBL-producing E. coli. We observed that all sources contributed to the human cases, nevertheless, isolates from nosocomial infections were more related to those from human cases than any of the other sources. We identified subtypes that were only detected in the considered animal species and others that were observed only in the human population. Some subtypes from the human cases could not be allocated to any of the sources from this study and were attributed to an unknown source. Our study emphasizes the importance of human-to-human transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli and the different role that pets, livestock and healthcare facilities may play in the transmission of these resistant bacteria. The developed source attribution model can be further used to monitor future trends. A One Health approach is necessary to develop source attribution models further to integrate also wildlife, environmental as well as food sources in addition to human and animal data.
A second publication presented the steps taken to compile a database of phenotypic and genetic information on 10,763 ESC-EC isolates obtained from multiple sources provided by 13 partners in eight European countries. This database represents a first step to help assess different geographic and temporal trends and transmission dynamics in animals and humans. The work carried out highlights aspects that should be taken into account in future international efforts such as the one presented here.
Type of project

Third-party funded project

Research focus

Gesundheit von Mensch, Tier und Umwelt (One Health)

Organisational units and partners

Lead specialist group: Epidemiologie, Zoonosen und Antibiotikaresistenz (43)
Contact persons: Dr. Guido Correia Carreira, Prof. Dr. Annemarie Käsbohrer, Sara Teixeira da Costa da Luz Perestrelo
External partner: Technische Universität Dänemark, Statens Serum Institut, Swedish National Veterinary Institute, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Italian National Institute of Health, National Veterinary Research Institute , Veterinary Research Institute, v. V. I., National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, National Institut for Agricultural and Veterinary Research, Portugal, National Institute For Public Health and The Environment, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research , Netherlands Centre for One Health, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety , Irish agriculture and food development authority, Animal & Plant Health Agency, Public Health England, Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria, Universidad Complutenes de Madrid

Funding body and grant number

Europäische Union
Grant agreement 773830

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