A One Health approach to assessing occupational exposure to antimicrobial resistance in Thailand: The FarmResist project

Abstract

This Southeast Asia-Europe research project will use a One Health approach to identify the major parameters responsible for the presence of animal-associated antimicrobial resistant bacteria in animal production facilities in Thailand and the risk of their transmission from animals to humans. We will focus on traditional, small, extensive pig and poultry farms where information on antibiotic use is scarce and animals live in close contact with humans. This cross-sectional study will be based on the epidemiological analysis of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present in fecal samples from animals and humans. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to colistin will be actively searched in the feces of farm animals (pigs and poultry), small wild rodents and farmers. Phenotypic (selective plating) and genotypic (multilocus seuquence typing and sequencing) methods will be used for the detection of AMR, the identification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the characterization of strains carrying resistance genes. Questionnaires will be administered to investigate the effects of antibiotic use, farm characteristics and biosecurity measures on the occurrence of AMR in animals. Subsequently, the fecal carriage of AMR and ARGs in farmers will be compared to a control population with no occupational contacts with animals, thus enabling an estimation of the risk of transmission of AMR/ARGs from animals to farmers.

Reducing the Risk of Transmission of Critical Antimicrobial Resistance Determinants From Contaminated Pork Products to Humans in South-East Asia

“…Similar clonal types of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium and E. coli have been found in humans and pigs in SEA and in the United States (Oloya et al, 2009;Nhung et al, 2016;Mather et al, 2018;Sudatip et al, 2021). Pigs and the environment can be potential sources for the dissemination of AMR to humans; however, there have been a few longitudinal studies monitoring linkages of AMR strains among pigs, the environment, and consumers/patients.…”

Multidrug resistance-encoding gene in Citrobacter freundii isolated from healthy laying chicken in Blitar District, Indonesia

“…The MDR bacteria involvement in Enterobacteriaceae is well established as an important part of global public health policy. This idea that poultry is a good indicator as a source for MDR bacteria from environmental pollution and argues the importance of the One Health approach because these poultry animals can significantly contribute indirectly to the transmission of resistant genes to other segments of environments [45]. Immediate efforts are required to deal with the emergence of MDR bacteria, including antimicrobial resistance in humans and poultry.…”

Agro-Environmental Determinants of Leptospirosis: A Retrospective Spatiotemporal Analysis (2004–2014) in Mahasarakham Province (Thailand)

“…Our hypothesis is then that the release of antibiotics in the pig manure may contaminate the surrounding environment and may decrease the survival of environmental leptospires, ultimately leading to a decrease in their transmission. An ongoing study on the use of antibiotics in small and medium-sized pig and chicken farms in Nan province shows that several classes of antibiotics were widely used by local farmers [ 70 ]. These antibiotics are inexpensive and readily available.…”