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Abstract Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) is a frequent, multifactorial disease of piglets leading to increased mortality rates and high economic losses. Due to the emergence of multi-resistant Escherichia coli isolates and the ban of zinc oxide (ZnO) in the EU since June 2022, alternative measures to prevent PWD are urgently needed. While an abundance of feed supplements is described to prevent PWD, there are hardly any studies reflecting the current situation of PWD in the field. Thus, we aimed to identify differences in management practices, housing and feeding strategies between farms with PWD and farms without PWD. Data were personally collected using a semi-structured questionnaire in 257 Austrian piglet-producing farms. Farms with PWD in more than 10% of all weaned groups within twelve months prior to data collection were defined as case farms (n = 101), while the remaining 136 farms were defined as control farms. Data from 237 farms and 69 explanatory variables were analysed via penalized binary logistic regression using elastic-net in 100 different splits into randomly selected training and test datasets (80:20). Treatment with ZnO and/or colistin (136 farms) was negatively associated with PWD in all splits and had the biggest estimated absolute log odds ratio out of all tested variables. Implementation of an all-in/all-out system in the nursery units and administration of probiotics or horseradish also had preventive effects in most splits (≥ 97%). A higher number of feeding phases for piglets within the first seven weeks of life and housing on fully slatted floors was associated negatively with the occurrence of PWD as well in > 95% of all splits. PWD was more likely to occur on farms having problems with neonatal diarrhoea or postpartum dysgalactia syndrome. While our data demonstrate that treatment with ZnO or colistin had the biggest statistical effect on PWD, we were able to identify other preventive measures like supplementation with probiotics or horseradish. Since implementation of all-in/all-out measures and fully slatted floors were also negatively associated with the occurrence of PWD on visited farms, we assume that reduction of bacterial load by the implementation of simple hygiene measures are still crucial to prevent PWD.

Resistance to last-resort antibiotics is a global threat to public health. Therefore, surveillance and monitoring systems for antimicrobial resistance should be established on a national and international scale. For the development of a One Health surveillance system, we collected exemplary data on carbapenem and colistin-resistant bacterial isolates from human, animal, food, and environmental sources. We pooled secondary data from routine screenings, hospital outbreak investigations, and studies on antimicrobial resistance. For a joint One Health evaluation, this study incorporates epidemiological metadata with phenotypic resistance information and molecular data on the isolate level. To harmonise the heterogeneous original information for the intended use, we developed a generic strategy. By defining and categorising variables, followed by plausibility checks, we created a catalogue for prospective data collections and applied it to our dataset, enabling us to perform preliminary descriptive statistical analyses. This study shows the complexity of data management using heterogeneous secondary data pools and gives an insight into the early stages of the development of an AMR surveillance programme using secondary data.

The continued occurrence of salmonellosis cases in Europe attributed to the consumption of pork products highlights the importance of identifying cost-effective interventions. Certain biosecurity measures (BSMs) may be effective in reducing the prevalence of specific pathogens along the pork production chain and their presence in food products. The objective of this study was to identify pathogen-specific, cost-effective BSMs to reduce Salmonella at different stages of the pork production chain in two European countries - Austria (AT) and the United Kingdom (UK). For this purpose, a cost-benefit analysis was conducted based on the epidemiological output of an established quantitative microbiological risk assessment that simulated the implementation effect of the BSMs based on their risk ratios. For each of the BSMs, the associated costs and benefits were assessed individually and country-specifically. For both AT and UK, nine different BSMs were evaluated assuming a countrywide implementation rate of 100%. The results showed that four BSMs were cost-effective (benefit-cost ratio > 1) for AT and five for the UK. The uncertainty regarding the cost-effectiveness of the BSMs resulted from the variability of individual risk ratios, and the variability of benefits associated with the implementation of the BSMs. The low number of cost-effective BSMs highlights the need for holistic risk-based models and economic assessments. To increase the willingness to implement BSMs and maximize the benefits for stakeholders, who carry the majority of the implementation costs, epidemiological assessments of BSM effectiveness should consider the impact on several relevant pathogens simultaneously.

Abstract Ideally, discussions on the One Health policy should bring together actors from several sectors. This was the case at the conference organised by the One Health European Joint Programme (One Health EJP) “Collaborating to face future One Health challenges in Europe”, which took place from the 19 to the 21 June 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Here we report on the discussions and interactions that occurred among lead European One Health stakeholders from the animal health, public health, wider environmental (including ecosystem health), and social sciences sectors, coming from the public and private sectors, and non-governmental organisations. The participants included policy makers, risk assessors, risk managers, experts from the academia, as well as representatives of national, European, and international organisations. The conference served two purposes. First, it highlighted the achievements of the One Health EJP on prevention, detection, and response to health threats. Second, it served as a forum to discuss current and future European One Health policies, analysing interactions across sectors, and setting the scene for the One Health policy agenda of tomorrow. In this article, we highlight the main messages and viewpoints of a wide range of European stakeholders on One Health and its future needs. Discussions covered topics such as policies of the European Commission, operationalisation of these policies through EU agencies, the broadening of the One Health concept to increasingly integrate sectors other than public health and animal health, and the role of the private sector in One Health initiatives. These dialogues gave insights into future One Health policies, providing information that integrate the publicly available policy documents, and aiming at shaping the European One Health approach in preparation for upcoming challenges.

Das mit der 16. Novelle des Arzneimittelgesetzes im Jahr 2014 eingeführte Antibiotikaminimierungskonzept definiert ein Benchmarkingsystem, das für sechs Nutzungsarten (Mastkälber, Mastrinder, Mastferkel, Mastschweine, Masthühner, Mastputen) gilt. Betriebe derselben Nutzungsart werden auf Basis ihrer betrieblichen Therapiehäufigkeit mit antibiotisch wirksamen Substanzen in halbjährlichem Rhythmus miteinander verglichen und anhand von zwei Kennzahlen eingruppiert. Betriebe oberhalb von Kennzahl 1 (Median der betrieblichen Therapiehäufigkeiten) sollen unter tierärztlicher Beratung nach Maßnahmen suchen, um ihren Antibiotikaeinsatz zu reduzieren, und Betriebe oberhalb von Kennzahl 2 (drittes Quartil der betrieblichen Therapiehäufigkeiten) sind verpflichtet, entsprechende Maßnahmenpläne den Überwachungsbehörden vorzulegen. Wir zeigen anhand von Daten aus dem 2. Halbjahr 2017, dass eine Schätzung der tatsächlichen Therapiehäufigkeiten mithilfe von standardisierten Werten für Tiergewichte und Tagesdosis zu Verschiebungen bei der Eingruppierung der Betriebe bezüglich der Kennzahlen führen würde. Diese Verschiebungen wären am stärksten ausgeprägt bei Masthühnern (41,8 % der Betriebe würden falsch eingruppiert, also entweder besser oder schlechter gestellt), gefolgt von Mastputen (37,6 %), Mastferkeln (15,3 %), Mastschweinen (11 %) und Mastkälbern (6,6 %). Lediglich bei Mastrindern käme es aufgrund des hohen Anteils an Betrieben ohne Antibiotikaeinsatz nicht zu falschen Eingruppierungen. Um ein gerechtes und zielführendes Benchmarking von Betrieben zu gewährleisten, ist daher die aufwendigere Ermittlung der tatsächlichen Therapiehäufigkeit, wie derzeit im Arzneimittelrecht vorgeschrieben, in den meisten Nutzungsarten einer geschätzten Therapiehäufigkeit vorzuziehen. Die für eine präzisere Berechnung erforderliche Erfassung der Tiergewichte und der Dosierung wäre mit einem sehr hohen Aufwand verbunden, und würde keinen angemessenen Vorteil bringen.

Die Maul- und Klauenseuche (MKS) ist eine jener globalen Tierseuchen, die im Laufe des vergangenen Jahrhunderts die meisten Länder der Welt trafen. Dank konsequenter Bekämpfungsprogramme und Handelsvorschriften trat sie in der Europäischen Union (EU) seit mehreren Jahren nicht mehr auf. Sowohl die vergangenen MKS-Ausbrüche als auch die aktuellen weltweiten Epidemien zeigen jedoch, dass eine Einschleppung der Seuche jederzeit möglich ist und eine erfolgreiche MKS-Bekämpfung nach wie vor eine Herausforderung darstellt. Dabei ist eine gezielte Krisenplanung von großer Bedeutung. Die Notfallplanung stellt einen wichtigen Bestandteil des in der EU neuerlich implementierten Tiergesundheitsrechts dar und die Notimpfung als zusätzliche Maßnahme erhält in der Kontrolle von MKS-Ausbrüchen in der aktuellen Gesetzgebung zunehmend Aufmerksamkeit. Es wird allgemein anerkannt, dass die Anwendung einer Notimpfung in bestimmten epidemiologischen Situationen positive Auswirkungen auf die Seuchenausbreitung haben kann. Aufgrund einer Anzahl an vorwiegend ökonomischen Nachteilen, die mit dieser Strategie assoziiert sind, darf sie jedoch nur durchgeführt werden, wenn bestimmte Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind. Die Implementierung der Notimpfpolitik bei MKS-Ausbrüchen erfordert eine umfassende Planung und Koordination aller logistischen und ressourcenbezogenen Aspekte, einschließlich Auswahl und Beschaffung eines geeigneten Impfstoffs. Dabei empfiehlt die EU-Legislative in MKS-Ausbrüchen den Einsatz von inaktivierten MKS-Impfstoffen, die derzeit zu den meist erforschten Impfstoffen im Veterinärbereich zählen und seitens der EU hohe Anforderungen an Qualität, Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit erfüllen müssen.

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health concern worldwide. The European Union requires a reduction in the use of antibiotics by 50% by 2030, with separate regulations on organic production that give preference to homeopathy and phytotherapy in organic farms before the use of conventional medicines (including antibiotics). We have therefore designed a two-phased project whose overarching aim is to investigate the potential role of homeopathic medicinal products (HMPs) in combating AMR in turkeys (the HOMAMR project): a two-cohort feasibility study using turkey-farm data that have been collected and analyzed retrospectively, followed by a prospective two-cohort study in turkey farms that would examine the impact of HMPs on changing antibiotic use. Objective The objective of this paper is to describe the protocol for the first phase of HOMAMR, which is a study under field conditions to assess the feasibility of collecting data retrospectively about turkeys that have been managed conventionally only or with HMPs. Methods Surveys performed on farms in Germany and Austria, including interviews with consenting farmers, will determine the feasibility of comparing retrospectively gathered data on antibiotic use and performance/production data in two cohorts of turkeys: (1) homeopathic treatment with conventional care (antibiotics) added if necessary or (2) conventional care (antibiotics) only. Co-primary outcomes to be studied are the amount of antimicrobial use and production period-related mortality. In addition, other production/performance parameters will be compared between the two treated cohorts. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility study on the treatment of turkeys using homeopathy, and whose retrospectively obtained data will inform a prospective study that would examine the impact of HMPs on antibiotic use in commercial turkey raising, fattening and breeding production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A questionnaire was developed within the OH-HARMONY-CAP project providing an overview of current procedures for microbiological sampling and analyses in food business operators’ HACCP-based self-control programmes in EU/EEA countries. It focused on six bacterial species: Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Shigella spp. and Yersinia spp.; and five parasites: Trichinella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Echinococcus granulosus (Sensu lato), Echinococcus multilocularis and Toxoplasma gondii. Participating EU/EEA countries distributed the questionnaire to food business operators’ laboratories within their countries and responses were received from nine countries. Feedback from 35 laboratories among 554 were considered for data analysis. Results showed that dairy products were analysed most frequently and the majority of laboratories analysed both ready-to-eat and non-ready-to-eat products. Laboratories analysing Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes processed the majority of samples. Accreditation for ISO-standards or an alternative method was in place in a considerable proportion of laboratories, but did not cover all pathogens investigated. Sending isolates for further confirmation to external laboratories was not common. In contrast, storing isolates was more frequently established. Around 60% of laboratories used more than one typing or characterisation method, predominantly MALDI-TOF, antimicrobial resistance typing and PCR, while 40% did not use any of these methods. Variability was observed as regards use of Whole Genome Sequencing; and participation in External Quality Assessment programmes. The study gathered insight into current practices of microbiological sampling and analyses performed in food business operators’ HACCP-based self-control programmes, and showed that further efforts are needed for harmonisation of analytical protocols and characterisation of foodborne pathogens.

Contingency planning allows veterinary authorities to prepare a rapid response in the event of a disease outbreak. A recently published foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) simulation study indicated concerns whether capacity was sufficient to control a potential FMD epidemic in Austria. The objectives of the study presented here were to estimate the human resources required to implement FMD control measures and to identify areas of the operational activities that could potentially delay successful control of the disease. The stochastic spatial simulation model EuFMDiS (The European Foot-and-Mouth Disease Spread Model) was used to simulate a potential FMD outbreak and its economic impact, including different control scenarios based on variations of culling, vaccination, and pre-emptive depopulation. In this context, the utilization of human resources was assessed based on the associated EuFMDiS output regarding the performance of operational activities. The assessments show that the number of personnel needed in an outbreak with a stamping-out policy would reach the peak at the end of the second week of control with a median of 540 (257–926) individuals, out of which 31% would be veterinarians. Approximately 58% of these human resources would be attributable to surveillance, followed by staff for cleaning and disinfection activities. Our analysis demonstrates that, of the operational activities, surveillance personnel were the largest factor influencing the magnitude of the outbreak. The aim of the assessment presented here is to assist veterinary authorities in the contingency planning of required human resources to respond effectively to an outbreak of animal diseases such as FMD.

The Mesozoic succession of the North German Basin yields considerable resources of heat in place bound to sandstone reservoirs, which have been exploited for heat production since the 1980s. In comparison to these best-practice examples, Mesozoic carbonate reservoirs are underexplored resulting in substantial subsurface uncertainties. This contribution investigates the Rüdersdorf Formation (Schaumkalk, Lower Muschelkalk) in the Rüdersdorf quarry and neighbouring wells to identify potential targets for reservoir developments in the greater Berlin area. The c. 75 m thick Rüdersdorf Formation represents the fundamental shift from mud-dominated lithofacies of the Jena Formation to oolitic and skeletal lithofacies of the classical Schaumkalk. In the Rüdersdorf type-locality, fabric selective dissolution contributed to an average porosity of 24% resulting in the typical foamy texture of the Schaumkalk. But despite large volumes of secondary porosity, potential reservoir developments in the subsurface are concerned with adverse reservoir properties at pore- to reservoir-scale, including low connectivity of pores, low matrix permeability, flow barrier segmentation and limited reservoir thickness. Considering these obstacles, the opportunities for conventional developments of open doublet systems seem to be limited. Remaining opportunities may be identified in fractured Schaumkalk reservoirs at regional fault zones or at salt pillows, where open faults with fractured damage zones contribute to an increased transmissivity of potential reservoirs. But the development of this reservoir type requires the acquisition of seismic data, in particular 3D seismic data, to identify targets and reduce risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to last-resort antibiotics is a global threat to public health. Therefore, surveillance and monitoring systems for antimicrobial resistance should be established on a national and international scale. For the development of a One Health surveillance system, we collected exemplary data on carbapenem and colistin-resistant bacterial isolates from human, animal, food, and environmental sources. We pooled secondary data from routine screenings, hospital outbreak investigations, and studies on antimicrobial resistance. For a joint One Health evaluation, this study incorporates epidemiological metadata with phenotypic resistance information and molecular data on the isolate level. To harmonise the heterogeneous original information for the intended use, we developed a generic strategy. By defining and categorising variables, followed by plausibility checks, we created a catalogue for prospective data collections and applied it to our dataset, enabling us to perform preliminary descriptive statistical analyses. This study shows the complexity of data management using heterogeneous secondary data pools and gives an insight into the early stages of the development of an AMR surveillance programme using secondary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial usage in both human and veterinary medicine is considered one of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance; its reduction poses a serious challenge. To analyse the associations between usage and resistance, data from monitoring systems and classification of all antimicrobial substances are crucial. In this analysis, we investigated longitudinal data collected between 2013 and 2020 within the Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics project from pig farms in Germany, including all antimicrobial classes, but focusing on critically important antimicrobials: third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and polymyxins. Analysing the treatment frequency, we found that a reduction in antimicrobial use in all types of pig production has occurred over time, accompanied by a rising percentage of farms without any usage. The lists of the World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health, and European Medicine Agency classify different antimicrobial substances as critically important. The vast differences between the respective weighted treatment frequencies allocated to the antimicrobials of main interest reflect the huge impact of the three categorisation systems. We concluded that, with the aim of creating national treatment guidelines supporting veterinarians to make treatment decisions, the list of the European Medicine Agency is the most suitable.

In this work, antimicrobial usage data from 2,546 commercial broiler chicken flocks originating from 37 farms are presented. Antimicrobial usage data at the flock level were based on mandatory documentation of antibiotic treatments in livestock in Germany, collected retrospectively for the time period of 2013–2018. The data encompasses all antimicrobial treatments during the fattening period of each flock, starting with the placement of day-old chicks at the barn. The aim of this analysis was to investigate antibiotic usage patterns in broiler chicken flocks in Germany, temporal trends in treatment frequency, the proportions of different antimicrobial classes and the weights of the broiler chickens at the time of treatment. The median treatment frequency over all flocks was six, and veterinary medicinal products belonging to nine different antimicrobial classes were used. Overall, the most frequently used classes were aminoglycosides (25.6%) and lincosamides (25.6%), followed by polypeptides (21.4%) and beta-lactams (16.2%). Over the 6 years evaluated, a considerable increase in the relative usage of lincosamides and aminoglycosides was observed. Compared to the first year of data collection, the percentage of treatments with fluoroquinolones, macrolides and polypeptides decreased in consecutive years. The median age of the broiler chickens at the time of treatment was 5 days, which corresponded to a median body weight at the time of treatment of 111 g, with substantial differences among various antimicrobial classes. We showed that in Germany, the median weight of broiler chickens at the time of treatment was substantially lower than the standard weight of broilers of 1,000 g proposed by the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption. The median weight at treatment is very much influenced by the frequency of age-specific diseases. As different antimicrobial classes are used to combat these diseases, variations in the weight at treatment may have a considerable impact on the estimated treatment indicators. Additionally, a decrease in the relative usage of the highest-priority critically important antimicrobials, such as fluoroquinolones, macrolides and polypeptides, was shown, which might be the consequence of increasing awareness of the antibiotic resistance situation as well as of antibiotic monitoring and benchmarking systems currently running in Germany.

The acknowledgment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major health challenge in humans, animals and plants, has led to increased efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU). To better understand factors influencing AMR and implement and evaluate stewardship measures for reducing AMU, it is important to have sufficiently detailed information on the quantity of AMU, preferably at the level of the user (farmer, veterinarian) and/or prescriber or provider (veterinarian, feed mill). Recently, several countries have established or are developing systems for monitoring AMU in animals. The aim of this publication is to provide an overview of known systems for monitoring AMU at farm-level, with a descriptive analysis of their key components and processes. As of March 2020, 38 active farm-level AMU monitoring systems from 16 countries were identified. These systems differ in many ways, including which data are collected, the type of analyses conducted and their respective output. At the same time, they share key components (data collection, analysis, benchmarking, and reporting), resulting in similar challenges to be faced with similar decisions to be made. Suggestions are provided with respect to the different components and important aspects of various data types and methods are discussed. This overview should provide support for establishing or working with such a system and could lead to a better implementation of stewardship actions and a more uniform communication about and understanding of AMU data at farm-level. Harmonization of methods and processes could lead to an improved comparability of outcomes and less confusion when interpreting results across systems. However, it is important to note that the development of systems also depends on specific local needs, resources and aims.

After first detections of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in animals, the European Union Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance has provided a protocol for the isolation of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia (E.) coli from cecum content and meat. Up to now, only few isolates were recovered using this procedure. In our experience, the choice of the selective agar is important for the efficacy of the method. Currently, the use of the prevailing method fails to detect CPE that exhibit a low resistance against carbapenems. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the suitability of selective media with antibiotic supplements and commercial ChromID® CARBA agar for a reliable CPE detection. For comparative investigations, detection of freeze-dried carbapenemase-resistant bacteria was studied on different batches of the ChromID® CARBA agar as well as on MacConkey agar supplemented with 1 mg/L cefotaxime and 0.125 mg/L meropenem (McC+CTX+MEM). The suitability of the different media was assessed within a time of 25 weeks, starting at least six weeks before expiration of the media. Carbapenem-resistant isolates exhibiting a serine-based hydrolytic resistance mechanism (e.g., blaKPC genes) were consistently detected over 25 weeks on the different media. In contrast, carbapenemase producers with only slightly reduced susceptibility and exhibiting a zinc-catalyzed activity (e.g., blaVIM, blaNDM, and blaIMP) could only be cultivated on long-time expired ChromID® CARBA, but within the whole test period on McC+CTX+MEM. Thus, ChromID® CARBA agar appears to be not suitable for the detection of CPE with slightly increased minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against carbapenems, which have been detected in German livestock and thus, are of main interest in the national monitoring programs. Our data are in concordance with the results of eleven state laboratories that had participated in this study with their ChromID® CARBA batches routinely used for the German CPE monitoring. Based on the determined CPE detection rate, we recommend the use of McC+CTX+MEM for monitoring purposes. This study indicates that the use of ChromID® CARBA agar might lead to an underestimation of the current CPE occurrence in food and livestock samples.

Livestock animals, especially poultry, are a known reservoir for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli). They may enter the pen either via positive day-old chicks or via the environment. We developed a mathematical model to illustrate the entry and dissemination of resistant bacteria in a broiler pen during one fattening period in order to investigate the effectiveness of intervention measures on this infection process. Different management measures, such as varying amounts of litter, a slow-growing breed or lower stocking densities, were tested for their effects on broiler colonization. We also calculated the impact of products that may influence the microbiota in the chicks’ digestive tract, such as pre- or probiotics, feed supplements or competitive exclusion products. Our model outcomes show that a contaminated pen or positive chicks at the beginning of the fattening period can infect the entire flock. Increasing the amount of litter and decreasing the stocking density were shown to be effective in our model. Differences in the route of entry were found: if the chicks are already positive, the litter quantity must be increased to at least six times the standard of 1000 g/m2, whereas, if the pen is contaminated on the first day, three times the litter quantity is sufficient. A reduced stocking density of 20 kg/m2 had a significant effect on the incidence of infection only in a previously contaminated pen. Combinations of two or three measures were effective in both scenarios; similarly, feed additives may be beneficial in reducing the growth rate of ESBL-producing E. coli. This model is a valuable tool for evaluating interventions to reduce the transmission and spread of resistant bacteria in broiler houses. However, data are still needed to optimize the model, such as growth rates or survival data of ESBL-producing E. coli in different environments.

Abstract Background Rabies is a major zoonotic disease affecting humans, domestic and wildlife mammals. Cattle are the most important domestic animals impacted by rabies virus in the New World, leading to thousands of cattle deaths per year and eliciting large economic losses. In the New World, virus transmission in cattle is primarily associated with Desmodus rotundus, the common vampire bat. This study analyses the association of weather fluctuations and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with the occurrence and magnitude, in terms of associated mortality, of cattle rabies outbreaks. Data from the 100 cattle rabies outbreaks recorded between 1985 and 2016 in Costa Rica were analyzed. Periodograms for time series of rabies outbreaks and the El Niño 4 index were estimated. Seasonality was studied using a seasonal boxplot. The association between epidemiological and climatic time series was studied via cross wavelet coherence analysis. Retrospective space-time scan cluster analyses were also performed. Finally, seasonal autoregressive time series models were fitted to study linear associations between monthly number of outbreaks, monthly mortality rates and the El Niño 4 index, temperature, and rainfall. Results Large rabies mortality occurred towards the Atlantic basin of the country. Outbreak occurrence and size were not directly associated with ENSO, but were sensitive to weather variables impacted by ENSO. Both, ENSO phases and rabies outbreaks, showed a similar 5 year period in their oscillations. Cattle rabies mortality and outbreak occurrence increased with temperature, whereas outbreak occurrence decreased with rainfall. These results suggest that special weather conditions might favor the occurrence of cattle rabies outbreaks. Conclusions Further efforts are necessary to articulate the mechanisms underpinning the association between weather changes and cattle rabies outbreaks. One hypothesis is that exacerbation of cattle rabies outbreaks might be mediated by impacts of weather conditions on common vampire bat movement and access to food resources on its natural habitats. Further eco-epidemiological field studies could help to understand rabies virus transmission ecology, and to propose sound interventions to control this major veterinary public health problem.

Currently, human and veterinary medicine are threatened worldwide by an increasing resistance to carbapenems, particularly present in opportunistic Enterobacterales pathogens (e.g., Klebsiella spp.). However, there is a lack of comprehensive and comparable data on their occurrence in wastewater, as well as on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics for various countries including Germany. Thus, this study aims to characterize carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. isolated from municipal wastewater treatment plants (mWWTPs) and their receiving water bodies, as well as from wastewater and process waters from poultry and pig slaughterhouses. After isolation using selective media and determination of carbapenem (i.e., ertapenem) resistance using broth microdilution to apply epidemiological breakpoints, the selected isolates (n = 30) were subjected to WGS. The vast majority of the isolates (80.0%) originated from the mWWTPs and their receiving water bodies. In addition to ertapenem, Klebsiella spp. isolates exhibited resistance to meropenem (40.0%) and imipenem (16.7%), as well as to piperacillin-tazobactam (50.0%) and ceftolozan-tazobactam (50.0%). A high diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes (n = 68), in particular those encoding β-lactamases, was revealed. However, with the exception of blaGES-5-like, no acquired carbapenemase-resistance genes were detected. Virulence factors such as siderophores (e.g., enterobactin) and fimbriae type 1 were present in almost all isolates. A wide genetic diversity was indicated by assigning 66.7% of the isolates to 12 different sequence types (STs), including clinically relevant ones (e.g., ST16, ST252, ST219, ST268, ST307, ST789, ST873, and ST2459). Our study provides information on the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp., which is of clinical importance in wastewater and surface water in Germany. These findings indicate their possible dissemination in the environment and the potential risk of colonization and/or infection of humans, livestock and wildlife associated with exposure to contaminated water sources.

The assumed link between high levels of antimicrobial use on farms and selection for antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria on that farm remains difficult to prove. In the pilot study presented here, we analysed total antimicrobial use on 50 dairy farms in Austria and also collected environmental samples to ascertain whether specific AMR bacteria were present. Antimicrobial use (AMU) analysis was based on electronic veterinary treatment records over a one-year period. Faecal samples for the assessment of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli were collected from cowsheds, calf pens, and youngstock housing areas, as well as dust samples from barns, to isolate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Bacteriological cultures were carried out on selective agar. Farms were split into groups of 25 of the highest antimicrobial users and 25 of the lowest users. Overall, samples from 13/50 (26.0%) farms were found to be positive for the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli. Of these, eight farms were in the low user group and five were in the high user group. Only one farm was confirmed to harbour MRSA. Statistical analyses demonstrated that there was no significant difference in this study population between high or low antimicrobial use with respect to the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli on farms (p = 0.33). In conclusion, the presence of specific AMR bacteria on farms in this study population was not found to have a statistically proven relationship with their level of antimicrobial use.

Plasmids are mobile genetic elements, contributing to the spread of resistance determinants by horizontal gene transfer. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistances (PMQRs) are important determinants able to decrease the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria against fluoroquinolones and quinolones. The PMQR gene qnrS1, especially, is broadly present in the livestock and food sector. Thus, it is of interest to understand the characteristics of plasmids able to carry and disseminate this determinant and therewith contribute to the resistance development against this class of high-priority, critically important antimicrobials. Therefore, we investigated all commensal Escherichia (E.) coli isolates, with reduced susceptibility to quinolones, recovered during the annual zoonosis monitoring 2017 in the pork and beef production chain in Germany (n = 2799). Through short-read whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, the composition of the plasmids and factors involved in their occurrence were determined. We analysed the presence and structures of predominant plasmids carrying the PMQR qnrS1. This gene was most frequently located on IncX plasmids. Although the E. coli harbouring these IncX plasmids were highly diverse in their sequence types as well as their phenotypic resistance profiles, the IncX plasmids-carrying the qnrS1 gene were rather conserved. Thus, we only detected three distinct IncX plasmids carrying qnrS1 in the investigated isolates. The IncX plasmids were assigned either to IncX1 or to IncX3. All qnrS1-carrying IncX plasmids further harboured a β-lactamase gene (bla). In addition, all investigated IncX plasmids were transmissible. Overall, we found highly heterogenic E. coli harbouring conserved IncX plasmids as vehicles for the most prevalent qnr gene qnrS1. These IncX plasmids may play an important role in the dissemination of those two resistance determinants and their presence, transfer and co-selection properties require a deeper understanding for a thorough risk assessment.