Antibiotic resistance
Reduction of antimicrobial use in pig production
Most antibiotics for animals in Denmark are used in the treatment of pigs, and the Danish Veterinary Consortium has strong focus on reduction strategies in this sector, such as:
- Development of new vaccines to limit diarrhea in weaned pigs and lung infections in slaughter pigs.
- Improved diagnostic approaches (clinical, pathological and microbiological) that can be used for decision-making whether to treat or not.
- Increased knowledge on causes of diarrhea in weaned pigs and naval infections in newborn pigs.
- Safe and sustainable alternatives to zinc oxide for prevention of diarrhea (bacteriophages, antibacterial peptides, algae, etc.)
- Transfer of knowledge from ecological pig production (where antimicrobial use is lower that in conventional production) with a view to identify best practices.
Zoonotic bacteria in livestock
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (MRSA) is widespread in the Danish pig stables. MRSA are unwanted, as these bacteria presents a potential threat to people with weak immune systems. The Consortium conducts research aiming at:
- Ways to limiting occurrences of these bacteria in pigs
- How best to prevent MRSA spreading from the stables to the surrounding community.
- Risks that livestock associated MRSA can increase in disease causing ability.
- Antibiotic use in other animals
Antibiotics for cattle is primarily used for treatment of mastitis in adult cows and pneumonia in calves. The consortium participates in the newly established Danish “Center for yversundhed” which aims to develop the best ways to reduce the incidence of mastitis. Research is also done in pneumonia in calves, to ensure healthy calves and to improve diagnostic methods used to identify diseases calves.
The Danish poultry production uses very little antibiotics due to wide use of vaccines and high levels of biosecurity. The Consortium participates in research projects together with the industry to ensure that this favorable situation is maintained, e.g. by developing and testing vaccines against bacterial infections requiring treatment.
Improved diagnostic methods
Diagnosing disease causing organisms and antibiotic resistance is essential to have prudent use of antimicrobials. Genome sequencing is now widely used as the basis for determination of bot bacterial species, resistance profiling and detection of the infection. The Consortium conducts continuous research in order to optimize the use of these techniques in the constant surveillance of antibiotic resistance in bacteria from humans and animals.
Research in a global perspective
Antibiotic resistance is a global challenge to human and animal health. The Danish Veterinary Consortium supports training of researchers in low and middle-income countries, to ensure proper monitoring of resistance. We participate in research projects with researchers from selected countries in order to increase the understanding of the resistance problems in these countries.