The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria’s Post

🚨 MRSA as a Biosecurity Indicator in Farming 🐖🐓 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is emerging as an important indicator of farm biosecurity and animal health. Studies show that MRSA presence in farms highlights gaps in hygiene, disease prevention, and management practices. Key insights: ✅ MRSA prevalence reflects biosecurity measures on farms. ✅ Strengthened protocols can mitigate risks to animals and humans. This research reinforces the need for robust biosecurity strategies to ensure sustainable and safe farming systems. 🌍 📌 Get in touch to learn more: https://hefarm.eu/contact/ #Biosecurity #SustainableFarming #MRSAResearch #OneHealth Universidad de Alcalá Incarlopsa ICPOR CAT.AL - Cluster Agrifood Lombardia ASRO - Romanian Standards Association Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Institut Pasteur SAN JORGE TECNOLOGICAS SL NOVAPTECH INRAE CSIC IRD IMIDRA - Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario COUNTERFOG®

Doing some scientific literature scanning, I was impressed by the findings of Thailand environmentalist colleagues, showing that exposure of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to paraquat, a herbicide commonly used to control weeds, induces the development of strains with increased resistance to multiple #antimicrobials, including some medically important for both human and veterinary medicine (https://lnkd.in/ddSXx_cF) You might already be aware that S. maltophilia is an environmental bacterium often linked to nosocomial infections in humans, being also a cause of respiratory infections in horses and other animal species. Aren’t those elements proof of the fact that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent ? Aren’t those proof of what the #onehealth concept means? (source: https://lnkd.in/d8CPjkiN) #antimicrobialresiatance containment can only be successful if we consider all these interactions, with all sectors working and talking together ! The establishment of cross-sectorial mechanisms for cost-effective implementation of #AMR National Action Plans is key !! - https://lnkd.in/dufPWQaR - https://lnkd.in/d5RNGwfN

The 'One Health' notion is a principle that links the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The concept encourages collaboration across all sectors of society. This approach generates new and improved ideas that address fundamental causes and produce long-term, sustainable solutions. Yet, did you know, that #AntibioticResistance is a major global threat to today's health and food security? 💭 You may be curious about how the '#OneHealth' concept addresses this issue. 💭 This article here will further explain it 👇 https://lnkd.in/ewbkbcDt Wageningen University & Research Agroknow APRE - Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung Creme Global DTU - Technical University of Denmark European Food Information Council (EUFIC) INRAE OnePlanet University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Newcastle University Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Universität Wien Queen's University Belfast Ine van der Fels-Klerx Ingeborg Van Leeuwen-Bol Nathan Meijer Thomas H Zunder Maria-Eleni Dimitrakopoulou Ludger Benighaus Giulia Pietrollini Alessia Careccia

#EcoSaludGlobal One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance Does the use of low-dose antibiotics in livestock put human health at risk? https://lnkd.in/e6NaVFyH Zoonoses—infectious diseases, such as SARS and mad cow, that originate in animals and spread to humans—reveal how intimately animal and human health are linked. Complicating this relationship further, when livestock are given antibiotics to increase growth, it can lead to resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, there are few formal channels for practitioners of human medicine and veterinary medicine to communicate about threats to public health. To address this problem, Dr. Laura H. Kahn and her colleagues are promoting the..

One Health Day is a global campaign that takes place on 3rd November. It is a concept that focuses on improving the health of humans and animals by integrating the sciences of human medicine, veterinary medicine and environmental studies. The One Health approach can help address many public health threats, including: Zoonotic diseases, Antibiotic resistance Vector-borne diseases, Food safety and security, Chronic disease, Mental health etc. The One Health approach is based on the idea that no one person, organization, or sector can address issues at the animal-human-environment interface alone. Successful public health interventions require cooperation among human, animal, and environmental health partners. The theme for One Health Day, 2024 is "Protecting humans, animals, and the environment for a healthier world for all".

New Paper Out! (Infectious Microbes & Diseases, Q3) In this editorial, I summarized and highlighted research on zoonotic geohelminth ova environmental contamination in the Philippines. I argue that this is an emerging One Health risk in the country. We already have evidence of school children seroconverting against companion animal worms. Indeed, this issue needs more attention within the medical and veterinary health fields. Tenorio, J. C. B. (2023). Soil Contamination with Zoonotic Geohelminths: Emerging Risks in the Philippines. Infectious Microbes & Diseases 6(1): 1-4. https://lnkd.in/gQg8hRUR

In this post, I would present the summary of this presentation. Ticks and resistance to acaricides: a time bomb for livestock, that is the title of this article. What's called a tick? The tick is an ectoparasite vector for various diseases including zoonotic diseases. An animal infested with a tick will be more exposed to a number of diseases. Therefore, ticks are a danger to animals, farmers and public health. What to do? How to fight? Tick control is done through acaricides. However, the uncontrolled use of good or poor quality acaricides leads to resistance. This resistance makes the mite invasive and difficult to control. Moreover, resistance to acaricides is exacerbated by misinformation, lack of training around it, and unavailability of the resources that must be deployed for vector control. So what is the real solution to ticks? Several solutions have been proposed. These are: - Promote responsible use of acaricides - Develop and deploy new solutions - Strengthen diagnosis and surveillance - Strengthen regulators, laws and policies - Improving awareness and training - Support countries with limited resources My opinion on the subject: Tick control cannot be achieved without a One Health approach. The starting point is the awareness of farmers and other stakeholders in the sector because, regardless of the number of molecules synthesized, without a reasoned use of acaricides, resistance will follow, opening an infinite loop around ticks. Moreover, funding for scientists is needed to find the response the answer to this riddle. Best regards Charbel M.O. HOUNHOUENOU. Veterinary technician #health #animal #human #onehealth

Animal vaccines help keep farm animals healthy, make food safer, and stop diseases from spreading to humans. They also make animals feel better. However, in poorer countries, not many farm animals get these vaccines compared to richer countries. To fix this, we need better policies and more money. This can help with big problems like climate change, pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and poverty. Investing in animal vaccines is very beneficial and not too expensive.

In developing countries, the impact of animal parasites is even more pronounced due to limited resources for veterinary care and public health interventions. Livestock, crucial for subsistence farmers, suffer from debilitating parasitic infections that reduce milk production, weight gain, and overall health, leading to economic hardship. Additionally, the burden of zoonotic diseases places a strain on already fragile healthcare systems. For example, hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus can result in significant morbidity and mortality, with treatment options often being expensive and inaccessible. #animalparasitism

I recently published my research in the International Journal of Agricultural and Veterinary Science, titled: "Susceptibility of Adult Female Culex quinquefasciatus to Pyrethroid (Lambdacyhalothrin) and Carbamate (Bendiocarb) around Zaria Metropolis of Kaduna State." In this study, we explored the susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus, a key mosquito vector, to two widely used insecticides—Bendiocarb and Lambdacyhalothrin. Immature mosquitoes were collected and reared in the laboratory, with adult females exposed to both insecticides following WHO standards. Our findings revealed: High susceptibility to Bendiocarb, with a noticed high mortality after just 60 minutes of exposure. Resistance to Lambdacyhalothrin, likely due to its long-term use in agriculture and public health interventions like Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs). This study suggests the urgent need for strategic insecticide management to delay resistance development in local mosquito populations. Read the full publication here:  https://lnkd.in/dmSxAsjX  #Research #PublicHealth #VectorControl #Mosquitoes #Entomology #Zaria #InsecticideResistance #Malaria #GlobalHealth