Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): a bottom-up and One Health approach

Abstract

Background Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve.

Advancing antimicrobial resistance monitoring in surface waters with metagenomic and quasimetagenomic methods

“…The SIG, comprised of Staphylococcus pseudointermidius, Staphylococcus intermedius, and Staphylococcus delphini, is a collective of emerging importance [23]. The European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) surveils 11 bacterial targets; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactias and Streptococcus suis, across six animal species (cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens) turkeys, cats, and dogs)[24]. Genera and species from EARS-Vet surveillance that were observed in Sligo and Patuxent water are shown in Fig 10.…”

Review and Analysis of National Monitoring Systems for Antimicrobial Resistance in Animal Bacterial Pathogens in Europe: A Basis for the Development of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Veterinary Medicine (EARS-Vet)

“…Thanks to a thorough understanding of their practices, a pragmatic harmonization strategy could be proposed for AST. This work, combined with the definition of the EARS-Vet objectives ( Mader et al, 2021a ) and scope ( Mader et al, 2022 ), provides key elements of the EARS-Vet framework, to support the generation of stronger evidence on AMR levels in bacterial pathogens of animals in Europe.…”

“…Moreover, EUCAST ECOFFs enable early detection of changing AMR trends and would facilitate the integration of EARS-Vet with the EFSA monitoring in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from healthy food-producing animals. Although many EUCAST ECOFFs are currently missing for the combinations to be monitored in EARS-Vet ( Mader et al, 2022 ), ECOFFs remain easier to produce than clinical breakpoints. As EUCAST and CLSI are based on the same broth microdilution technique [at least for non-fastidious organisms: ISO 20776-1 (2019), which represent the majority of the bacterial species included in the EARS-Vet scope ( Mader et al, 2022 )], most systems would not need to change their AST procedures to enable AST interpretation with EUCAST ECOFFs.…”

“…Although many EUCAST ECOFFs are currently missing for the combinations to be monitored in EARS-Vet ( Mader et al, 2022 ), ECOFFs remain easier to produce than clinical breakpoints. As EUCAST and CLSI are based on the same broth microdilution technique [at least for non-fastidious organisms: ISO 20776-1 (2019), which represent the majority of the bacterial species included in the EARS-Vet scope ( Mader et al, 2022 )], most systems would not need to change their AST procedures to enable AST interpretation with EUCAST ECOFFs. However, it should still be explored if antimicrobial concentrations currently tested in national monitoring systems would allow interpretation with EUCAST ECOFFs, which may not be the case when only limited dilution ranges are tested.…”

“…Thus, in a bottom-up approach, an important step consisted of reviewing and analyzing existing national monitoring systems in Europe to allow for the development of an EARS-Vet framework that considers what is relevant and feasible to monitor in countries, and to advance on a harmonization strategy. A definition of the EARS-Vet scope, i.e., the combinations of animal species, production types, bacterial species, clinical specimens, and antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet was made by Mader et al (2022) . In brief, it covers cattle, swine, chicken, turkey, cats, and dogs; major bacterial pathogens of these animal species ( Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae , and Streptococcus suis ); and relevant antimicrobials for their treatment (e.g., tetracyclines, aminopenicillins, sulfonamide/trimethoprim), complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g., carbapenems, tigecycline).…”