The gut microbiome is composed of harmless symbionts, commensal bacteria, and opportunistic pathogens, all of which play crucial roles in animal health and disease. In physiological conditions the gut microbiome is stable, but when perturbative events occur (e.g., dietary changes, infections, stress, antibiotic administration) the population of microbiota changes, influencing health and protection against infections and colonisation. These changes may involve new resistant bacteria becoming permanent residents, or transferring resistance to the commensals. In poultry farming, all these mechanisms are still largely unknown, but the importance of studying the gut microbiome in connection to farming productivity has been acknowledged, recognising also the existence of numerous environmental and practice-related factors influencing gut modifications.
We have identified the co-existence of E. coli (pathogenic), clostridium, Enteroccus within the gut of chickens with high level of AMR to several antimicrobials. We have also found the presence of some of these bacteria in the animals surrounding environment. This is important for two reasons: 1) AMR transmission from environment to animals and 2) farm practices. Improving the contamination of the environment might reduce the AMR in animals
Contact details:
Professor Tania Dottorini
Professor in Bioinformatics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
Nottingham Vet School