Special Issue — Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens our ability to treat bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections in humans and animals. The threat is especially apparent for certain bacterial infections of humans, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, but there are also concerns about resistance among foodborne zoonotic pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. Over the last decade the scientific community has witnessed much discussion and debate about the possible role of antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals in selection of resistance in bacteria of human health concern, and what, if anything, should be done about it. Regrettably, not as much attention has been given to the impacts of resistance on animal health and welfare. A common theme that has emerged from numerous expert and stakeholder reports on AMR published in the last decade is the urgent need for coordinated research and for the establishment or enhancement of monitoring systems for AMR and AMU in different populations that would hopefully result in better understanding of the extent and impacts of resistance problems in animals, humans, and the environment. Other recommendations included better insights into the role of AMU and other factors in the emergence and dissemination of resistance determinants, and ways to better protect the efficacy of existing antimicrobials, including improved infectious disease control methods. Many animal and public health organizations in both government and industry have responded to these recommendations. Since 2003, the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) has provided important monitoring data on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in enteric bacteria (for example, Salmonella) from humans, animals, and food in Canada, as well as AMU data in humans, and hopefully soon, in animals. Data from CIPARS and similar programs in the United States and other countries are being used to inform and evaluate AMU policy and practices within individual countries and in the international arena. The research community has also responded to the need for new insights into AMR. In Canada, extensive research has been conducted in this area over the past 5 years, including multiple collaborative projects between Canadian veterinary colleges, and federal and provincial agri-food or health departments. The Special Issue of the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research shares some information on what has been accomplished in these projects, illustrates the existing gaps in knowledge, and suggests the research needs that might be considered in future. Researchers were solicited from Canadian veterinary colleges and other veterinary research institutions to provide manuscripts describing observational research that investigated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and/or antimicrobial use (AMU) in bacteria from food and companion animals in Canada, with emphasis on research at the farm/household level as well as post-harvest level (slaughter, retail). The articles in this issue reflect the very diverse nature of AMR. The research ranges from development and evaluation of on-farm methods for AMU data collection, through susceptibility test performance, resistance prevalence in indicator and/or pathogenic bacteria, to associations between AMU and AMR. The research contexts include on-farm studies in cattle, chickens, and swine, AMU use for therapy, prophylaxis, and growth promotion, and AMR in both pathogens and commensals. It is clear that AMR research is being extensively pursued in the Canadian veterinary research community. Much progress has been made in understanding the prevalence of AMR in fecal commensals, particularly Escherichia coli in swine and cattle raised in commercial conditions, and how populations of these bacteria are responding, and in some cases apparently not responding, to the selection pressure of antimicrobials. Considerable progress has also been made towards development of antimicrobial data collection systems, which are badly needed in North America due to a lack of centralized antimicrobial distribution systems and universal prescription databases. There are many areas in which more research is needed. In this issue, resistance to antibacterial agents is profiled, but resistance to antiviral and antiparasitic agents are also problems in need of investigation. While study of the phenotypic expression of resistance is helpful, a much better understanding of the movement of resistance genes within and among populations of bacteria from animals, humans, and the environment, and the role of various selection pressures and risk factors on spread of resistance is required. There is a pressing need for better methods for assessing human and animal health risks and benefits from AMU, incorporation of research into antimicrobial use policy development and evaluation, and into alternatives for antimicrobial therapy. Several studies of AMR in companion animals are underway in Canada and other counties, but more work in this field is necessary. Clearly, much has been accomplished in understanding the intricacies of AMR in animals, but much more remains to be done. A bright spot on the horizon is the increasing depth of AMR expertise in Canada. The articles in this issue are all drawn from the theses of graduate students.

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