One Health Approach to Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Transmission of Salmonellosis: Case Studies in Dogs and Raw Pet Food, and Invasive Gastrointestinal Infections

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health, particularly in the context of zoonotic pathogens such as Salmonella, which can transmit between animals, humans, and the environment. Salmonella is a leading cause of gastrointestinal infections worldwide, with increasing concern over its evolving resistance to critical antibiotics, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs). Despite routine whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of clinical Salmonella isolates by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) since 2014, there remains a critical gap in leveraging this data to understand transmission dynamics and resistance evolution.

This study aims to address these gaps through a genomic One Health approach, focusing on two case studies. First, it will assess the prevalence and genomic characteristics of Salmonella strains in dogs and raw pet food, evaluating their potential role in human infection. Second, it will investigate the genomic epidemiology of ESBL and CPO strains recovered from cases of gastroenteritis or invasive infections, exploring their links to the food chain. Core genome analysis will be employed to elucidate transmission patterns of Salmonella in the human population since 2014, providing insights into the spread and evolution of AMR.
By integrating genomic data across human, animal, and environmental sources, this research will inform targeted public health interventions and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of AMR and zoonotic transmission in the UK.

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