Inverness-based scientists at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) lead world’s first study to track antibiotic resistance in pets

Cora is among the pets taking part in the world’s first study of antibiotic resistance levels in a nation’s pet population. Picture: Callum Mackay.

Scientists in Inverness will lead the world’s first study to help reduce infection risks for the nation’s pet population and humans.

The research team at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) at Inverness Campus will work with the UK Government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate to create the country-wide surveillance programme to look at the prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in healthy cats and dogs.

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Around half of adults in the UK have a companion pet in their home.

With them being in close contact with their owners and others in the wider community, there is a chance that infection including AMR bacteria, can spread between them.

AMR can lead to infections becoming harder to treat or untreatable.

Whenever bacteria are exposed to antibiotics it can drive the development of resistance and so they should only be used when necessary.

Larissa Chicoski, Selkie the Beauceron, Franz Brülisauer, Bjarni the Poodle cross, Maria Costa, Cora the Cavalier are helping in the study. Picture: Callum Mackay.

AMR is considered by the World Health Organisation to be one of the top global public health and development threats.

Measuring AMR present in pets is an essential step towards understanding the risks and shaping effective ways to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria, keeping both people and animals healthier in the long run.

The pilot programme will build on existing AMR surveillance programmes in animals, coordinated by the government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

Currently, surveillance for AMR in companion pets in the UK only includes samples collected from a limited number of clinically unwell animals.

This is the first time a country has developed a national surveillance system for AMR in the population of healthy dogs and cats.

Selkie the Beauceron. Picture: Callum Mackay.

Last year, SRUC officially opened its £12.5 million Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC) i in Inverness, supporting Scotland’s rural, veterinary, and life sciences sectors through collaborative enterprise.

By bringing together SRUC’s research, veterinary services, teaching, consultancy, and commercial partners under one roof, RAVIC provides a unique platform for innovation in agriculture, aquaculture, and animal health.

SRUC already has significant expertise with members of the team having established animal health surveillance programmes in the UK and other countries and has also been involved in a number of other studies on AMR.

John Berezowski, professor in disease surveillance at SRUC’s Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC) in Inverness, outlined the significance of the study.

“This initiative is critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of AMR in our pets,” he said.

“Our experts have worked hard to develop a practical AMR surveillance system.

“We plan to follow a team approach, working with pet owners and their vets as we explore how best to collect samples for surveillance throughout the UK.”

Abi Seager, chief executive of VMD, said: “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global health threats that we face.

“I am proud to launch this ground-breaking AMR surveillance project in healthy cats and dogs with SRUC who have a proven track-record in establishing surveillance programmes from the ground-up, and this new study is a truly One Health intervention to tackle AMR.

“A recent report published by the Public Accounts Committee on AMR, highlighted the need to address surveillance gaps in animals and we are pleased the VMD is already driving progress in this area.”

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