Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms

Henry Todman; Richard Helliwell; Liz King; Adam Blanchard; Charlotte J. Gray-Hammerton; Steven P. Hooton; Michelle Baker; Jean Margerison; Paul Wilson; Christine E. R. Dodd; Carol Morris; Sujatha Raman; Chris Hudson; Jan-Ulrich Kreft; Jon L. Hobman; Theodore Kypraios; Dov J. Stekel

doi:10.1038/s44259-024-00029-4

Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms

Henry Todman, Richard Helliwell, Liz King, Adam Blanchard, Charlotte J. Gray-Hammerton, Steven P. Hooton, Michelle Baker, Jean Margerison, Paul Wilson, Christine E. R. Dodd, Carol Morris, Sujatha Raman, Chris Hudson, Jan-Ulrich Kreft, Jon L. Hobman, Theodore Kypraios, Dov J. Stekel^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Biosciences

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Abstract

Dairy slurry is a major source of environmental contamination with antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria. We developed mathematical models and conducted on-farm research to explore the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in slurry. Temporal fluctuations in cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli were observed and attributed to farm activities, specifically the disposal of spent copper and zinc footbath into the slurry system. Our model revealed that resistance should be more frequently observed with relevant determinants encoded chromosomally rather than on plasmids, which was supported by reanalysis of sequenced genomes from the farm. Additionally, lower resistance levels were predicted in conditions with lower growth and higher death rates. The use of muck heap effluent for washing dirty channels did not explain the fluctuations in cephalosporin resistance. These results highlight farm-specific opportunities to reduce AMR pollution, beyond antibiotic use reduction, including careful disposal or recycling of waste antimicrobial metals.

Original language	English
Article number	13
Journal	npj Antimicrobials and Resistance
Volume	2
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-024-00029-4
Publication status	Published - 14 May 2024

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10.1038/s44259-024-00029-4Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

TodmanH2024ModellingFinal published version, 2.78 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

EVAL-FARMS: Evaluating the Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance in Agricultural Manures and Slurries (NE/N019881/1)
Thomas, C. (Co-Investigator) & Kreft, J.-U. (Principal Investigator)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/06/16 → 29/02/20
Project: Research Councils

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Todman, H., Helliwell, R., King, L., Blanchard, A., Gray-Hammerton, C. J., Hooton, S. P., Baker, M., Margerison, J., Wilson, P., Dodd, C. E. R., Morris, C., Raman, S., Hudson, C., Kreft, J.-U., Hobman, J. L., Kypraios, T., & Stekel, D. J. (2024). Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, 2(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-024-00029-4

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title = "Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms",

abstract = "Dairy slurry is a major source of environmental contamination with antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria. We developed mathematical models and conducted on-farm research to explore the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in slurry. Temporal fluctuations in cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli were observed and attributed to farm activities, specifically the disposal of spent copper and zinc footbath into the slurry system. Our model revealed that resistance should be more frequently observed with relevant determinants encoded chromosomally rather than on plasmids, which was supported by reanalysis of sequenced genomes from the farm. Additionally, lower resistance levels were predicted in conditions with lower growth and higher death rates. The use of muck heap effluent for washing dirty channels did not explain the fluctuations in cephalosporin resistance. These results highlight farm-specific opportunities to reduce AMR pollution, beyond antibiotic use reduction, including careful disposal or recycling of waste antimicrobial metals.",

author = "Henry Todman and Richard Helliwell and Liz King and Adam Blanchard and Gray-Hammerton, {Charlotte J.} and Hooton, {Steven P.} and Michelle Baker and Jean Margerison and Paul Wilson and Dodd, {Christine E. R.} and Carol Morris and Sujatha Raman and Chris Hudson and Jan-Ulrich Kreft and Hobman, {Jon L.} and Theodore Kypraios and Stekel, {Dov J.}",

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Todman, H, Helliwell, R, King, L, Blanchard, A, Gray-Hammerton, CJ, Hooton, SP, Baker, M, Margerison, J, Wilson, P, Dodd, CER, Morris, C, Raman, S, Hudson, C, Kreft, J-U, Hobman, JL, Kypraios, T & Stekel, DJ 2024, 'Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms', npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, vol. 2, no. 1, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-024-00029-4

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T1 - Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms

AU - Todman, Henry

AU - Helliwell, Richard

AU - King, Liz

AU - Blanchard, Adam

AU - Gray-Hammerton, Charlotte J.

AU - Hooton, Steven P.

AU - Baker, Michelle

AU - Margerison, Jean

AU - Wilson, Paul

AU - Dodd, Christine E. R.

AU - Morris, Carol

AU - Raman, Sujatha

AU - Hudson, Chris

AU - Kreft, Jan-Ulrich

AU - Hobman, Jon L.

AU - Kypraios, Theodore

AU - Stekel, Dov J.

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AB - Dairy slurry is a major source of environmental contamination with antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria. We developed mathematical models and conducted on-farm research to explore the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in slurry. Temporal fluctuations in cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli were observed and attributed to farm activities, specifically the disposal of spent copper and zinc footbath into the slurry system. Our model revealed that resistance should be more frequently observed with relevant determinants encoded chromosomally rather than on plasmids, which was supported by reanalysis of sequenced genomes from the farm. Additionally, lower resistance levels were predicted in conditions with lower growth and higher death rates. The use of muck heap effluent for washing dirty channels did not explain the fluctuations in cephalosporin resistance. These results highlight farm-specific opportunities to reduce AMR pollution, beyond antibiotic use reduction, including careful disposal or recycling of waste antimicrobial metals.

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JO - npj Antimicrobials and Resistance

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Modelling the impact of wastewater flows and management practices on antimicrobial resistance in dairy farms

Abstract

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Projects

EVAL-FARMS: Evaluating the Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance in Agricultural Manures and Slurries (NE/N019881/1)

Cite this