ARS | Publication request: A USDA MULTI-AGENCY PROJECT: COLLABORATION IN ANIMAL HEALTH, FOOD SAFETY & EPIDEMIOLOGY (CAHFSE)

Submitted to: Joint Abstracts of the American Dairy Science and Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 15, 2005
Publication Date: April 15, 2005
Citation: Kraeling, R.R., Bush, E.J., Dargatz, D.A., Wineland, N.E., Ladely, S.R., Cray, P.J. 2005. A usda multi-agency project: collaboration in animal health, food safety & epidemiology (cahfse). Joint Abstracts of the American Dairy Science and Society of Animal Science.

Technical Abstract: The emergence of antimicrobial resistant zoonotic bacteria continues to be a global concern. In response to growing surveillance needs, USDA-ARS, APHIS and FSIA collectively developed CAHFSE. CAHFSE will enhance our overall understanding of pathogens that pose a food-safety risk by tracking these organisms from farm to plant. Risk analysis, antimicrobial use information, resistance and animal health will also be assessed. The first commodity of CAHFSE is pork. Currently, blood and fecal samples are being collected quarterly on sentinel farms in four states. Herd health and management data are also being collected from these farms. To date, fecal samples from 48 site visits have been collected and cultured for Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli. Salmonella was recovered from 8.1% (146/1811) of the samples. Sixteen serotypes were identified, of which the predominant serotypes included; S. derby (31.5%), S. typhimurium var. copenhagen (26%), S. heidelberg (8.9%) and S. give (7.5%). Across all serotypes, resistance was most commonly observed for tetracycline (90.4%), streptomycin (63.5%), sulfamethoxazole (43.5%) and ampicillin (43.5%). Among generic E. coli, resistance to tetracycline (92.2%), sulfamethoxazole (27.2%), streptomycin (27.1%) and ampicillin (25.4%) was most common. All Campylobacter isolated to date were identified as C. coli. Resistance to tetracycline (73.6%), azithromycin (60.3%) and erythromycin (60.1%) were observed most often. Determination of risk factors related to prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of these organisms will lead to practical methods of mitigating food borne illness.