Effects of breed and early feeding on intestinal microbiota, inflammation markers, and behavior of broiler chickens.

Recently, the Netherlands has shifted toward more welfare-friendly broiler production systems using slower-growing broiler breeds. Early post-hatch feeding (EF) is a dietary strategy that is currently used in commercial broiler production to modulate the gut microbiota and improve performance and welfare. However, there is a knowledge gap in how both breed and EF and their interplay affect gut microbiota composition and diversity, inflammatory status, and broiler behavior.

from six European countries reveals differences in profile and distribution of critical antimicrobial resistance determinants within One Health compartments, 2013 to 2020.

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat. Monitoring using an integrated One Health approach is essential to detect changes in AMR occurrence.AimWe aimed to detect AMR genes in pathogenic and commensal collected 2013-2020 within monitoring programmes and research from food animals, food (fresh retail raw meat) and humans in six European countries, to compare vertical and horizontal transmission.

Literature review on micro-organisms from domestic goats potentially causing human pneumonia.

In the Netherlands, living in proximity to goat farms has been consistently associated with an increased incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The cause remains largely unknown though airborne microbial agents could play a role. The aim of this study is to explore micro-organisms present in goats that can cause human pneumonia.

Detection of airborne wild waterbird-derived DNA demonstrates potential for transmission of avian influenza virus via air inlets into poultry houses, the Netherlands, 2021 to 2022.

BackgroundOutbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on poultry farms and in wild birds worldwide persists despite intensified control measures. It causes unprecedented mortality in bird populations and is increasingly affecting mammalian species. Better understanding of HPAI introduction pathways into farms are needed for targeted disease prevention and control.

Associations between acquired antimicrobial resistance genes in the upper respiratory tract and livestock farm exposures: a case-control study in COPD and non-COPD individuals.

Background: Livestock-related emissions have been associated with aggravations of respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), potentially by altering the respiratory resistome.

Objectives: This study investigates the structure of the acquired oropharyngeal (OP) resistome of patients with COPD and controls, its interplay with the respiratory microbiome and associations with residential livestock exposure.

Methods: In a matched case-control study in the rural Netherlands, we analysed OP swabs from 35 patients with COPD and 34 controls, none of whom had used antibiotics in the preceding 4 weeks.