Rats as sources of multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in animal production environments.

Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus are commensal pest rodents, considered reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic pathogens. In livestock farms, the wide use of antimicrobials and their release into the environment lead to high long-term residual concentrations, which may in turn lead to the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Farm environments serve as AMR sources, resulting in the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and their AMR genes of livestock origin into wildlife.

Molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella Heidelberg isolates from poultry.

In the last 10 years, Salmonella Heidelberg has been extensively isolated from poultry in several countries. In this context, molecular characterization is essential to understand whether the strains have entered the farms from a single or several sources. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the genetic relationship and antimicrobial susceptibility of S.

Chicken egg yolk antibodies (IgY-technology): a review of progress in production and use in research and human and veterinary medicine.

The production of antibodies (Abs) in chickens and the extraction of specific Abs from egg yolk (IgY Abs) are increasingly attracting the interest of the scientific community, as demonstrated by the significant growth of the IgY literature. This review offers detailed and comprehensive information about IgY-technology, including: a) possibilities for hen keeping in accordance with the Three Rs principles; b) new insights into the IgY transfer mechanism from blood to yolk as a biological basis for the technology; c) the comparative characteristics of IgY Abs and IgG Abs; d) the high efficacy of the technique, in view of the extraordinary amount of IgY Ab produced by one hen in one year (between 20 g and 40 g IgY in total); e) comparisons between the efficacies of IgY Abs and IgG Abs (rabbit, sheep, mouse) in several immunological assays; f) immunisation protocols, as well as the most commonly used IgY-extraction procedures; g) new possibilities for application in human and veterinary medicine, including strategies for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection or fatal intestinal diseases in children, particularly in poor countries, for reducing the use of antibiotics, and, in Asia and South America, for producing Abs against snake, spider and scorpion venoms; and h) the use of IgY Abs in various fields of research, also taking into consideration recent developments in South America (particularly Argentina and Cuba) and in Asia.