Faecal carriage of is low among veterinary healthcare workers in the Netherlands.

Veterinary healthcare workers are in close contact with many different animals and might be at an increased risk of acquiring Clostridioides difficile. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of C. difficile carriage in Dutch veterinary healthcare workers.

Zoonotic Pathogens in Eurasian Beavers (Castor fiber) in the Netherlands.

Successful repopulation programs of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) have resulted in an increase in beaver populations throughout Europe. This may be of public health relevance because beavers can host multiple zoonotic pathogens. From March 2018 to March 2020, opportunistic testing of dead beavers was performed for hepatitis E virus, orthohantavirus, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp.

ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae carriage among veterinary healthcare workers in the Netherlands.

Background: Animals are a reservoir for ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-E/K). We investigated the association between occupational contact with different types of animals and the prevalence of ESBL-E/K carriage among veterinary healthcare workers, assessed molecular characteristics of ESBL-E/K, and followed-up on the ESBL-E/K carriage status of participants and their household members.

Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire about their contact with animals at work and at home, health status, travel behaviour and hygiene, and sent in a faecal sample which was tested for the presence of ESBL-E/K.

Prolonged carriage of (livestock-associated) MRSA in individuals without professional livestock contact.

Objectives: To investigate prolonged carriage of MRSA in adults from the general population living in a livestock-dense area, using WGS.

Methods: A cross-sectional study during 2014-15 among 2492 adults without professional livestock contact identified 14 (0.6%) nasal MRSA carriers, 10 of which carried livestock-associated (LA)-MRSA of multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) complex (MC) 398.

Do vegetarians less frequently carry ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae compared with non-vegetarians?

Background: ESBL and plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are frequently found on meat products in Dutch retail, especially on poultry.

Objectives: We investigated whether vegetarians are at lower risk of carrying ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-E/K) compared with persons who consume meat.

Methods: Vegetarians, pescatarians (vegetarians who eat fish) and non-vegetarians (persons who eat meat at least three times per week) were asked to send in a faecal sample and a questionnaire.

Correction: Time to acquire and lose carriership of ESBL/pAmpC producing E. coli in humans in the Netherlands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Time to acquire and lose carriership of ESBL/pAmpC producing E. coli in humans in the Netherlands.

A subset of the study population from a cross-sectional study of carriership of ESBL/pAmpC-producing E. coli (ESBL-E) in the general population was followed up by five successive samples over an approximate half year period, leading to six samples in 333 persons. Fecal samples were cultured and analyzed for the presence of E.

Ten years later: still a high prevalence of MRSA in slaughter pigs despite a significant reduction in antimicrobial usage in pigs the Netherlands.

Objectives: In 2005, 39% of pigs and 81% of the slaughter batches at Dutch slaughterhouses were MRSA positive. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the 50% reduction of antimicrobial usage in finishing pigs in 2014 compared with 2009 in the Netherlands has led to a lower MRSA prevalence among Dutch slaughter pigs.

Methods: Nasal swabs from eight slaughter batches of on average 10 animals at seven slaughterhouses were taken and cultured using method 1, which was used in 2005, and method 2, using high-salt pre-enrichment.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum and AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in broilers and in people living and/or working on organic broiler farms.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum and AmpC β-lactamase (ESBL/AmpC)-producing Escherichia coli among broilers, and humans living and/or working on organic broiler farms; further characterise isolates; and compare these results with those from conventional farms. In the Netherlands, only 9 certified organic broiler farms were present. On 8 of these farms, 60 throat swabs and 20 cloacal swabs were taken per farm for MRSA and ESBL/AmpC-E.

Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates on broiler farms.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the resistance pheno- and genotypes and the molecular typing characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from broiler farms in order to explore transmission between the different reservoirs. Thirty-seven MRSA CC398 isolates (11 from broilers, 15 from the broiler houses, 5 from farm residences and 6 from humans living and/or working on the farms) cultured from samples at four different farms during a previous study, were included. In addition to the previously determined spa types, the isolates were characterized by dru typing, SCCmec typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and DNA microarray.

Resistance phenotypes and genotypes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from broiler chickens at slaughter and abattoir workers.

Objectives: To comparatively investigate the resistance phenotypes and genotypes of various methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from broilers at slaughter and workers at the respective poultry slaughterhouses.

Methods: Forty-six MRSA isolates (28 from broilers and 18 from humans) obtained at four different slaughterhouses were included. In addition to previously determined sequence types (STs) and spa types, the isolates were characterized by dru typing, SCCmec typing and PFGE.