Molecular Epidemiology as a Tool of AMR Surveillance in food-producing Animals

Introduction
The anticipated loss of human lives by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the year 2050 is around 10 million, which calls for stringent surveillance of AMR in both human and animal health sectors, including but not restricted to animal food products. The molecular epidemiological studies encompassing food-producing animals and associated food products help in delineating the potential AMR risk directed towards human consumers while handling, or consumption of contaminated food products. These studies are therefore compulsorily needed for formulating effective prevention & control strategies against AMR among food-producing animals.

MolecularEpidemiology
Molecular epidemiology involves the usage of molecular biology tools like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize the pathogens based on the presence of antimicrobial-resistant genes, virulence factors, mobile genetic elements and aid in investigation of clonal relationship between the isolates recovered from different sources and diverse geographical regions.

Utility
The data collected from these studies act as an important source of repository for AMR surveillance in food-producing animals at national and international levels. Locally, the data is useful in underscoring the risk of AMR at the farm level, which calls for raising awareness among farmers and the implementation of effective infection control strategies at the farm level.

Challenges to Adoption
With the wide spectrum of advantages that molecular epidemiology offers, its scope is restricted due to the unavailability of techniques at regional levels, inter-laboratory variations, sampling errors, and heavy costs incurred in training personnel to effectively use the tools.

Discussion
Molecular epidemiology studies on AMR act as an important source of data for AMR surveillance. Further, utilization of such studies in surveillance is efficient once the procedures to combat AMR are devised and implemented at the farm level including, AMR awareness among farmers and promotion of infection prevention and control strategies (stringent biosecurity measures, disinfection and hygienic practices) at farm level.

Conclusion
AMR Surveillance in animal food products using molecular epidemiology enables assessment of the risk of AMR at the farm level and to some extent can help anticipate the directionality of the spread of AMR. Further, these studies play a pivotal role in aiding concerned authorities at regional, national, and international levels to prioritize the major hotspots for combatting AMR. References:
O’Neill, J. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally (2016).