Abstract

It is known that antimicrobial use leads to the selection of resistant forms of bacteria in the ecosystem of use. However, the impact on public health of this selection in the agricultural environment is not known, partly due to the lack of retrospective and prospective studies integrating antimicrobial use on farms and the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic bacteria in food animals and foods of animal origin. This research aims to better understand the role of antimicrobial use in pig production on antimicrobial resistance among food borne enteric pathogens and commensals (Salmonella , Campylobacter and E. coli) and to provide quantitative data that can be used to assess risk to human health. We intend to use longitudinal studies to model the dynamics of antimicrobial use, resistance development and transfer in swine populations and farm families in Ontario.