Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AVANT (Alternatives to Veterinary ANTimicrobials)
Período documentado: 2021-07-01 hasta 2022-12-31
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a recognized societal problem with serious consequences on public health and economy. Since resistant bacteria can be selected by any use of antibiotics, their use in livestock production poses a threat to human health due to the possible transfer of resistant bacteria to people via direct contact with animals or by consumption of contaminated food of animal origin. AVANT is a multi-actor project bringing together scientists, stakeholders and end-users involved in the fight against AMR in the veterinary sector, including academic and research institutions, animal health enterprises, and veterinary associations. The goal is to develop and test the efficacy and sustainability of a comprehensive set of alternatives to antibiotics for the management of bacterial infections in pigs with particular emphasis on post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), which is the main reason for antibiotic use in pig production. The AVANT portfolio of alternatives to antibiotics comprise i) gut microbiome modulators such as synbiotics and faecal transplants from healthy donors, ii) innovative medicines targeting the causative pathogen of PWD, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), iii) immunostimulators that strengthen the host immune response against infection, and iv) feeding strategies for PWD prevention. Based on the results of pre-clinical studies, the three most promising interventions will be selected for a multicentre farm trial in order to test their efficacy on prevention and control of PWD. Data on antibiotic use at the farms involved in the trial will be used to predict the potential effects of each selected alternative to antibiotics on reduction of antibiotic consumption in the EU by mathematical modelling.
During the first 3 years of the project, various alternatives to antibiotics (i.e. gut microbiota modulators, veterinary medicinal products, immunostimulants and dietary interventions) were developed and optimized with regard to formulation, administration route, dosage, etc. and their efficacy for control of post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) was studied under controlled experimental conditions using pig infection models. Two interventions were selected for the farm trials in WP5 based on the clinical efficacy and safety data generated in the pre-clinical studies in WP1-4, as well as legal and economic considerations and acceptance by pig farmers, veterinarians and consumers: i) a faecal filtrate transplantation (FFT) protocol developed at the University of Copenhagen in WP1 and ii) a high-fiber diet developed by Schothorst Feed Research in WP4. The FFT protocol, which utilizes faeces from healthy sows from the same farm to avoid the risk of spreading pathogens across farms, showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of PWD and mortality. The dietary intervention, which is based on the administration of fermentable fiber to sows in the transition diet and inert fiber to suckling piglets, showed a slight effect in improving fecal consistency and reducing the prevalence of PWD. However, neither intervention had an effect comparable to antibiotic treatment, meaning they can be usefully used to reduce antibiotic use but not eliminate it. The legal procedures to request authorization for testing these two interventions on pig farms in Denmark, France and the Netherlands were initiated as part of the activities in WP7.
An extensive survey was conducted to understand how alternatives to antibiotics are perceived by consumers, pig veterinarians and farmers in 5 countries (Germany, Poland, France, Spain and Denmark). The survey shows that traditional solutions to prevent antibiotic use, such as vaccines and biosecurity measures, are more favorably accepted than innovative solutions such as FFT and phage therapy. Interestingly, approximately 70% consumers state that they would pay 10% or more to buy food products from animals that are not treated with antibiotics. The outcomes of the survey were submitted as a public deliverable (D8.5) and disseminated through the project website (https://avant-project.eu) the AVANT social media as well as lectures, animation videos and infographics presented in international conferences and events involving key stakeholders.
An extensive survey was conducted to understand how alternatives to antibiotics are perceived by consumers, pig veterinarians and farmers in 5 countries (Germany, Poland, France, Spain and Denmark). The survey shows that traditional solutions to prevent antibiotic use, such as vaccines and biosecurity measures, are more favorably accepted than innovative solutions such as FFT and phage therapy. Interestingly, approximately 70% consumers state that they would pay 10% or more to buy food products from animals that are not treated with antibiotics. The outcomes of the survey were submitted as a public deliverable (D8.5) and disseminated through the project website (https://avant-project.eu) the AVANT social media as well as lectures, animation videos and infographics presented in international conferences and events involving key stakeholders.
AVANT aims at developing, testing and exploiting of different types of alternatives to antibiotics for treatment and prevention of PWD in pigs. The potential impact of each alternative is evaluated using different indicators, including clinical efficacy, effect on reduction of antibiotic use, and sustainability. The best products and interventions generated by the project will contribute to reduce antibiotic consumption in pig production, providing effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for managing this important disease in pig production while minimizing the risk of AMR transmission from pigs to humans. As such, the project will have a positive impact on both animal health and public health. From a scientific standpoint, AVANT will contribute to understand the effects of each type of alternative on diversity and composition of the pig gut microbiota, providing information on its mechanism(s) of action and on the pathogenesis of PWD. This new knowledge will be disseminated via scientific publications and communications at national and international conferences as well as via social media, press releases and stakeholder engagement. Multiple communication channels will be used to ensure the broadest possible dissemination, including the AVANT website, YouTube channel, Facebook, LinkedIn, ResearchGate, and Twitter.