Ionophore coccidiostats: risk of CO-selectioN of antImicrobial resistance – Clinical impact and intervention strategies (ICONIC)
Ionophores are used to prevent coccidiosis in broilers and have both antiparasitic and antibacterial activity. Although not used in human infections, specific resistance genes (narAB) have been found in enterococci, sometimes on plasmids carrying other resistance genes.
Aim
This project investigated, from a One Health perspective, the consequences of the use of ionophores on the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Gram-positive bacteria.
Methods
ICONIC investigated enterococci from 5 European countries, alongside animal studies on narAB selection and vaccination as an alternative.
Results
NarAB was common in poultry enterococci and occasionally found in human isolates. Genetic diversity suggests frequent plasmid exchange and recombination. Ionophore exposure can maintain linked resistance genes. While vaccination successfully controlled coccidiosis, it was less effective than ionophores. The findings suggest that ionophore use may indirectly contribute to the spread of resistance genes relevant to human health.
Products
Author: Maria Laura Ferrando, Francesca Saluzzo, Rikki Franklin Frederiksen, Jannice Schau Slettemeås, Anne Margrete Urdahl, Roger Simm, Magdalena Skarzynska, Magdalena Zajac, Anna Lalak, Jowita Niczyporuk, Dariusz Wasyl, Léa Duval, Florence Tardy, Claire Schapendonk, Michel Rapallini, Giovanni Tosi, Simona Perulli, Letizia Cirasella, Daniela Maria Cirillo, Mariel Pikkemaat
Magazine: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Start- and endpage: 2361-2368
Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkaf113
Author: Simm, R., Urdahl, A-M., Stassen, J., Pikkemaat, M.
Magazine: Veterinary Record
Start- and endpage: 129-130
Author: Rikki Franklin Frederiksen, Anne Margrete Urdahl, Jannice Schau Slettemeås, Silje Granstad, Roger Simm, Karin Lagesen
Magazine: PLOS One
Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324789
Author: Rikki Franklin Frederiksen, Jannice Schau Slettemeås, Silje Granstad, Karin Lagesen, Mariel G Pikkemaat, Anne Margrete Urdahl, Roger Simm
Magazine: Frontiers in Microbiology
Start- and endpage: 1347490-
Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1347490
Author: Roger Simm, Anne-Margrete Urdahl, Joost Stassen, Mariel Pikkemaat
Magazine: Veterinary Record
Start- and endpage: 129-131
Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2710
Author: ICONIC consortium
Link: https://edepot.wur.nl/716425