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PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED ENGAGEMENT IN RESEARCH (PEER)
Cycle 7 (2018 Deadline)


Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance of bacteria for a better health of animals in Tunisia

PI: Lilia Messadi (lilia_messadi@yahoo.fr), Ecole nationale de médecine vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet
U.S. Partner: Charlene Jackson, U.S. National Poultry Research Center
Dates: January 2019 - September 2023


Project Overview

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major risk for human, animal, and environmental health, with an increasing risk of moving towards a "post-antibiotic era" where common infections could kill humans and animals. According to one study, between 2000 and 2015, Tunisia ranked as the world's second highest country for consumption of antibiotics, which is very concerning, as there is a direct relationship between antibiotic consumption and AMR. As of the time this project was conducted, the country did not yet have a national strategy for monitoring the AMR of bacteria isolated from animals.

The objective of this PEER project was to survey AMR of bacteria at the animal/human/environment interface by targeting animals, food of animal origin, and pests (rats and cockroaches). By undertaking an epidemiological study of resistance, Dr. Lilia Messadi and her team sought to identify the risk factors in husbandry practices and in veterinary use of antibiotics and suggest corrective measures to reduce AMR. The researchers focused primarily on smallholder farmers with limited income, to provide them with added value through health education messages in order to improve hygiene and prevent infectious diseases of animals. The project also included practical training of laboratory technicians and students to improve monitoring methods, as well as workshops and seminars for students and veterinarians to improve the use of antibiotics to reduce the frequency of resistant bacteria.

Final Summary of Project Activities

The researchers studied phenotypic resistance to antibiotics using antibiograms and molecular PCR tests. During this work they optimized molecular methods to identify genes associated with the resistance phenotype of bacteria. These techniques will be available for other work done using PCR. The PEER team undertook AMR studies across different animal species, including production animals (broiler chickens, cattle, sheep, camels), pets (dogs, cats, horses, donkeys), harmful animals (cockroaches, flies and rats), and wildlife (wild boars).

The team took stock of the antimicrobial resistance of commensal bacteria, considered important sentinel bacteria to monitor for zoonotic risk, as well as bacteria of the Staphylococcus and Campylobacter genera. The bacteria studied present a risk for humans and animals, which corresponds to a zoonotic risk.

The PEER project supported a significant effort in terms of training, including supervising 28 doctoral theses in veterinary medicine, 19 of which were completed by women. Team members have already published a variety of articles and presented their results at eight conferences. The PI and her team led frequent practical training sessions on bacteriology, during which they raised the students’ awareness of the risks presented by AMR. This practical work allowed the students to do their own manipulations in the lab, in particular on the antibiogram or antibiotic sensitivity test (AST). During the project period, the PEER team was also awarded two new grants for international collaborations with research teams in Germany, Canada, Spain and France.


Publications

Ghassan Tayh, Salma Mariem Boubaker, Rym Ben Khedher, Mounir Jbeli, Monia Dâaloul-Jedidi, and Lilia Messadi. 2023. Prevalence, characterization and antimicrobial resistance of non-O157 Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia coli isolates from healthy cattle in Tunisia. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 71(2): 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1556/004.2023.00904

Asma Ben Haj Yahia, Ghassan Tayh, Sarrah Landolsi, Elaa Maamar, Nejia Galai, Zbaida Landoulsi, and Lilia Messadi. 2023. First report of OXA-48 and IMP genes among ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolates from diarrheic calves in Tunisia. Microbial Drug Resistance 2023 Apr; 29(4):150-162. https://doi.org/10.1089/mdr.2022.0129

Sarrah Landolsi, Rachid Selmi, Linda Hadjadj, Asma Ben Haj Yahia, Lilia Messadi, and Jean Marc Rolain. 2023. Occurrence and characteristics of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (blaTEM-128) isolated from Mus musculus captured from a veterinary clinic and houses in Tunis, Tunisia. Vet Microbiol. 2023 May;280:109698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109698

Ghassan Tayh, Asma Ben Haj Yahia, Rachid Selmi, Sarrah Landolsi, Faten Ben Chehida, Aymen Mamlouk, Mohamed Habib Jemli, Monia Dâaloul-Jedidi, and Lilia Messadi. 2022. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from fecal samples of diarrheic camels in Tunisia. Veterinaria Italiana 2022, 58(3): 315-323. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.2555.16997.2

Sarrah Landolsi, Rachid Selmi, Linda Hadjadj, Asma Ben Haj Yahia, Kaouther Ben Romdhane, Lilia Messadi, and Jean Marc Rolain. 2022. First report of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (blaCTX-M1) and colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in E. coli of lineage ST648 from cockroaches in Tunisia. Microbiology Spectrum 2022, 10 (2) e00036-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00036-21

Ghassan Tayh, Salma Mariem Boubaker, Rym Ben Khedher, Mounir Jbeli, Faten Ben Chehida, Aymen Mamlouk, Monia Dâaloul-Jedidi, and Lilia Messadi. 2022. Prevalence, virulence genes, and antimicrobial profiles of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from healthy cattle in Tunisia. J Infect Dev Ctries 2022; 16(8):1308-1316. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.15855

Faten Ben Chehida, Haythem Gharsa, Wafa Tombari, Rachid Selmi, Sana Khaldi, Monia Daaloul, Karim Ben Slama, and Lilia Messadi. 2021. First report of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence gene characterization associated with Staphylococcus aureus carriage in healthy camels from Tunisia. Animals 11(9):2754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092754 

Rachid Selmi, Ghassan Tayh, Sinda Srairi, Aymen Mamlouk, Faten Ben Chehida, Samia Lahmar, Mongi Bouslama, Monia Daaloul-Jedidi, and Lilia Messadi. 2022. Prevalence, risk factors and emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing-, carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Enterobacterales isolated from wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Tunisia. Microbial Pathogenesis 163, 2022, 105385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105385


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