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Research topic: One Health Surveillance in Practice: Experiences of Integration among Human Health, Animal Health, Environmental Health, and Food Safety Sectors; International audience; Introduction The awareness of scientists and policy makers regarding the requirement for an integrated One Health (OH) approach in responding to zoonoses has increased in recent years. However, there remains an overall inertia in relation to the implementation of practical cross-sector collaborations. Foodborne outbreaks of zoonotic diseases continue to affect the European population despite stringent regulations, evidencing the requirement for better ‘prevent, detect and response’ strategies. Response exercises play an essential role in the improvement of crisis management plans, providing the opportunity to test practical intervention methodologies in a controlled environment. Methods The One Health European Joint Programme simulation exercise (OHEJP SimEx) aimed at practicing the OH capacity and interoperability across public health, animal health and food safety sectors in a challenging outbreak scenario. The OHEJP SimEx was delivered through a sequence of scripts covering the different stages of a Salmonella outbreak investigation at a national level, involving both the human food chain and the raw pet feed industry. Results A total of 255 participants from 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands) took part in national level two-day exercises during 2022. National evaluations identified common recommendations to countries aiming to improve their OH structure to establish formal communication channels between sectors, implement a common data sharing platform, harmonize laboratory procedures, and reinforce inter-laboratory networks within countries. The large proportion of participants (94%) indicated significant interest in pursuing a OH approach and desire to work more closely with other sectors. Discussion The OHEJP SimEx outcomes will assist policy makers in implementing a harmonized approach to cross-sector health-related topics, by highlighting the benefits of cooperation, identifying gaps in the current strategies and suggesting actions required to better address foodborne outbreaks. Furthermore, we summarize recommendations for future OH simulation exercises, which are essential to continually test, challenge and improve national OH strategies.

OHEJP exercise SimEx

OHEJP exercise SimEx final report

An outbreak of disease in a Swedish beef cattle herd initiated an in-depth study to investigate the presence of bacteria and viruses in the blood of clinically healthy (n = 10) and clinically diseased cattle (n = 20) using whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGSS). The occurrence of infectious agents was also investigated in ticks found attached to healthy cattle (n = 61) and wild deer (n = 23), and in spleen samples from wild deer (n = 30) and wild boars (n = 10). Moreover, blood samples from 84 clinically healthy young stock were analysed for antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens. The WGSS revealed the presence of at least three distinct Mycoplasma variants that were most closely related to Mycoplasma wenyonii. Two of these were very similar to a divergent M. wenyonii variant previously only detected in Mexico. These variants tended to be more common in the diseased cattle than in the healthy cattle but were not detected in the ticks or wild animals. The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in similar proportions in diseased (33%) and healthy (40%) cattle, while 70% of the deer, 8% of ticks collected from the cattle and 19% of the ticks collected from deer were positive. Almost all the isolates from the cattle, deer and ticks belonged to Ecotype 1. Based on sequencing of the groEL-gene, most isolates of A. phagocytophilum from cattle were similar and belonged to a different cluster than the isolates from wild deer. Antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were detected in all the analysed samples. In conclusion, uncommon variants of Mycoplasma were detected, probably associated with the disease outbreak in combination with immune suppression due to granulocytic anaplasmosis. Moreover, A. phagocytophilum was found to be circulating within this cattle population, while circulation between cattle and deer occurred infrequently.

Simple Summary Anaplasmosis is a bacterial disease that has a severe impact on livestock production, such as reduced milk yield, poor growth and increased susceptibility to other diseases. This pilot study investigated the presence of Anaplasma bacteria and associated antibodies in blood samples collected from a subset of the Swedish goat population. The samples were analysed using polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One of 40 goats tested positive for the presence of genetic material from the bacteria, while 33% of the serum samples contained antibodies for anaplasmosis. These results indicate that anaplasmosis is widespread in the goat population in certain areas of Sweden. More research is needed to understand the impact of anaplasmosis on Swedish goats and goat farmers. Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that has a severe impact on livestock production and welfare. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the presence of Anaplasma spp. and associated antibodies in a subset of the Swedish goat population. In 2020, six goat herds located in different parts of Sweden were visited and whole blood and serum samples were collected. The whole blood samples (n = 40) were analysed for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. capra using quantitative and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The serum samples (n = 59) were analysed for the presence of antibodies to Anaplasma spp. using a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the same analysis was carried out on additional serum samples previously collected in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (n = 166). One goat (2.5%) tested positive for the presence of A. phagocytophilum genetic material, while the seropositivity rate ranged from 20 to 71%, depending on the surveyed year and area. These results indicate widespread exposure to Anaplasma spp. in the Swedish goat population. To inform future risk assessments and control efforts, further research is warranted to determine the prevalence of anaplasmosis and its impact on goat farming in Sweden.

One Health EJP Work Package 4: SimEx Workshop Report

OHEJP SimEx Handbook for Evaluators.

OHEJP SimEx Handbook for National Exercise Leaders (NEL) and Local Exercise Leaders (LEL)

OHEJP exercise SimEx scenario

Additional file 1. Terms used to form search strings. Terms used to form search strings in the literature search for studies on potential climate-sensitive infections (CSIs), listed in alphabetical groups.

The production of biodiesel from rapeseed oil methyl ester leaves glycerol (synonym: glycerine, 1,2,3-propanetriol) as a valuable by-product and a promising feed supplement for farm animals. This thesis provides information about the supplemental feeding with glycerol to dairy cows in early lactation and to young calves, and describes the fate of glycerol entering the rumen and the impact of glycerol on enteric methane production and gastrointestinal microbial populations. This was achieved by investigating the effects of two glycerol products of different purity - crude glycerol (88.1%) and glycerol (>99%) - on milk production, feed intake and metabolic parameters in 42 dairy cows in early lactation. Furthermore, different routes of the disappearance of glycerol from the rumen were quantified. These were i) fermentation in the rumen, ii) absorption across the rumen epithelium and iii) rumen outflow through the omasal orifice. The effect of glycerol on enteric methane production, rumen volatile fatty acid profiles and microbial population in rumen fluid was investigated in a gas in vitro system. Finally, the effects of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) with added glycerol on metabolic parameters and intestinal microbiota were examined in young calves. Glycerol supplementation, irrespective of purity, did not significantly affect milk yield or composition, the total intake of dry matter or metabolic parameters in dairy cows in early lactation. It was estimated that approximately 70% of the glycerol was absorbed mainly from the rumen, but probably also from the small intestine. A smaller fraction disappeared from the rumen compartment by microbial digestion. These findings indicate that glycerol is an available gluconeogenic substrate which might efficiently contribute to glucose synthesis in the liver. Addition of glycerol in the gas in vitro system indicated no reduction in methane production. Furthermore, bacterial and archaeal community structures subjected to additional glycerol followed a similar pattern as the in vitro control with no feed additive. Glycerol was also shown to be a suitable component in ORS for young calves since it ameliorated the effects of dehydration on feed and fluid deprived calves. In calves, glycerol was rapidly absorbed, presumably in the small intestine, and thus most likely not available to the intestinal microbiota.