Multidrug Efflux System-mediated resistance in Staphylococcus aureus under a One Health approach.

The aim of the study was to track the spread of antimicrobial resistance among the different sectors of One Health through the detection of Multidrug-Efflux-System in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) S. aureus isolates were selected: 25 of human, one of animal and eight of food origin. The efflux system genes norA, norB, norC, LmrS, tet38 and msrA were screened by PCR. The activity of the efflux systems was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin in the presence and absence of CCCP and in the quantification of ethidium bromide efflux. Furthermore, biofilm formation was determined in the presence and absence of the CCCP. The molecular epidemiology of the isolates was traced with the aid of PFGE. The gene norC was the most prevalent, detected in all isolates and msrA was the least prevalent, detected in only two isolates from humans. There was no difference in the MICs of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin in the presence of CCCP, but 55.9% of isolates showed ethidium bromide efflux. The presence of CCCP decreased the biofilm formation. Regarding the molecular epidemiology, in three clusters was a mixture of the isolates from different origins. Therefore, S. aureus MDR with active multidrug efflux systems are circulating between One Health domains and it is necessary to consider strategies to decrease this circulation in order to prevent the dissemination of resistance mediated by MES.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Veterinary Pathologist in Biomedical Research.

Animal models have critical roles in biomedical research in promoting understanding of human disease and facilitating development of new therapies and diagnostic techniques to improve human and animal health. In the study of myriad human conditions, each model requires in-depth characterization of its assets and limitations in order for it to be used to greatest advantage. Veterinary pathology expertise is critical in understanding the relevance and translational validity of animal models to conditions under study, assessing morbidity and mortality, and validating outcomes as relevant or not to the study interventions. Clear communication with investigators and education of research personnel on the use and interpretation of pathology endpoints in animal models are critical to the success of any research program. The veterinary pathologist is underutilized in biomedical research due to many factors including misconceptions about high fiscal costs, lack of perceived value, limited recognition of their expertise, and the generally low number of veterinary pathologists currently employed in biomedical research. As members of the multidisciplinary research team, veterinary pathologists have an important role to educate scientists, ensure accurate interpretation of pathology data, maximize rigor, and ensure reproducibility to provide the most reliable data for animal models in biomedical research.

Species-Spanning Echocardiography: Cardiovascular Insights from Across the Animal Kingdom.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this review is to present comparative echocardiography as a source of insights for human cardiovascular medicine. RECENT FINDINGS: We present echocardiographic examples of high impact human cardiovascular pathologies, including valvular, vascular, conduction, and myocardial disorders, in a wide range of species in varying environments. Unique features associated with comparative echocardiographic assessments are linked to human cardiology, including natural animal models of resistance and vulnerability. The cardiovascular vulnerabilities and strengths of other species can be a source of invaluable insights for human healthcare professionals. Echocardiography is playing a key role in bridging human and veterinary cardiology. Consequently, species-spanning echocardiography can deliver novel insights for human medicine.

Successful vaccines for naturally occurring protozoal diseases of animals should guide human vaccine research. A review of protozoal vaccines and their designs.

Effective vaccines are available for many protozoal diseases of animals, including vaccines for zoonotic pathogens and for several species of vector-transmitted apicomplexan haemoparasites. In comparison with human diseases, vaccine development for animals has practical advantages such as the ability to perform experiments in the natural host, the option to manufacture some vaccines in vivo, and lower safety requirements. Although it is proper for human vaccines to be held to higher standards, the enduring lack of vaccines for human protozoal diseases is difficult to reconcile with the comparatively immense amount of research funding. Common tactical problems of human protozoal vaccine research include reliance upon adapted rather than natural animal disease models, and an overwhelming emphasis on novel approaches that are usually attempted in replacement of rather than for improvement upon the types of designs used in effective veterinary vaccines. Currently, all effective protozoal vaccines for animals are predicated upon the ability to grow protozoal organisms. Because human protozoal vaccines need to be as effective as animal vaccines, researchers should benefit from a comparison of existing veterinary products and leading experimental vaccine designs. With this in mind, protozoal vaccines are here reviewed.

Breaking barriers in trauma research: A narrative review of opportunities to leverage veterinary trauma for accelerated translation to clinical solutions for pets and people.

Trauma is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in humans and companion animals. Recent efforts in procedural development, training, quality systems, data collection, and research have positively impacted patient outcomes; however, significant unmet need still exists. Coordinated efforts by collaborative, translational, multidisciplinary teams to advance trauma care and improve outcomes have the potential to benefit both human and veterinary patient populations. Strategic use of veterinary clinical trials informed by expertise along the research spectrum (i.e., benchtop discovery, applied science and engineering, large laboratory animal models, clinical veterinary studies, and human randomized trials) can lead to increased therapeutic options for animals while accelerating and enhancing translation by providing early data to reduce the cost and the risk of failed human clinical trials. Active topics of collaboration across the translational continuum include advancements in resuscitation (including austere environments), acute traumatic coagulopathy, trauma-induced coagulopathy, traumatic brain injury, systems biology, and trauma immunology. Mechanisms to improve funding and support innovative team science approaches to current problems in trauma care can accelerate needed, sustainable, and impactful progress in the field. This review article summarizes our current understanding of veterinary and human trauma, thereby identifying knowledge gaps and opportunities for collaborative, translational research to improve multispecies outcomes. This translational trauma group of MDs, PhDs, and DVMs posit that a common understanding of injury patterns and resulting cellular dysregulation in humans and companion animals has the potential to accelerate translation of research findings into clinical solutions.

Induced pluripotent stem cells in companion animals: how can we move the field forward?

Following a one medicine approach, the development of regenerative therapies for human patients leads to innovative treatments for animals, while pre-clinical studies on animals provide knowledge to advance human medicine. Among many different biological products under investigation, stem cells are among the most prominent. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are extensively investigated, but they present challenges such as senescence and limited differentiation ability. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells with a virtually unlimited capacity for self-renewal and differentiation, but the use of embryos carries ethical concerns. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can overcome all of these limitations, as they closely resemble ESCs but are derived from adult cells by reprogramming in the laboratory using pluripotency-associated transcription factors. iPSCs hold great potential for applications in therapy, disease modeling, drug screening, and even species preservation strategies. However, iPSC technology is less developed in veterinary species compared to human. This review attempts to address the specific challenges associated with generating and applying iPSCs from companion animals. Firstly, we discuss strategies for the preparation of iPSCs in veterinary species and secondly, we address the potential for different applications of iPSCs in companion animals. Our aim is to provide an overview on the state of the art of iPSCs in companion animals, focusing on equine, canine, and feline species, as well as to identify which aspects need further optimization and, where possible, to provide guidance on future advancements. Following a "step-by-step" approach, we cover the generation of iPSCs in companion animals from the selection of somatic cells and the reprogramming strategies, to the expansion and characterization of iPSCs. Subsequently, we revise the current applications of iPSCs in companion animals, identify the main hurdles, and propose future paths to move the field forward. Transferring the knowledge gained from human iPSCs can increase our understanding in the biology of pluripotent cells in animals, but it is critical to further investigate the differences among species to develop specific approaches for animal iPSCs. This is key for significantly advancing iPSC application in veterinary medicine, which at the same time will also allow gaining pre-clinical knowledge transferable to human medicine.

The PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway: A Perspective on Comparative Immuno-Oncology.

The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway mainly attracted attention in immuno-oncology, leading to the development of immune checkpoint therapy. It has, however, much broader importance for tissue physiology and pathology. It mediates basic processes of immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. In addition, it is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. It is also an important paradigm for comparative pathology as well as the "one health one medicine" concept. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of novel research into the diverse facets of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and to give insights into its fine-tuning homeostatic role in a tissue-specific context. This review details early translational research from the discovery phase based on mice as animal models for understanding pathophysiological aspects in human tissues to more recent research extending the investigations to several animal species. The latter has the twofold goal of comparing this pathway between humans and different animal species and translating diagnostic tools and treatment options established for the use in human beings to animals and vice versa.

The One Medicine concept: its emergence from history as a systematic approach to re-integrate human and veterinary medicine.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the global recognition for greater inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary working, and the need for systematic approaches which recognise the interconnectedness and interactions between human, animal and environmental health. The notion of such a One Team/One science approach is perhaps best exemplified by the One Health concept, a systematic approach which is rapidly entering into the mainstream. However, the concept of One Health, as we presently know it, originated from One Medicine, a notion which is much older and which emerged to promote collaboration between the human and veterinary medicine professions and the allied health/scientific disciplines. Whilst One Medicine is perhaps better known by the veterinary community, some misconceptions of what One Medicine is have arisen. Therefore, this review introduces this emerging concept and how it can help to address overlapping (communicable and non-communicable disease) health challenges faced by both human and veterinary medicine.

Simultaneous Quantification of 11 Phenolic Compounds and Consistency Evaluation in Four Dendrobium Species Used as Ingredients of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Shihu.

The interchangeable use of different herbs to prepare the same formulation is a common practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, this practice would require the component herbs to share similar compositions, at least in terms of the bioactive agents, to ensure they can replace each other in drug preparation. In this study, we developed an effective and comprehensive high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method for simultaneous analysis of 11 phenolic compounds in the methanol extracts of Dendrobium huoshanense, Dendrobium nobile (D. nobile), Dendrobium chrysotoxum (D. chrysotoxum), and Dendrobium fimbriatum (D. fimbriatum), which have been identified as interchangeable ingredients for the same TCM preparation "Shihu" in the Chinese pharmacopeia (ChP). The consistency of the four Dendrobium species was evaluated on the basis of the presence of the 11 investigated compounds and the HPLC fingerprints of the methanol extracts of the plants. When gradient elution was performed with a solvent system of acetonitrile and water on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with monitoring at 220 nm, all 11 investigated compounds were isolated at the baseline. The established HPLC method showed excellent linearity (all analytical curves showed relative coefficients [R2] > 0.999), sensitivity, precision (relative standard deviation [RSD] < 2%), and accuracy (recovery, 90.65-99.17%). These findings confirmed that the method we constructed was reliable. Quantification analysis showed significant differences in the contents of the investigated polyphenols in the four Dendrobium species. Evaluations of consistency revealed that the similarities among the four species were 0.299-0.906 in assessments based on the 11 polyphenols and 0.685-0.968 in assessments based on HPLC fingerprints. Thus, the components of the four Dendrobium species may be significantly different, and more experiments are required to determine whether they can be used interchangeably in the same amounts for preparing the formulation according to ChP.

The contribution of bovines to human health against viral infections.

In the last 40 years, novel viruses have evolved at a much faster pace than other pathogens. Viral diseases pose a significant threat to public health around the world. Bovines have a longstanding history of significant contributions to human nutrition, agricultural, industrial purposes, medical research, drug and vaccine development, and livelihood. The life cycle, genomic structures, viral proteins, and pathophysiology of bovine viruses studied in vitro paved the way for understanding the human counterparts. Calf model has been used for testing vaccines against RSV, papillomavirus vaccines and anti-HCV agents were principally developed after using the BPV and BVDV model, respectively. Some bovine viruses-based vaccines (BPIV-3 and bovine rotaviruses) were successfully developed, clinically tried, and commercially produced. Cows, immunized with HIV envelope glycoprotein, produced effective broadly neutralizing antibodies in their serum and colostrum against HIV. Here, we have summarized a few examples of human viral infections for which the use of bovines has contributed to the acquisition of new knowledge to improve human health against viral infections covering the convergence between some human and bovine viruses and using bovines as disease models. Additionally, the production of vaccines and drugs, bovine-based products were covered, and the precautions in dealing with bovines and bovine-based materials.

The Usefulness of Mesenchymal Stem Cells beyond the Musculoskeletal System in Horses.

The differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) initially raised interest for treating musculoskeletal injuries in horses, but MSC paracrine activity has widened their scope for inflammatory and immune-mediated pathologies in both equine and human medicine. Furthermore, the similar etiopathogenesis of some diseases in both species has advanced the concept of "One Medicine, One Health". This article reviews the current knowledge on the use of MSCs for equine pathologies beyond the locomotor system, highlighting the value of the horse as translational model. Ophthalmologic and reproductive disorders are among the most studied for MSC application. Equine asthma, equine metabolic syndrome, and endotoxemia have been less explored but offer an interesting scenario for human translation. The use of MSCs in wounds also provides a potential model for humans because of the healing particularities in both species. High-burden equine-specific pathologies such as laminitis have been suggested to benefit from MSC-therapy, and MSC application in challenging disorders such as neurologic conditions has been proposed. The available data are preliminary, however, and require further development to translate results into the clinic. Nevertheless, current evidence indicates a significant potential of equine MSCs to enlarge their range of application, with particular interest in pathologies analogous to human conditions.

Una Sola Salud. Un Enfoque Multisectorial y Transdisciplinario / One Health. A Multisectoral and Transdisciplinary Health Approach

Una sola salud (USS), es un enfoque integral y unificador diseñado para equilibrar y optimizar la salud tanto de seres humanos, animales y ecosistemas, aprovechando la interrelación entre estos ámbitos para establecer nuevas metodologías de vigilancia y control de enfermedades. Es así como, la forma en que se utiliza el suelo puede influir en el número de casos de malaria; las condiciones meteorológicas y controles artificiales del agua pueden afectar enfermedades como el dengue; el comercio de animales salvajes vivos puede aumentar la probabilidad de que ciertas enfermedades infecciosas se transmitan de animales a humanos (zoonosis), entre otros ejemplos. Es decir, un esfuerzo integrador de múltiples disciplinas que trabajan de manera colaborativa a nivel local, nacional y global en todos los aspectos del cuidado de la salud de los seres humanos, los animales y el medio ambiente. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue reportar y discutir el concepto USS, como nuevo enfoque sanitario inter y transdisciplinario. Debemos adoptar la filosofía de USS desde el nivel global hasta el más local para reducir entre otras, los riesgos de pandemias que pueden ocurrir con mayor frecuencia considerando el crecimiento exponencial de la población mundial y la urbanización.

SUMMARY: One Health (OH) represents a comprehensive and unifying approach designed to balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. By leveraging the interdependent links among these domains, OH establishes new methodologies for disease surveillance and control. The manner in which land is utilized can influence the incidence of malaria; meteorological conditions and artificial water controls can impact diseases such as dengue, and the trade of live wildlife can escalate the likelihood of certain infectious diseases being transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses), among other interconnected factors. That is, an integrative effort of multiple disciplines working collaboratively and locally, nationally, and globally in all aspects of health care for humans, animals, and the environment. The aim of this manuscript was to elucidate and discuss the OH concept as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary paradigm in healthcare. In conclusion,it is imperative to embrace the OH philosophy from a global to local scale in order to mitigate, among other concerns, the heightened risks of pandemics. This consideration is especially pertinent given the exponential growth of the global population and urbanization trends, which may contribute to an increased frequency of pandemic occurrences.

Association between indoor air pollution and respiratory disease in companion dogs and cats.

BACKGROUND: Indoor air pollution (IAP) leads to important respiratory morbidity and mortality in humans. Companion dogs and cats share the same household environment with their owners and are exposed to IAP. HYPOTHESIS: Pets with respiratory disease are more commonly exposed to indoor air pollutants in their homes and to worse air quality than pets without respiratory disease. ANIMALS: Three hundred and forty-eight animals (230 dogs and 118 cats) were recruited. METHODS: Dogs and cats attending the National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital were prospectively enrolled over a 12-month period. Questionnaires were collected from pet owners regarding the status of signs of respiratory problem of animals and air pollutants in their homes. Clinical assessment was performed by veterinarians on all animals included in the case-control study and the presence/absence of respiratory disease and diagnoses were recorded. Individual exposure to particulate matter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) was estimated in the domestic microenvironment of the animals. RESULTS: Dogs with respiratory disease were more commonly exposed to incense burning than control dogs (30 versus 13%, P = .045), but household PM2.5 level was not different between dogs with and without respiratory disease [median 30.8 µg/m3 , range 10.8-214.2 versus median 38.2 µg/m3 , range 5.4-69.4, P = .57]. Signalment factors (age, body weight, and body condition score) instead of IAP factors were associated with respiratory disease in dogs using multivariable logistic regression. In contrast, household PM2.5 level was significantly higher in cats with respiratory disease than in control cats [median 38.6 µg/m3 , range 17.8-131.2 versus median 27.4 µg/m3 , range 15.4-70.0, P = .017]. Cats living in households with PM2.5 > 35 µg/m3 were more likely to have respiratory disease than those living in households with acceptable levels of PM2.5 (OR = 4.13, 95% CI 1.12-15.27, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The link between IAP and respiratory disease in dogs is complicated. An unacceptable level of household PM2.5 (>35 µg/m3 ) is significantly associated with respiratory disease in cats. The effect of IAP on the respiratory health of companion animals warrants further attention.

Quantitative Outcomes of a One Health approach to Study Global Health Challenges.

Having gained momentum in the last decade, the One Health initiative promotes a holistic approach to address complex global health issues. Before recommending its adoption to stakeholders, however, it is paramount to first compile quantitative evidence of the benefit of such an approach. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and summarize primary research that describes monetary and non-monetary outcomes following adoption of a One Health approach. An extensive literature search yielded a total of 42,167 references, of which 85 were included in the final analysis. The top two biotic health issues addressed in these studies were rabies and malaria; the top abiotic health issue was air pollution. Most studies described collaborations between human and animal (n = 42), or human and environmental disciplines (n = 41); commonly reported interventions included vector control and animal vaccination. Monetary outcomes were commonly expressed as cost-benefit or cost-utility ratios; non-monetary outcomes were described using disease frequency or disease burden measurements. The majority of the studies reported positive or partially positive outcomes. This paper illustrates the variety of health challenges that can be addressed using a One Health approach, and provides tangible quantitative measures that can be used to evaluate future implementations of the One Health approach.

A framework for One Health research.

The need for multidisciplinary research to address today's complex health and environmental challenges has never been greater. The One Health (OH) approach to research ensures that human, animal, and environmental health questions are evaluated in an integrated and holistic manner to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and potential solutions than would be possible with siloed approaches. However, the OH approach is complex, and there is limited guidance available for investigators regarding the practical design and implementation of OH research. In this paper we provide a framework to guide researchers through conceptualizing and planning an OH study. We discuss key steps in designing an OH study, including conceptualization of hypotheses and study aims, identification of collaborators for a multi-disciplinary research team, study design options, data sources and collection methods, and analytical methods. We illustrate these concepts through the presentation of a case study of health impacts associated with land application of biosolids. Finally, we discuss opportunities for applying an OH approach to identify solutions to current global health issues, and the need for cross-disciplinary funding sources to foster an OH approach to research.

One Health training and research activities in Western Europe.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in emerging human infectious diseases that have a zoonotic origin and the increasing resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs have shown the need for collaborations between the human, animal and environmental health sectors. The One Health concept increasingly receives recognition from policy makers and researchers all over the world. This overview compiled research and education activities in the area of One Health in Western Europe (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (UK), with a focus on infectious diseases. It can serve as a starting point for future initiatives and collaborations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search for 'One Health' was performed using National Center for Biotechnology Information and Google. Moreover, information from global and European policy documents was collected and a questionnaire was designed to gather current One Health research and training activities in Western Europe. RESULTS: This overview shows that there is considerable recognition for One Health in Europe, although most educational initiatives are recent. In Europe, the One Health approach is currently mainly advocated in relation to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Many countries have incorporated the One Health approach in their policy to fight AMR, and funding possibilities for AMR research increased significantly. The number of national and international multidisciplinary research networks in the area of zoonotic diseases and One Health is increasing. DISCUSSION: Although One Health has gained recognition in Europe, often a One Health approach to research and education in the area of zoonotic diseases and AMR is not implemented. In many countries, collaboration between sectors is still lacking, and One Health activities are predominantly initiated by the veterinary sector. To facilitate the multidisciplinary approach that is needed to fight zoonotic diseases and AMR, exploring current barriers for collaboration is needed. Targeted funding can help address these boundaries and facilitate multidisciplinary research and training to fight both zoonotic diseases and AMR in Europe.

Human and animal health on three continents--a biography of the early life of Karl Friedrich Meyer (1884-1974).

Karl Friedrich Meyer (KF) was born and educated as a veterinarian in Europe; he researched infectious diseases in Europe, South Africa and the United States. He is one of the true forefathers of the 'one health-one medicine' concept. The broad scope of his research covered botulism, leptospirosis, brucellosis, plague, ornithosis, Western equine encephalitis, mussel poisoning and clostridia. This manuscript adds some more details of his early biography.

Toward One Health: are public health stakeholders aware of the field of animal health?

Motivated by the perception that human and veterinary medicines can cooperate in more ways than just fighting zoonoses, the authors organized a roundtable during the 2013 annual meeting of the International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS). Collaborations between human and animal health sectors were reported to often rise in response to zoonotic outbreaks (during crisis time) and be mainly based on personal networks. Ways to maintain and strengthen these links were discussed.