Publicaties

Surveillance zoönosen in vleeskalveren 2022

Cuperus, T.; Wit, B.; Wullings, B.; Hoekstra, J.; van Hoek, A.; van Buuren, C.; Dierikx, C.; van Duijkeren, E.; Hengeveld, P.; Opsteegh, M.

Samenvatting

Animals can carry pathogens that can also cause disease in humans.Such diseases are known as zoonoses. In 2022 manure and nose swabs of veal calves was investigated at 180 Dutch farms. In addition, 55 livestock farmers, family members and employees were also tested for these pathogens. The study was carried out by RIVM, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- enWarenautoriteit, NVWA) and WFSR (Wageningen Food Safety Research).The study focuses on multiple pathogenic bacteria. The most important are Campylobacter, STEC, Listeria and Salmonella. In addition ESBL-producing bacteria, colistin-resistent bacteria and MRSA are investigated. These bacteria are important because they are resistant to multiple groups of antibiotics.Most of these pathogens usually cause diarrhea in humans, but the infections can sometimes be more severe in vulnerable populations. The pathogens are usually present in the animal’s intestines and therefore end up in the manure as well. Meat can become contaminated during slaughter. It is therefore important to only eat veal that has been thoroughly cooked.Of the investigated pathogens, Campylobacter was found most frequently, namely at 96% of the farms. Among livestock farmers and family members, Campylobacter was found in 5 persons. The types of Campylobacter carried by the humans were different from the types found in the calves on their farms. These people could be infected by Campylobacter by other routes, for example via food or other animals. Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria, Listeria and Salmonella were found less, on 66% (STEC), 20% (Listeria) and 15% (Salmonella)of the farms. These three bacteria were found more often on farms with so called rosé calves then on farms with white calves. Two persons carried STEC and one person Listeria. Salmonella was not found in human participants.ESBL-producing bacteria were found on 27% of the farms and in 3 human participants. The percentage in human participants is comparable to the percentage in the general Dutch population. MRSA was found on 25% of the farms, more often in farms with white calves and in 13% of the human participants. This is higher than the percentage of MRSA in the general Dutch population. Finally, in 2% of the farms colistin-resistant bacteria were found, but not in human participants. In the general population this is 0,8%.