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mcr-3.1 found in US human patient
Salmonella enterica is responsible for a significant percentage of human illnesses in the US.
Gene allows Salmonella to become resistant to colistin 

Scientists have found a gene that allows Salmonella to become resistant to last resort antibiotics in a human patient in the US.

The discovery provides the first evidence that the gene, mcr-3.1, has made its way to the US from Asia.

Salmonella enterica is responsible for a significant percentage of human illnesses in the US. mcr-3.1 confers resistance to colistin, the drug of last resort for treating multi-drug-resistant infections.

“Public health officials have known about this gene for some time,” said Siddhartha Thakur, director of global health at North Carolina State University. “In 2015, they saw that mcr-3.1 had moved from a chromosome to a plasmid in China, which paves the way for the gene to be transmitted between organisms.

“For example, E. coli and Salmonella are in the same family, so once the gene is on a plasmid, that plasmid could move between the bacteria and they could transmit this gene to each other. Once mcr-3.1 jumped to the plasmid, it spread to 30 different countries, although not – as far as we knew – to the U.S.”  

Professor Thakur’s lab is one of several US labs that is participating in surveillance for resistant strains of Salmonella. Veterinary medicine student Valerie Nelson and PhD student Daniel Monte did genome sequencing on 100 clinical human stool samples from the southeastern US between 2014 and 2016.

One sample was found to contain the resistant mcr-3.1 gene. The patient had travelled to China two weeks prior to becoming ill with a Salmonella infection.

Prof Thakur added: “The positive sample was from 2014, so this discovery definitely has implications for the spread of colistin-resistant Salmonella in the US. Our lab will continue to try and fill in these knowledge gaps.”

The research has been published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.