One health genomics- why animal diseases matter for human health

“…At the PHG Foundation, a science and health policy think tank, we have been examining policy issues surrounding the prospective implementation of pathogen genomic technologies in the UK health service. Our most recent briefing note is titled “One health genomics- why animal diseases matter for human health”. The briefing outlines some potential benefits and considerations of human and animal health agencies conducting coordinated pathogen genomic surveillance. We thought the briefing might be of interest to you [the One Health Initiative team] given the remit of your organisation. …

Please see entire briefing note at http://www.phgfoundation.org/briefing_notes/422/

In humans, pathogen genomics is beginning to improve diagnosis of infections, tracking of outbreaks and identification of antimicrobial resistance. Could a cross-species (‘one health’) approach, to include similar efforts with animals, benefit both animal and human populations?

• Animals are the source of around 75% of newly emerging human infectious diseases
• The use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in livestock means that if these infections are transmitted to humans they may already be resistant to many of the antibiotics we use to treat them
• Epidemiological analyses to trace the transmission between animal populations and / or between animal and humans are rarely conducted
• Pathogen whole genome sequencing (WGS) has several advantages over conventional methods for diagnosing pathogen infections and characterising outbreaks, namely rapid diagnosis, high sensitivity, and flexible analysis
• Implementing a genomic cross-species surveillance (one health) would enable earlier detection of pathogens and their transmission within and between species
• Wider policy issues surrounding the prospective implementation of pathogen genomics in a clinical and public health context are detailed in our report Pathogen Genomics Into Practice …

And a further blog here: http://www.phgfoundation.org/blog/16913/.  Further information on the wider “Pathogen genomics into practice project” can be found here: http://www.phgfoundation.org/project/id. “

This article was originally posted at the One Health News section of the onehealthinitiative website.