Latest news with #AbiSeager
Scottish Sun
29-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Scots scientist call out for poo donations from pet owners for brand new study
There's certain strains of bacteria that are harmless to animals but can dump all sorts of problems onto people because the illnesses are resistant to antibiotics DOO-DOO DATA Scots scientist call out for poo donations from pet owners for brand new study Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCIENTISTS want to kick up a stink - by asking pet owners to donate poo for a special study. Experts at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) need cats and dogs to make a mess so they can cut the risk of passing on infections to humans. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Boffins at the SRUC are appealing for donations of pet poo for a special study Credit: Getty There's certain strains of bacteria that are harmless to animals but can dump all sorts of problems onto people because the illnesses are resistant to antibiotics. Now thousands of pet owners will take part in a four-year project by submitting faecal samples from their animals to generate the first ever doo-doo data to protect public health. Professor John Berezowski, of SRUC's Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre in Inverness, said: 'This initiative is critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in our pets. 'Our experts have worked hard to develop a practical AMR surveillance system. 'We plan to follow a team approach, working with pet owners and their vets as we explore how best to collect samples for surveillance throughout the UK.' Abi Seager, chief executive officer of the UK Government's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), who commissioned the study, added: 'Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global health threats that we face. 'I am proud to launch this ground-breaking AMR surveillance project in healthy cats and dogs with SRUC, who have a proven track-record of establishing surveillance programmes from the ground-up, and this new study is a truly One Health intervention to tackle AMR. 'A recent report published by the Public Accounts Committee on AMR, highlighted the need to address surveillance gaps in animals and we are pleased the VMD is already driving progress in this area.'
STV News
29-07-2025
- Health
- STV News
Scottish scientists to lead world's first study on antibiotic resistance in pets
A team of scientists in the Highlands is set to lead the world's first nationwide study into antibiotic resistance in cats and dogs. Based in Inverness, the research group from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) will work with the UK Government's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) to launch a new surveillance programme aimed at detecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthy pets. The groundbreaking pilot project will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world to monitor AMR in a country's pet population. It will also play a key role in reducing infection risks for both animals and their half of adults in the UK own a pet, meaning humans and animals often live in close contact. That makes it easier for resistant bacteria to spread between them and potentially makes infections harder to treat or, in some cases, say that while antibiotic use is sometimes essential, it should be limited to when it's truly needed to avoid contributing to new study will build on existing animal AMR surveillance work, which until now has only focused on a small number of unwell animals. It will be the first time that healthy pets across the UK are part of a national effort to track resistance levels. Professor John Berezowski, based at SRUC's Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre in Inverness, said: 'This initiative is critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of AMR in our pets. 'Our experts have worked hard to develop a practical AMR surveillance system. We plan to follow a team approach, working with pet owners and their vets as we explore how best to collect samples for surveillance throughout the UK.' Abi Seager, chief executive of the VMD, added: 'Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global health threats we face. 'I am proud to launch this ground-breaking AMR surveillance project in healthy cats and dogs with SRUC, who have a proven track record in establishing surveillance programmes from the ground up, and this new study is a truly One Health intervention to tackle AMR.' The World Health Organisation ranks AMR among the top public health threats globally, and the findings from this project could help shape future policies on antibiotic use in animals. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
