Summary

Given the emerging clinical impact of antimicrobial resistance organisms, World Health Organization urges the immediate implementation of the Global Strategy for the containment of Antimicrobial Resistance. Many countries including Sri Lanka with the support of WHO prepared their national action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance. The national action plan of Sri Lanka highlighted the importance of national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in human and animal. The report particularly emphasized on lack of AMR surveillance in Animal. Veterinarians often prescribe antimicrobial drugs empirically due to absence of veterinary microbiology diagnostic laboratory service in the country. The AMR surveillance also needs a veterinary diagnostic laboratory and the proposed research will help to establish that facility. Companion animal practice (self employed) has become the livelihood of a major proportion (~60%) of veterinary graduates and establishment of a diagnostic laboratory at companion animal hospital provide the necessary laboratory support for them. This will improve the veterinary profession in the country. Proposed research will use advance techniques such as PCR, Multi locus Sequence typing and genome sequencing and it will help to enhance the science and technology capacity of the country. Training a MPhil student and the technical staff on these techniques will develop human recourses. Findings of the research will be conveyed to the government organizations such as Ministry of Health, Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary drug control authority and Medical and Veterinary councils to take necessary actions to prevent emergence and dissimination of MDR clones in the country. If a potential vaccine candidate to eliminate MDR E. coli, were identified, the knowledge could be used by the industry to develop a commercial vaccine.

Objectives

• Determine the occurrence and genetic relatedness of multidrug resistant clones (with particular emphasis on ST131) of extra intestinal pathogenic E. coli affecting humans, animals and poultry in Sri Lanka
• Identify the factors that predisposes to harbor multidrug resistant clones
• Identify the genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance of identified clones
• Determine the potential of developing a vaccine to eliminate the major ExPEC MDR clones/strains identified in the study

Major Equipment Facilitated by Grant

1. Refrigerated microcentrifuge