Movement of diseases between humans, domestic animals, wildlife populations and environmental reservoirs is a highly significant health issue. Land and water use in agro-ecosystems as well as some agricultural practices may lead to contamination of our environment and impair ecosystem services like disease control. Surveillance and management of the emergence of infectious diseases or of antibiotic resistance mechanisms requires a holistic approach taking into account all compartments of the ecosystems. This topic will thus promote multidisciplinary studies aiming at a better understanding and control of environmental and animal reservoirs for human pathogens.
Research questions addressed
Description/prevalence of environmental and animal reservoirs
Diversity of human pathogens in various compartments of agro ecosystems
Microbial source tracking (strain genotyping and comparisons between strains from different origin)
Virulence of environmental and animal strains
Impact of agricultural practices (organic waste recycling, irrigation with waste water) on dissemination of pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes
Exposure and transfer pathways
Risk assessment
Movement of diseases between humans, domestic animals, wildlife populations and environmental reservoirs is a highly significant health issue. Land and water use in agro-ecosystems as well as some agricultural practices may lead to contamination of our environment and impair ecosystem services like disease control. Surveillance and management of the emergence of infectious diseases or of antibiotic resistance mechanisms requires a holistic approach taking into account all compartments of the ecosystems. This topic will thus promote multidisciplinary studies aiming at a better understanding and control of environmental and animal reservoirs for human pathogens.
Research questions addressed
Description/prevalence of environmental and animal reservoirs
Diversity of human pathogens in various compartments of agro ecosystems
Microbial source tracking (strain genotyping and comparisons between strains from different origin)
Virulence of environmental and animal strains
Impact of agricultural practices (organic waste recycling, irrigation with waste water) on dissemination of pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes
Exposure and transfer pathways
Risk assessment