Project Description
Summary
This project will merge social and natural science methods to explore
and analyse current antimicrobial use in the UK gamebird industry and
its impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Case award E4 DTP
Pheasant
hens sharing feeder with wild birds
Project background
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a critical threat to One
Health. Our understanding of antimicrobial use in UK released gamebird
species, and the consequences of this, remains limited. The Game &
Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) estimates around
30-35 million pheasants and 10-12 million red-legged partridges are
released annually for shooting in the UK. The ecological consequences of
this practice are currently being discussed in relation to possible
licencing and limits on releasing.
Preliminary studies indicate that resistance to β-Lactams and multi-drug resistant members of the Campylobacter genus are prevalent among UK gamebirds. Pheasants and partridges are raised in rearing facilities where they are sometimes provided with antimicrobials through their food or water, which could contribute to the development of resistance. As gamebirds are released into the wild, there is a risk of transmitting resistant bacteria into the broader ecosystem. Also, anecdotal evidence indicates that gamebirds are sometimes given food supplemented with anti-microbials on shooting estates. This practice can attract other wild species that may come into contact with contaminated bird faeces.
This project will lead to an understanding of antimicrobial use and the prevalence of AMR in the gamebird industry. This will allow the development of strategies to mitigate the industry’s impact on AMR in released gamebirds and potentially on the wider ecosystem. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to explore the factors driving antimicrobial use, assess its biological impact on birds, and identify effective methods for communicating these findings to industry stakeholders. This will enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions and reduce the potential for AMR development.
Research questions
- What is the current rational for antimicrobial use in gamebirds and what factors determine specific drug use?
- To what extent is the gamebird industry aware of antimicrobial resistance resulting from prophylactic antimicrobial use?
- How prevalent is AMR in the microbiota of released UK gamebirds?
- How do different antimicrobial practices affect resistance levels in the gamebird microbiota?
- What is the most effective method for communicating the impact of antimicrobial use to stakeholders in the gamebird industry?
Methodology
This interdisciplinary project will be conducted in collaboration with
The GWCT. In the first year of the studentship, a survey will be
conducted to characterise the use of antimicrobials in pheasants and
partridges in both rearing facilities and shooting estates.
This survey will include a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP)
component which will allow the student to explore the drivers for
different forms of antimicrobial usage. The entire survey and
specifically the KAP questions will be designed in close collaboration
with The GWCT to ensure questions are appropriately worded to generate
meaningful data without participants feeling interrogated regarding
their practices. This survey will quantify current husbandry techniques,
AMR knowledge and prevention practices amongst
industry stakeholders, and the motivations behind stakeholder interest
in AMR avoidance measures.
Based on the results from the survey, the student will design an appropriate sampling protocol for partridges and pheasants during both rearing and release on a sub-sample of the shoots that have been surveyed. Prevalence of AMR genes during rearing, in release pens, after release and during shooting will be assessed. Samples will be taken from birds that have either been submitted for veterinary post-mortem examination or from birds shot during the shooting season. Faecal and caecal pellet samples will also be taken from live birds. Microbial DNA will be extracted from gastrointestinal and respiratory samples, and qPCR will be used to determine the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes. A subset of samples will undergo metagenomic sequencing, and antimicrobial resistance genes and other virulence genes will be identified. The presence and abundance of AMR and antimicrobial residues will be correlated with the previously surveyed antimicrobial usage practises.
A co-creation workshop with survey respondents will be arranged to firstly share findings of the research and to explore effective methods for communicating such findings to game industry stakeholders more widely i.e., shooting estates, game rearing facility owners, vets, young game keepers etc. The student will analyse qualitative transcripts from this workshop and create a pilot draft of AMR communication materials. These pilot materials will be pre-tested with a sub-set of workshop and survey participants and reviewed by The GWCT stakeholders. Final feedback will allow the student to generate recommendations for future AMR communications in this sector
Year 1: Literature review and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey of antimicrobial usage in the gamebird industry, understanding of issue, what drives usage practices, and of other relevant husbandry practices. Initiation of AMR prevalence survey.
Year 2: Continuation of prevalence survey. Engagement activity (ie: focus group/workshop) to feedback and discuss KAP survey findings. Characterisation of antimicrobial resistance profiles from gut and respiratory samples (metagenomics and qPCR).
Year 3: Continue bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data. Feedback current results in co-creation workshop. Develop and pre-test pilot materials for feeding back scientific findings to game industry stakeholders. Produce final recommendations for communication on AMR within the gamebird sector.
Based on the results from the survey, the student will design an appropriate sampling protocol for partridges and pheasants during both rearing and release on a sub-sample of the shoots that have been surveyed. Prevalence of AMR genes during rearing, in release pens, after release and during shooting will be assessed. Samples will be taken from birds that have either been submitted for veterinary post-mortem examination or from birds shot during the shooting season. Faecal and caecal pellet samples will also be taken from live birds. Microbial DNA will be extracted from gastrointestinal and respiratory samples, and qPCR will be used to determine the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes. A subset of samples will undergo metagenomic sequencing, and antimicrobial resistance genes and other virulence genes will be identified. The presence and abundance of AMR and antimicrobial residues will be correlated with the previously surveyed antimicrobial usage practises.
A co-creation workshop with survey respondents will be arranged to firstly share findings of the research and to explore effective methods for communicating such findings to game industry stakeholders more widely i.e., shooting estates, game rearing facility owners, vets, young game keepers etc. The student will analyse qualitative transcripts from this workshop and create a pilot draft of AMR communication materials. These pilot materials will be pre-tested with a sub-set of workshop and survey participants and reviewed by The GWCT stakeholders. Final feedback will allow the student to generate recommendations for future AMR communications in this sector
Year 1: Literature review and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey of antimicrobial usage in the gamebird industry, understanding of issue, what drives usage practices, and of other relevant husbandry practices. Initiation of AMR prevalence survey.
Year 2: Continuation of prevalence survey. Engagement activity (ie: focus group/workshop) to feedback and discuss KAP survey findings. Characterisation of antimicrobial resistance profiles from gut and respiratory samples (metagenomics and qPCR).
Year 3: Continue bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data. Feedback current results in co-creation workshop. Develop and pre-test pilot materials for feeding back scientific findings to game industry stakeholders. Produce final recommendations for communication on AMR within the gamebird sector.
Training
A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both
specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional
skills. This is a highly interdisciplinary project, enabling the
student to acquire skills in both social and natural
sciences. Natural science skills will include qPCR, metagenomics, and
bioinformatic analysis. Social science skills will include survey
design, workshop/focus group design and facilitation, and the analysis
and synthesis of qualitative data. The student will
also acquire a variety of transferable skills, including data
management; effective communication with experts and non-experts in the
field; and scientific writing.
Requirements
Evidence of critical thinking, the ability to carry out high-quality
research, and the ability to understand the wider outcomes of research.
The successful candidate will have an interest in AMR and its
management. As this is an inter-disciplinary project,
we do not expect students to have previous experience of all of the
disciplines involved.
References
Aebischer, N.J. "Fifty-year trends in hunting bags of birds and mammals
and calibrated estimation of national bag size using GWCT’s National
Gamebag Census". European Journal of Wildlife Research, 65 (2019).
Arnold, K.E. et al. "‘Disperse abroad in the land’: the role of wildlife
in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance." Biology Letters, 12
(2016).
Bain, C. et al. "β‐Lactam resistance genes present in UK pheasants and red‐legged partridges." Veterinary Record 192.5 (2023)
Madden, J.R. "How many gamebirds are released in the UK each year?" European Journal of Wildlife Research, 67, (2021).
Sage R.B. et al. "Summary review and synthesis: effects on habitats and
wildlife of the release and management of pheasants and red-legged
partridges on UK lowland shoots." Wildlife Biology, 2020 (2020).
Seguino, A. et al. "Campylobacter spp. carriage in wild game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Scotland and its relevance to public health." Game meat hygiene. Wageningen Academic, 2017: 83-99.
CASE partner: Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust - The GWCT
Supervisors
| Laura Glendinning | RDSVS - The Roslin Institute | Laura.Glendinning@roslin.ed.ac.uk | www.ed.ac.uk/profile/laura-glendinning |
| Jess Mitchell | GAAFS | jmitch2@ed.ac.uk |
|
| Rufus Sage | Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust | rsage@gwct.org.uk | scholar.google.com/citations?user=VwvTTCMAAAAJ&hl=en |
E4 supervisors are happy to hear from candidates who would wish to adapt the project to their own ideas and research background.
CASE studentship
This is a CASE project which benefits from the association of an
external non-academic partner to provide additional expertise, access to
data, labs and facilities (in some cases), a placement and enhanced
research costs. CASE studentships are a great opportunity
to apply research in real-world settings (e.g. industry, businesses,
charities) and to open up to non-academic careers. See more information
on CASE Studentships on our "How to apply" webpages.