Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge requiring integrated One Health approaches that consider human, animal, and environmental dimensions. In the province of Québec (Canada), a 2019 regulation restricting the use of category I antimicrobials (AMs) in livestock highlights the need for context-specific, evidence-based interventions to limit the dissemination of resistant microorganisms while preserving animal health and production efficiency. In this study, we developed a participatory Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model to identify and prioritize future interventions aimed at limiting the dissemination of AMR from dairy herds in Québec. The model was co-constructed with stakeholders from agricultural, veterinary, public health, and consumer sectors, encompassing 22 interventions and 18 evaluation criteria covering public health, animal welfare, environmental, economic, social, and operational dimensions. Stakeholders assigned weights to each criterion under three exploratory AMR scenarios representing different risk contexts: (1) the current AMR situation (CURRENT scenario), (2) a scenario depicting an increase in AMR infections in humans (PUBLIC THREAT scenario), and (3) a scenario depicting an increase in AMR infections in dairy cattle (ANIMAL THREAT scenario). Interventions were evaluated through a literature review and expert elicitation, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness. Across all scenarios, the highest-ranked interventions included producer education (mandatory farm training, EDU1), financial support for preventive veterinary activities (subsidies for preventive monitoring, PRE2), and disease surveillance (mandatory disease surveillance, SUR5). In contrast, restrictive regulatory interventions on AMs sales (REG4, REG5) ranked lowest due to limited feasibility and acceptability. The participatory approach fostered transparency, cross-sectoral dialogue, and consensus-building, demonstrating how MCDA can operationalize the One Health framework for AMR governance. While context-specific, this framework provides a foundation for the development of similar models in other contexts, enabling adaptation to diverse livestock sectors and regional priorities.

ABSTRACT This document presents the opinion of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), established from the work of its Animal Health and Welfare Expert Committee. Given the growing interest among European citizens in animal welfare (AW) and AW labelling on foodstuffs of animal origin, as well as the EC's Farm to Fork Strategy, which provides for a revision of legislation on AW and the possibility of AW labelling, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety issued a self‐mandate. In view of the proliferation of labels making claims about AW, the Agency deemed it necessary to establish scientific foundation on which a labelling reference framework and the associated AW assessment protocol should be based. A number of decisive points were highlighted by the expert appraisal of this internal request: – these guidelines are intended for scientists and stakeholders planning to establish a labelling reference framework including one or more AW assessment protocols for a given animal sector or category, with a view to labelling; – a labelling reference framework comprises various parts for which transparency and accessibility are expected, in particular a description of the players responsible for jointly establishing it, the category of animals concerned, the risk factors, how the assessment protocol was drawn up and the choice of measurement indicators, the multi‐step aggregation process, the final aggregation between the two levels (selection‐multiplication and production) and the ranking process in the multi‐level system; – the foodstuffs of animal origin concerned by labelling are derived from animals belonging mainly to the production level of the sector concerned and, to a lesser extent, to the selection‐multiplication level. These two levels are linked and should be subject to the same assessment protocol, leading to an overall AW score. Until now, few or no AW labelling reference frameworks have taken into account animals at the selection‐multiplication level, even though they are subject to particular rearing conditions; – obtaining an overall AW score is achieved by measuring indicators on the animals concerned or their environment. The indicators to be used are selected and described in the AW assessment protocol. Measurements taken on animals (ABMs) should be given priority consideration, as they provide information on AW and not on the human perception of it. This approach corresponds to the definition of animal welfare. Indicators based on the environment can only be used to assess breading management or animal protection; – indicating the rearing method on a label cannot be regarded as AW labelling. Although the rearing method corresponds to an AW potential, it must be validated by animal‐based AW indicators; – the ranking system for the overall AW score must be multi‐level in order to reflect the varied situations of farms and allow the system to be progressive, but also to provide consumers with information that is reliable, easy to understand and able to be ranked; – the lowest level of the ranking system covers situations that depend on how the labelling is to be applied. If it is compulsory, the minimum AW level is defined by strict application of the legislation. If it is voluntary, the minimum AW level of the ranking system should propose measures to improve on this strict application of the legislation. The Agency proposes that, in the event of voluntary application, these ameliorative actions exclude application of the derogations offered by AW legislation.

ABSTRACT The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) can be hunted as a game species. It may also be listed as a “species likely to cause damage” (ESOD – the acronym in French), for public health reasons among others. Conversely, benefits linked to the presence of foxes are also put forward, such as the predation of rodents carrying zoonotic agents. In this context, ANSES was asked to: (1) list the zoonoses present in France for which foxes play an epidemiological role, (2) identify other public health impacts associated with changes in fox populations, (3) explain the relative importance of the effects of changes in fox populations for humans and/or the environment, (4) analyse the feasibility of a cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) of the prevention and impacts associated with these zoonoses. In France, the fox is a source of zoonotic pathogens, with a major role for Echinococcus multilocularis, a parasite for which the fox is the main source of environmental contamination. However, reducing fox populations does not reduce the risk of transmission of E. multilocularis to humans or domestic animals, and may even have the opposite effect to the one intended. The main levers for action are those relating to exposure to environmental contamination. The fox is part of complex trophic networks, in which its specific role in regulating prey populations is impossible to determine because (i) several predators share the same prey, with a variable role for the fox among the predators, (ii) the dynamics of prey populations is also conditioned by factors other than predation. The relationship between the abundance of rodents and the risk of disease for humans has not been demonstrated either, due to the complexity of the trophic and epidemiological networks, their highly probable variability from one ecosystem to another, and the multiplicity of hosts. As a result, the data currently available does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the epidemiological role of the fox as a predator of rodents hosting zoonotic agents. Finally, there is no public health justification for culling foxes, particularly for ESOD classification, except in the very specific and localised context of the fight against bovine tuberculosis, for which the selective culling of foxes in and around the livestock buildings of a domestic outbreak has been proposed. In addition, the expertise concluded to the feasibility of a CBA targeted at assessing the burden of alveolar echinococcosis and measures to prevent its transmission. The feasibility study shows the partial nature of a CBA targeting zoonoses, without taking into account other roles played by the fox in the ecosystem.

The epidemiological control of Streptococcus (S.) suis infections require detection and quantification of the serotypes most frequently implicated in pathological cases (serotypes 2 and 9), and even more so of all serotypes of the bacterial specie directly in pig organs including tonsils. This study developed a new multiplex qPCR assay for the simultaneous quantification of these three targets: S. suis species (all the 29 serotypes), S. suis serotype 2 (and 1/2 indistinguishable by qPCR) and S. suis serotype 9. This qPCR assay based on the recN and cps genes was tested with 84 S. suis strains. The specificity was verified with a collection of 43 strains of bacterial species other than S. suis. The estimated detection thresholds of the recN, cps2J and cps9H targets were 5 (+1), 6 (+2) and 5 (+3) ge/assay, respectively. The amplification efficiencies and correlation coefficients were 99.1 % (+3.1 %) and 0.999 (+0.002), 97.4 % (+2.9 %) and 0.999 (+0.002), 100 % (+3.2 %) and 0.998 (+0.002), respectively. The diagnostic specificity, measured with 74 samples, was 100 %. The diagnostic sensitivity, evaluated from 126 samples, was 98 %. These performances enabled its use to assess tonsillar carriage in a farm with streptococcal infections. S. suis was detected in all tonsils (100 %) whereas S. suis serotypes 2 and 1/2 and S. suis serotype 9 were detected in 38 % and 29 % of 180 samples, with mean amounts at 4.80 (+0.78), 3.26 (+0.69) and 3.27 (+0.60) log(10) ge/ml, respectively. This triplex qPCR assay validated has significant potential for applications in monitoring and controlling this zoonotic pathogen.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains a major concern for the swine industry worldwide due to its significant economic impact and its association with respiratory co-infections. Vaccination is a key strategy for PRRS control; however, the most effective commercial anti-PRRSV vaccines to date—live attenuated vaccines, also named modified live virus (MLV) vaccines—provide only partial protection. This study investigates whether oral supplementation with formulated Ulva-derived seaweed extracts can enhance immune responses to PRRSV-1 MLV vaccination. Two supplementation protocols using commercial seaweed extracts formulated with vitamin A and D (Searup®) were tested: one starting one day post-vaccination for five consecutive days (post-vaccination), and another beginning one day before vaccination and continuing for two days post-vaccination (pre-vaccination). In this exploratory farm-based experimental setting, pigs were divided into six groups: three vaccinated groups (supplemented with seaweed either pre- or post-vaccination or not supplemented), and three non-vaccinated control groups receiving the same supplementation regimes. Serum cytokine levels, PRRSV viral loads, and anti-PRRSV antibody responses were measured to assess immune modulation. Post-vaccination supplementation had no significant effect on vaccine viral load or humoral response, though a modest reduction in viral persistence was noted at 12 days post-vaccination (dpv). In contrast, pre-vaccination supplementation significantly increased vaccine virus levels at 4 dpv (p = 0.048) and enhanced anti-PRRSV IgG levels (p = 0.029). This protocol also induced an early and sustained decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting an immunomodulatory effect of algal extract supplemented with Vitamins A and D. We present here for the first time, in field conditions and in the target species, significant immune modifications upon realistic oral supplementation with Searup®. These findings are consistent with previous studies demonstrating the potential of pre-vaccination seaweed supplementation as a cost-effective, practical strategy to enhance humoral responses to PRRSV vaccination. Further studies are needed to evaluate its impact on neutralizing antibody production, cellular responses and protection against heterologous field PRRSV strains.

Several species of Lepidoptera with caterpillars bearing urticating hairs are increasing their range in metropolitan France from year to year, such as the pine processionary ( Thaumetopoea pityocampa Denis et Schiffermüller 1775) whose presence was historically limited to the south of France, and which is gradually being observed in the north and at higher altitudes. The procession period also seems to be appearing earlier. Climate change could have an impact on the range and phenology of this species, as well as other species of Lepidoptera with caterpillar bearing urticating hairs. Urticating caterpillars, which can trigger diffuse urticariform papules and allergic reactions for human people through contact with the skin, mucous membranes or inhalation, represent a health issue. These caterpillars also cause a health risk for animals and can have an impact on plants due to the resulting defoliation. This risk assessment therefore focused on the risk posed by these urticating caterpillars in areas where they have been established for a long time as well as in areas where they currently do not occur but could be colonized in the short or medium terms. One of the outputs of the evaluation consisted in identifying 55 different species of Lepidoptera with urticating caterpillars, for metropolitan France, but also for the overseas regions, based on the review by Kawamoto and Kumada (1984) and the GBIF database. In addition, detailed sheets for the well-known species were drawn up, describing in particular their range, their phenology and the period when the urticating stages occur. A literature review as well as data from poison control centres and the analysis of the results of two surveys (of three associations of dermatologists/allergists and of occupational populations at risk) allowed to characterize the contexts of exposure and the human populations at risk. Concerning animal health, in addition to an epidemioclinical description based on the literature, data from veterinary poison control centres were analyzed in the specific case of dog exposure to the pine processionary between 1999 and 2021 in metropolitan french territory. Given the impact of these species of Lepidoptera on ecosystems, due to the defoliation they induce, this scientific opinion investigated the impact of these species on ecosystem services. The socio-economic impacts of defoliations and risk management measures implemented in the event of an outbreak were studied based on a literature review and simulations for forest recreation. To represent risk for the whole metropolitan France territory, three risk maps of the human population exposure to the pine processionary, the oak processionary and the brown-tail moth were designed at municipality level. A multi-criteria analysis was undertaken to characterize danger (urticating caterpillars) and vulnerability of human populations. Then, the municipalities were ranked according to their level of danger and vulnerability. As a result, municipalities have been classified into 5 danger classes and 5 vulnerability classes. Based on a risk matrix with levels of hazard (abscissa axis) and levels of vulnerability (ordinate axis), 5 levels of risk were finally defined and the 34,816 municipalities of metropolitan France were classified according to their level of risk.

The objective of this study was to analyse and compare the interventions (sets of actions) towards improved antimicrobial use (AMU) in animal production. These were designed in Living Labs (LLs) organised in five countries of the ROADMAP project, with ex ante impact assessment (EAIA) to guide the process. LL participants designed very different types of interventions which targeted systematically farmers and veterinarians but less frequently other stakeholders, despite the ROADMAP ambition to involve the whole value chain in AMU transition scenarios. A variety of factors influenced which interventions were designed, such as the country's AMU levels, existence of AMU monitoring systems, the possibility for veterinarians to profit from antimicrobials sales, export-orientation of the animal production sector and political momentum. Other influential factors included the breadth of desired impacts that the LL participants wished to produce through the interventions they designed (limited to animal health aspects or encompassing other subjects such as animal welfare, consumer information or veterinary business models) and the LL process (choice of participants and facilitators). Overall, the approach succeeded in providing a holistic vision of the possible measures and the obstacles towards improved AMU and produced context-tailored interventions with high acceptability. However, they had limited results in terms of system rethinking. L'objectif de cette & eacute;tude & eacute;tait d'analyser et de comparer les interventions (ensembles d'actions) visant & agrave; am & eacute;liorer l'utilisation des antimicrobiens (UAM) dans l'& eacute;levage. Elles ont & eacute;t & eacute; formul & eacute;es dans des Living lab (LL) organis & eacute;s dans cinq pays du projet ROADMAP, avec une & eacute;valuation d'impact ex ante (EIEA) pour guider le processus. Les participants ont con & ccedil;u des interventions de types tr & egrave;s diff & eacute;rents qui avaient en commun de cibler syst & eacute;matiquement des & eacute;leveurs et des v & eacute;t & eacute;rinaires et moins souvent d'autres parties prenantes, malgr & eacute; l'ambition de ROADMAP d'impliquer l'ensemble de la cha & icirc;ne de valeur dans les sc & eacute;narios de transition de l'UAM. Une s & eacute;rie de facteurs influen & ccedil;ait les interventions con & ccedil;ues, tels que les niveaux d'UAM du pays, l'existence de syst & egrave;mes de surveillance de l'UAM, la possibilit & eacute; pour les v & eacute;t & eacute;rinaires de tirer profit des ventes d'antimicrobiens, l'orientation vers l'exportation du secteur de la production animale et la motivation politique. Parmi les autres facteurs influents, citons la vari & eacute;t & eacute; des impacts que les participants souhaitaient produire gr & acirc;ce aux interventions con & ccedil;ues (limit & eacute;s aux aspects de sant & eacute; animale ou englobant d'autres sujets tels que le bien-& ecirc;tre animal, l'information des consommateurs ou le mod & egrave;le & eacute;conomique des cliniques v & eacute;t & eacute;rinaires) et le processus du LL (choix des participants et des facilitateurs). En conclusion, cette approche a permis de fournir une vision holistique des leviers et des obstacles & agrave; l'am & eacute;lioration de l'UAM, et de formuler des interventions adapt & eacute;es au contexte et b & eacute;n & eacute;ficiant d'une grande acceptabilit & eacute;. Cependant, elle a eu des r & eacute;sultats limit & eacute;s en termes de remise en question du syst & egrave;me. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Interventionen (Ma ss nahmenpakete) zur Verbesserung des Einsatzes antimikrobieller Mittel (EAM) in der Tierproduktion zu analysieren und zu vergleichen. Diese wurden in Living Labs (LLs) in f & uuml;nf L & auml;ndern des ROADMAP-Projekts entwickelt, wobei eine Ex-ante-Folgenabsch & auml;tzung (EAF) den Prozess leitete. Die Teilnehmer der LL entwarfen sehr unterschiedliche Arten von Ma ss nahmen, die sich systematisch an Landwirte und Tier & auml;rzte, aber weniger h & auml;ufig an andere Interessengruppen richteten, obwohl ROADMAP das Ziel verfolgte, die gesamte Wertsch & ouml;pfungskette in EAM-Umstellungsszenarien einzubeziehen. Eine Vielzahl von Faktoren beeinflusste die Gestaltung der Ma ss nahmen, wie z. B. die EAM-Werte des Landes, das Vorhandensein von EAM-& Uuml;berwachungssystemen, die M & ouml;glichkeit f & uuml;r Tier & auml;rzte, vom Verkauf antimikrobieller Mittel zu profitieren, die Exportorientierung des Tierproduktionssektors und das politische Momentum. Andere einflussreiche Faktoren waren die Breite der gew & uuml;nschten Auswirkungen, die die LL-Teilnehmer durch die von ihnen entworfenen Interventionen erzielen wollten (beschr & auml;nkt auf Tiergesundheitsaspekte oder andere Themen wie Tierschutz, Verbraucherinformation oder tier & auml;rztliche Gesch & auml;ftsmodelle umfassend) und der LL-Prozess (Auswahl der Teilnehmer und Moderatoren). Insgesamt gelang es mit diesem Ansatz, eine ganzheitliche Sicht auf die m & ouml;glichen Ma ss nahmen und die Hindernisse f & uuml;r eine verbesserte EM zu vermitteln und kontextbezogene Interventionen mit hoher Akzeptanz zu entwickeln. Sie hatten jedoch nur begrenzte Ergebnisse in Bezug auf ein Umdenken im System.

Hair cortisol is a stress indicator and could be used to assess the pigs’ exposure to stressors in the weeks/months prior to non-invasive hair sampling. The main aim of this study was to describe the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) variability between individuals within a batch, between farms and between batches within a farm. The secondary aim was to determine how the number of sampled pigs influences the characterization of HCC within a batch. Twenty farrow-to-finish pig farms were recruited considering the diversity of their management practices and health status (data collected). Hair was sampled in two separate batches, 8 months apart. The necks of 24 finishing pigs were clipped per batch the week prior to slaughter. To describe the variability in HCC, an analysis of the variance model was run with three explanatory variables (batch, farm and their interaction). To identify farm clusters, a principal component analysis followed by a hierarchical clustering was carried out with four active variables (means and standard deviations of the two batches per farm) and 17 supplementary variables (management practices, herd health data). We determined how the number of sampled pigs influenced the characterization of HCC within a batch by selecting subsamples of the results. HCC ranged from 0.4 to 121.6 pg/mg, with a mean of 25.9 ± 16.2 pg/mg. The variability in HCC was mainly explained by differences between pigs (57%), then between farms (24%), between batches within the same farm (16%) and between batches (3%). Three clusters of farms were identified: low homogeneous concentrations (n = 3 farms), heterogeneous concentrations with either higher (n = 7) or lower (n = 10) HCC in batch 2 than in batch 1. The diversity of management practices and health statuses allowed to discuss hypotheses explaining the HCC variations observed. We highlighted the need to sample more than 24 pigs to characterize HCC in a pig batch. HCC differences between batches on six farms suggest sampling pigs in more than one batch to describe the HCC at the farm level. HCC variations described here confirm the need to study its links with exposure of pigs to stressors.

The global food animal industry faces a growing concern regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), primarily driven by the use of antimicrobials (AMs) for the treatment, control, and prevention of diseases. Addressing this challenge requires promoting responsible antimicrobial use (AMU) practices. In 2019, the province of Québec, Canada, took a significant step by implementing a regulation that limits the use of AMs of very high importance for human medicine (category I AMs as defined by Health Canada) in the food animal industry. However, the implementation of such regulation can significantly influence behavioral shifts among producers, contributing to the wider effort against AMR. Therefore, the objective of this observational study was to describe the perceived changes in knowledge of dairy producers and on-farm practices following the implementation of this regulation, using a cohort design. Data collection involved administering questionnaires to 87 dairy producers from 3 regions of the province of Québec (Estrie, Montérégie, Centre-Du-Québec) before (2017–2018) and after (2020–2021) the implementation of the regulation. The questionnaires explored the descriptive characteristics of farms, the knowledge of producers about the categorization of AMs, their on-farm treatment practices, and the perceived impacts of the regulation. Statistical analysis included t-tests and McNemar tests to compare the paired data obtained using the 2 questionnaires. The results indicated an increase in the knowledge score (the number of AMs correctly categorized by the producers by their importance for human medicine) after the implementation of the regulation, suggesting an improved understanding of the categorization of AMs based on their importance for human medicine. Trends in AMU practices for treating clinical mastitis and reproductive diseases suggested that category I AMs were less likely to be reported as the primary treatment after the regulation, while category II AMs were more often reported as primary treatment. Adoption of the selective dry cow therapy method significantly increased, while the use of teat sealants remained unchanged. Moreover, producers had divergent perceptions regarding the effect of the regulation on the cure rates and disease frequencies. This disparity emphasizes the need for comprehensive data collection to discern the risks associated with such regulatory shifts. The study acknowledges several limitations, including the potential for recall bias, confirmation bias, and desirability bias. Despite these limitations, this study shows that implementing regulations to encourage responsible AMU drives positive transformations in producers' knowledge and on-farm practices. This underscores the pivotal impact of proactive interventions in combating the escalating threat of AMR within the global food animal industry.

Background:It is now recognized that a better understanding of prescriber behaviour is needed to improve antimicrobial stewardship programmes. Most studies conducted in the livestock sector have focused on farmers' perspectives, while the prescribing habits of veterinarians have remained overlooked.Objective:Our study explored the psychosocial determinants associated with antibiotic prescribing practices in the French poultry sector by analysing the informal norms and unwritten rules that influence veterinarians' prescribing decisions.Methods:A qualitative study was conducted in four French regions in February 2021. Using the biographical narrative interpretive method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 poultry veterinarians with varying professional experience. Three main themes were retained for data analysis: (i) compliance with and deviations from prescribing recommendations, (ii) the influence of fellow veterinarians on antibiotic decisions and (iii) the key role of veterinary corporate groups.Results:When prescribing antibiotics, junior veterinarians were strongly influenced by senior veterinarians who acted as role models driving clinical practices. Prescribing habits were shared through peer networks in which veterinarians participated throughout their careers. Finally, veterinary corporate groups helped to shape veterinarians' prescribing habits by promoting existing guidelines and even producing in-house recommendations.Conclusions:We show that, in parallel with official guidelines, prescribing habits circulate among veterinarians and are shared in professional circles. Therefore, antimicrobial stewardship interventions should focus not only on official guidelines and communication channels, but also unwritten professional rules and organizations influencing veterinarians' prescribing practices.

With the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), many countries are implementing restrictive regulations to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU) in animal production. Although these measures are effective at the national level, their implementation may generate challenges for producers and veterinarians. The objective of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of implementing a new regulation restricting the use of antimicrobials of very high importance for human health in the dairy production sector in the province of Québec, Canada. Individual interviews were conducted with fifteen veterinarians and twenty-seven dairy producers. Thematic analysis was performed based on the COM-B model of behavior change (capability-opportunity-motivation-behavior). Our results indicated that the lack of availability of alternative treatments, the long delays related to diagnostic tests and the fear of economic consequences were major barriers to the implementation of the regulation. A small number of producers also perceived that the regulation negatively impacted the health and wellbeing of their animals. Additionally, participants acknowledged the importance of early education and training to better understand the purpose of the regulation and increase its acceptability. Lastly, most participants reported that they had not only reduced their use of antimicrobials of very high importance for human health following the regulation, but they had also increased preventive practices on their farm. This study reveals that the implementation of restrictive regulations to reduce AMU in animal production can lead to multiple challenges in practice. Our results highlight the need for better communication and training of producers and veterinarians before and during the implementation of similar regulations in the future and underline the importance of measuring the direct and indirect impacts of those regulations on productivity and on animal health and wellbeing.