ARS | Publication request: Updates on USDA VetNet and the Animal Arm of NARMS

Submitted to: United States Animal Health Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 11, 2010
Publication Date: November 13, 2011
Citation: Cray, P.J., Jackson, C.R., Hall, M.C., Turpin, J.B., Hiott, L.M., Haro, J.H., Ball, T.A., Plumblee, J. 2011. Updates on USDA VetNet and the Animal Arm of NARMS. United States Animal Health Association Proceedings. November 11-17,2010. Minneapolis, MN.

Technical Abstract: USDA VetNet was launched in 2004 and the system is comparable to PulseNet differing only in sample source. All Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates originating from federally inspected slaughter and processing plants as part of the USDA, FSIS regulatory activities are submitted to the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS). These isolates are subsequently subjected to PFGE analysis and uploaded into the USDA VetNet database. Since inception, over 19,000 PFGE patterns for Salmonella have been entered into the database representing 150 confirmed serotypes and 80 antigenic formulas. Data are compared with pulsotypes from PulseNet and used to assist both FSIS and CDC in regulatory and outbreak investigations. The animal arm of NARMS was launched in 1997 by the FDA who manages the retail arm of NARMS while the CDC manages the human arm of NARMS. Together, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles are collected on food borne and commensal bacteria originating from food animals, retail meats, and ill humans. Salmonella is the sentinel organism. In addition, susceptibility data are also collected for Campylobacter, generic E. coli and enterococci. Additional molecular characterizations to the gene level are conducted on specific isolates of interest. Since 1997 over 58,000 Salmonella isolates have been tested representing 242 serotypes and 80 antigenic formulas. Over 10,000 Campylobacter, 22,500 generic E. coli and 11,000 enterococci have also been tested. These data provide the most comprehensive analysis of antimicrobial resistance in the U.S. to date.