IRAS Research, Veterinairy Public Health
Within the division Veterinary Public Health, research, education and services are closely linked. The aim of all activities within this department is to promote healthy food products and water. Specific interests exist in infectious disease like zoonoses (diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans). A goal is to educate a new generation of veterinarians and make them aware of their future responsibilities in health protection, concerning animals, but also products from animals and the broader environment.
Research is focused on the prevention of the origin of antibiotic-resistance in genes in the environment, among others in (waste) water. In a second line of research alternatives for antibiotics, such as antibacterial agents are evaluated. A third line of research is to deliver and validate measurement methods of research relevant for food safety.
Services are mainly provided for veterinary students and specialist in training (SIO) in places where lack of attention can cause the spread of infectious disease (zoonoses) among consumers or the general public. This may apply for instance to the food industry, industrial kitchens, water hygiene, contact with animals. Applied research in Agro-tourism is a new niche in research and education.
Projects
Most of the research is part of the RATIA program (see page on Research on the UU site of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine). All projects have a short description.
- Alternative detection of Cysticercosis in calves
- Alternatives for antibiotics: Modulation with Immune-stimulating Phytochemicals as alternative for antimicrobial treatment (ModIPhy)
- Inactivation of norovirus in food supply chains
- Innovative detection of antibodies against pathogenic bacteria in animal products, modelling of infections and sampling strategies to improve the protection of the consumer
- Innovative detection of parasitic infections in swine and consumer protection impact of advanced analytical methods
- Innovative methods for the detection of micro-organisms pathogenic to humans and animals (Centaur Project)
- Linking two worlds: The effects of veterinary antibiotics on microbial communities - human and environmental health
- Microbial functioning of soil – does diversity matter?
- Occurrence and health significance of Stap. Aureus in the poultry processing industry
- Reduction of community health risks of animal-associated Clostridium difficile
- The baseline across soils – transformation of plant-borne organic matter
- The microbiological risks related to swimming in surface water in the Netherlands
- Water and soil as vector for transmission of antibiotic resistance
