The goal of the project is to investigate the occurrence and map the antibiotic-resistance patterns of bacterial species at the wildlife–livestock–ecosystem interface and determine the resistome within animals and the natural environment.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to food security, human health, the natural ecosystem and the global economy. Wildlife carry bacteria, some of which may be resistant to antibiotics. Through horizontal gene transfer, bacteria in a microbial community can transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other microorganisms in the community.

The presence of antimicrobial resistant genes in wildlife could indicate that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria of human or livestock origin are widespread in the environment and that wildlife could be acting as a reservoir for the transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes among people, livestock and the natural environment.

This work is carried out under the One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa that is hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute.