Departmental Seminars

The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important public health challenges and has highlighted the critical role that clinical microbiology laboratories play in driving antimicrobial stewardship. Despite the recognition of its importance, there are several areas of improvement which need to be addressed in this field, starting with the need for standardized training of clinical microbiologists and harmonization of diagnostic procedures across veterinary microbiology diagnostic laboratories. Bacterial culture, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (C&ID and AST ) are key tools for antimicrobial therapy guidance and the lack of specific guidelines for processing companion animal clinical specimens for microbiology testing is a serious challenge to the veterinary profession. Similarly, the lack of guidelines or programmes for AMR surveillance in companion animals and the use of multiple standards is a major limitation when comparing susceptibility data between laboratories or countries. Both aspects have multiple implications for the diagnosis and management of infections, and impact overall on antimicrobial stewardship. Furthermore, surveillance in veterinary hospitals of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) associated with multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria is less well-established than in human hospitals and needs further development. Our infection control studies at the University of Liverpool should generate sufficient veterinary-specific data to enable the development of evidence-based infection control policies to help prevent veterinary HCA Is. In addition, teaching veterinary students about infection control and how to interpret microbiology results, are key steps towards safeguarding antibiotics for the future. In this talk, I will cover the developments which we implemented at Liverpool to address these challenges. In addition, I will include findings from two European-wide projects addressing these issues and how we now plan to take real steps towards developing a united approach in supporting both diagnosticians and clinicians.

Dorina is Professor of Veterinary Clinical Microbiology at the University of Liverpool and has a long-standing career in this field. Originally from Romania, where she took her DVM and PhD at Iasi Veterinary School, Dorina moved to the UK in 2004 and since 2009, has been leading the Veterinary Microbiology Diagnostic Laboratory at Liverpool School of Veterinary Science and chair of the Biosecurity and Infection Control Committee at the Liverpool School of Veterinary Science. Dorina is RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Microbiology and Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM); she established the first ECVM Residency training programme at Liverpool and is currently the ECVM vice-president. Dorina is involved in several initiatives focusing on the development of veterinary clinical microbiology and raising the profile of the diagnostic laboratory role in antimicrobial stewardship. She participates in various clinical microbiology training events and is developing harmonised laboratory methodologies for surveillance of AMR in companion animals. Dorina`s research focuses on characterisation of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in companion and farm animals, as well as the genomic epidemiology of interspecies transmission of multidrug resistant bacteria between humans, animals and the environment. She also has a particular research interest in the epidemiology of healthcare associated infections in human and veterinary hospitals.

Chaired by Cassia Hare

• Speaker: Dorina Timofte, University of Liverpool
• Wednesday 05 June 2024, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: LT2.
• Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.

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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the most commonly prescribed drug class in the US. Untreated depression during pregnancy creates a risk for maternal wellbeing and is coupled with adverse pregnancy outcomes with causes that are poorly understood and use of SSRI among pregnant women is increasing. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are the most prescribed medications for pregnant women in their first trimester. With nearly one in five women experiencing depression, SSRI use during pregnancy continues to increase in the US. Antenatal SSRI use has been demonstrated to also result in increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therefore, presenting a conundrum for medical care providers when making decisions as to how to treat pregnant women with depression and also protect the pregnancy, and health outcomes for the infant. Importantly, and often under looked, is that SSRI not only impact the neuronal serotonin transporter (SERT), but they also impact the effects of SERT throughout the body. Our work has recently demonstrated that treatment with fluoxetine prepartum results increased death of offspring and increased morbidity for the offspring that survive, which we have recapitulated in a sheep model. Further, our work demonstrates the SSRI also impact both mammary gland function and development, as well as maternal outcomes, recently demonstrating that use of fluoxetine increases adiposity in offspring up to 12 weeks of age, and that male offspring appear to be disproportionally affected. We continue to investigate the impact of SSRI use on the placenta, mammary gland development, and long-term effects on both dam and offspring. Our goal is to develop novel interventions that will allow the dam to continue SSRI treatment if needed that will not impact her long-term health, as well as the long-term health of the offspring.

Contact Fiona Roby for zoom link

• Speaker: Laura L. Hernandez, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Wednesday 15 May 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: by zoom.
• Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the most commonly prescribed drug class in the US. Untreated depression during pregnancy creates a risk for maternal wellbeing and is coupled with adverse pregnancy outcomes with causes that are poorly understood and use of SSRI among pregnant women is increasing. Fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are the most prescribed medications for pregnant women in their first trimester. With nearly one in five women experiencing depression, SSRI use during pregnancy continues to increase in the US. Antenatal SSRI use has been demonstrated to also result in increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therefore, presenting a conundrum for medical care providers when making decisions as to how to treat pregnant women with depression and also protect the pregnancy, and health outcomes for the infant. Importantly, and often under looked, is that SSRI not only impact the neuronal serotonin transporter (SERT), but they also impact the effects of SERT throughout the body. Our work has recently demonstrated that treatment with fluoxetine prepartum results increased death of offspring and increased morbidity for the offspring that survive, which we have recapitulated in a sheep model. Further, our work demonstrates the SSRI also impact both mammary gland function and development, as well as maternal outcomes, recently demonstrating that use of fluoxetine increases adiposity in offspring up to 12 weeks of age, and that male offspring appear to be disproportionally affected. We continue to investigate the impact of SSRI use on the placenta, mammary gland development, and long-term effects on both dam and offspring. Our goal is to develop novel interventions that will allow the dam to continue SSRI treatment if needed that will not impact her long-term health, as well as the long-term health of the offspring.

• Speaker: Laura L. Hernandez, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Wednesday 15 May 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: LT2.
• Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.

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Chaired by Cassia Hare

• Speaker: Dorina Timofte, University of Liverpool
• Wednesday 05 June 2024, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: LT2.
• Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.

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Laura L. Hernandez, Professor-Lactation Physiology Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Speaker: Laura L. Hernandez, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Wednesday 15 May 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: LT2.
• Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list