Process

Chuteside Diagnostics

What is it? Chuteside diagnostics are tests that can be performed while the cattle are in the chute. These rapid diagnostics tests typically use body fluid samples, such as blood, urine, or saliva to detect infections or diseases [1]. They typically provide fast and accurate results and are easy to use requiring little on-site equipment […]

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Wildlife Considerations

Think you have a closed herd? Think again. – BeefResearch.ca ‘Disperse abroad in the land’: the role of wildlife in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance | Biology Letters (royalsocietypublishing.org) Frontiers | Wildlife as Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance in Germany? (frontiersin.org)

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Categorization of Drugs

What is it? Health Canada classifies antimicrobials based on their importance in human medicine as follows [1]:   Category I: Very High Importance  These antimicrobial drugs have no or limited alternatives available and are essential for the treatment of serious infections.   Category II: High Importance   These antimicrobial drugs often gave an alternative available but are still

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Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship

What is it? A Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) is the foundation of any interactions that occur between a veterinarian, the client (i.e., owner, operator, rancher), and the patients (i.e., the livestock).   A VCPR must exist before a veterinarian can provide services, such as prescribing or administering drugs. The conditions of a valid VCPR include

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Wastewater Tracking

What is it? Wastewater tracking, or wastewater surveillance, is the detection and measurement of a certain indicator or target from the wastewater system. Anywhere from 30-90% of antibiotics are excreted in waste, often still in a biologically active form [1]. This waste can also contain antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Monitoring trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) and

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RFID Tags

What is it? RFID (radio frequency identification) tags are a tool used to support the traceability of livestock in Canada. They are regulated by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). RFID tags may also be referred to as animal indicators.   A tag is placed on a calf’s ear prior to leaving the cow/calf ranch and

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Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System 

What is it? The Canadian Government created the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, or CARSS, in response to the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [1]. The first CARSS report was issued in March 2015.   CARSS monitors antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in Canada by integrating data from various surveillance systems, including CIPARS [1].

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Antimicrobial Drug Disposal

What is it? The safe disposal of unused or expired antibiotics is an essential component of antibiotic resistance management. Improper disposal can cause traces of pharmaceutical drugs in the environment, including both the soil and water [1]. The trace concentrations can build up over time and have adverse effects on human, animal, and environmental health.  

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