About the database
What is APZEC?
Animal pathogenic and zoonotic E. coli (APZEC) are E. coli which are pathogenic in animals or which are
harmless in the animal reservoir but are potentially pathogenic in humans.
The APZEC approach
Isolates are examined for the detection of the presence of 20 virulence genes associated with the most
important pathotypes causing disease in animals. Antimicrobial resistance is also determined,
and demographic and clinical data are gathered resulting in an integrated profile.
What is the APZEC Database?
The APZEC Database is an epidemiological tool providing an overview of virotypes
and antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic E. coli in animals, based on virulence
gene profiles, and antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic E. coli from clinical
cases and healthy animals at the farm and abattoir level in prevalence studies worldwide.
Why the APZEC Database?
The database serves as an indicator of animal health and as a tool for monitoring
trends in virulence and antimicrobial resistance in APZEC. More specifically,
it will provide guidance in the setting up of appropriate strategies for the
diagnosis and control of infection in animals on-farm and in the evaluation
of the effectiveness of these strategies.
How the database works
The database, regularly updated from 2008, currently contains data for
over 2,500 isolates from all production and companion animal species, mostly
from clinical cases of pigs, cattle, and poultry on a worldwide basis.
Data are accessible as interactive charts and an interactive mapping system.
Protocols and primers used for the generation of the isolate data, and control
strains used in the described procedures are also available on this website.
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