What is the problem?

Scientific, public and political concern regarding antimicrobial resistance is increasing, and farmers and veterinarians are doing their best to use medicines as responsibly as possible. The health and welfare of farm animals requires that antibiotics are given to treat animals suffering from bacterial infections. As in human health, accurate diagnosis is essential for effective prescribing. 

Better, smarter, more rapid and more accessible diagnoses - driving shifts in behaviours associated with diagnostic decision making – could represent a critical step to delivering more effective use of antibiotics in animal health. Improvements in diagnostic development and effective use of this technology in the pursuit of sustainable antibiotic use requires a detailed understanding of the social, governance and technical contexts in which diagnostic devices are situated.

How are we tackling this? 

An interdisciplinary research consortium ('Diagnostic Innovation and Livestock' - DIAL) led by Prof Henry Buller (University of Exeter) along with investigators at the Universities of Bristol, Edinburgh and SRUC, worked with veterinarians, diagnostic developers, farmers and regulators to identify pathways and possibilities for improved diagnostic practice in the pursuit of sustainable antibiotic use in veterinary medicine. 

DIAL research

The team assessed the adaptability and responsiveness of the different production sectors (poultry, pigs and cattle) to the available innovations in diagnosis and diagnostics to determine the likely benefits of these innovations in prescription practice for animal health and for livestock production.

The research explored the implications these innovations may have for the organisation, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of veterinary practice, as well as for veterinary training. The team also identified the changes in behaviour, practice and knowledge necessary to accompany the more widespread adoption of novel and innovative diagnostic practices.

DIAL research also assessed the regulatory and governance support necessary to realise the adoption and use of innovative diagnostic practices, and, working with project partners in Tanzania, developed detailed strategies for the improved use of diagnostic tools and practices to enable more effective and sensible use of antibiotics in livestock agriculture in low-income settings.

Research outputs

Hinchliffe, S., Bard, A., Chan, K.W., Adam, K.E., Bruce, A., Reyher, K., & Buller, H. (2023). Regulating antimicrobial resistance: market intermediaries, poultry and the audit lock-in. Agriculture and Human Values.

Bard, A. M., Hinchliffe, S., Chan, K., Buller, H., & Reyher, K. K. (2023). ‘I Believe What I’m Saying More Than the Test’: The Complicated Place of Rapid, Point-of-Care Tests in Veterinary Diagnostic Practice. Antibiotics, 12(5), Article 804. 

Bruce, A., Adam, K., Buller, H., Chan, KW. and Tait, J. (2022). Creating an innovation ecosystem for rapid diagnostic tests for livestock to support sustainable antibiotic use. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, Volume 34 (11).

Mkenda, V.F., Buller, H. & Bruce, A. (2021) Exploring the willingness to adopt pen-side diagnostic tests to improve antimicrobial medicine use amongst Tanzanian livestock farmers. International Journal of Technology Management & Sustainable Development, 20(1) 3-19.

Buller, H., Adam, K., Bard, A., Bruce, A., Chan, K.W., Hinchliffe, S., Morgans, L., Rees, G.M. and Reyher, K.K. (2020) Veterinary Diagnostic Practice and the Use of Rapid Tests in Antimicrobial Stewardship on UK Livestock Farms. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 765

Chan, K.W., Bard, A.M., Adam, K.E., Rees, G.M., Morgans, L., Cresswell, L., Hinchliffe, S., Barrett, D., Reyher, K.K. and  Buller, H (2020). Diagnostics and the challenge of antimicrobial resistance: A survey of UK livestock veterinarians’ perceptions and practices. Veterinary Record, 187, e125.

Further information

Please find further information, project news and team research presentations on the DIAL website.