The Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses (LFZ)

The Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses (LFZ) located in Guelph, Ontario, provides policy makers and other stakeholders with scientific information and advice on minimising the risks of human illnesses arising from the interface between humans, animals and the environment, with special emphasis on infections due to enteric pathogens [intestinal disease causing agents] . Satellite units in Lethbridge, Alberta and St-Hyacinthe, Québec, provide opportunities for collaborative projects with universities, (federal and provincial) government agencies, public health, and industry partners in delivery of the programme objectives. The Reference Laboratories of LFZ are accredited by Standards Council of Canada to ISO/IEC 17025 (Accredited Laboratory # 265). The Salmonella Typing Laboratory is designated as an Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) Reference Laboratory for Salmonellosis.

The Laboratory Centre consists of the following programs:

• Integrated enteric Pathogen Surveillance
• Population and Agro-Environmental Risk Factor Determinants
• Microbial and Host Determinants Research
• Antimicrobial Resistance in Agri-Food and Aquaculture and the Impact on Human Health
• Health Risk Modelling
• Policy Advice and Policy Effectiveness in Decreasing the Risk of Zoonotic Enteric Infections

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Integrated Enteric Pathogen Surveillance

The Integrated Enteric Pathogen Surveillance Section facilitates decisions made by policy makers, regulators, public health departments, industry and the scientific community relative to the health risks associated with zoonotic microorganisms. This is done by gathering appropriate surveillance data and providing relevant information on human enteric pathogens from non-human sources, for integration and analysis with human enteric disease data.

This section provides input to the National Surveillance Program for Foodborne, Waterborne, and Enteric Disease through reference laboratory activities for Salmonella (OIÉ Reference Laboratory for Salmonella serotyping of non-human isolates in North America) and E. coli (VTEC) serotyping and molecular typing (linked to PulseNet North). It is also involved in promoting opportunities for the integration of animal health, food safety and environmental data with human enteric disease data, by facilitating data sharing agreements with other federal, provincial and local organizations. In addition, the unit supports the National Health Surveillance Info-structure (NHSI) initiative of Health Canada in its development of software tools for the management and exchange of surveillance data.

Population and Agro-Environmental Risk Factor Determinants (St-Hyacinthe)

The Population and Agro-Environmental Risk Factor Determinants Section conducts population-based research addressing the risk factors associated with food animal production, the environment, and host-pathogen interactions that influence the the emergence, maintenance and transmission of pathogens from animals to humans, in order to enhance confidence in decision making on the human health risks. associated with zoonotic microorganisms.

Host and Pathogen Determinants

The Host and Pathogen Determinants Section provides public health policy makers and the scientific community with new information on how pathogens emerge and persist in animals and the environment and cause disease in humans, in order to enhance confidence in decision making on the health risks associated with zoonotic microorganisms.

With expertise in microbiology, immunology, epidemiology and veterinary medicine, and units located at Guelph, Lethbridge and St-Hyacinthe, the research staff at the Laboratory Foodborne Zoonoses are well-positioned to conduct and integrate research activities across the food chain continuum, including the pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest sectors of production of foods of animal origin in collaboration with government agencies (federal & provincial), university, public health and industry partners.

Antimicrobial Resistance

The Antimicrobial Resistance in Agri-Food and Aquaculture and the Impact on Human Health Section provides policy makers and other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders with scientific information and advice to reduce or eliminate the impact on human health from antimicrobial resistant microorganisms resulting from the use of antimicrobials in agri-food and aquaculture.

Health Risk Modelling

The Health Risk Modelling Section develops models, modelling tools and interpretation that improve understanding of the human/animal/microbe interface. This facilitates decision making by policy makers, the food industry and peer scientists on research needs and interventions that have the most impact on reducing foodborne disease.

The Unit provides risk assessments, maintains extensive databases, collects and disseminates information on a variety of microbial food safety issues. The information gathered by the unit and through collaboration with several domestic, international and overseas agencies is used to report on food safety issues, to develop models and to refine quantitative and qualitative risk assessments. Reports and information provided by the Unit are used to identify research needs and potential interventions that may reduce enteric disease in humans and animals.

Science Program Coordination

The Science Program Coordination Section provides policy makers, regulators and the scientific community with research on the impact of policy and other interventions on public health and health care and the best scientific evidence to ensure that the most effective interventions are implemented for the control of foodborne zoonoses and enteric disease.