VetCAb-ID (Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics – International Documentation) is a project that enables veterinarians, farmers, scientists and interested parties to collect data on antimicrobial usage in animals in different countries. It is conducted by the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, TiHo), Germany. More specifically, the Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing (IBEI) is the project leader in its function as WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface (WHO-CC HAEI).

The aim of VetCAb-ID is to provide interested parties access to a database which they may use for collecting data on the use of antibiotics. It shall allow gathering data to monitor what kind of animal has received a particular antibiotic within a certain period. Based on their entries, participants can monitor their own use of antibiotics as well as compare their status within their domain. If allowed by the national data owner, selected scientists have access to the database, too. They may assess pseudonymized data. Scientific assessment refers to comparison or benchmarking in this respect, how often animals across countries, regions or farms were treated with antibiotics on average.

The VetCAb-ID data base was launched in November 2018 with two signed partners from Chile. At present, contracts with partners from Pakistan and Zambia are in preparation.

Other countries or additional domains within countries can join. Eligible partners being universities, research institutes, governmental bodies or veterinary authorities.

Animal (sub)categories: All farm animals of any age/weight category. When of interest, additional categories may added.

Input: In order to participate in the project, a partner should be able to capture data on antimicrobial use in a given domain within their country. A domain is by definition of the participant a region, a group of farmers and others. For a first trial, a data set of an animal population of choice is needed (e.g. usage data for fattening pigs in some farms during on a temporal basis). In general, the vet is the most reliable source of information; data are mainly collected and reported by vets. The farmers should agree on AMU data reporting of their herd(s). Furthermore, a list of the antibiotics used most often in the country in the respective animal population is required, containing certain information on each drug.

As in VetCAb-S, the count-based indicator ‘treatment frequency’ can be calculated. This uses a weight assumed by the veterinarian at the day of treatment, and the number of animals or number of stable places.

Benchmarking is not a priority in the VetCAb-ID project, although the system could help countries to build up a benchmarking based on the collected information.

Participation in the project is possible for everyone. The project was/is introduced at different conferences, and there is a website (www.vetcab-id.de). First results from Chile were presented in September 2019.

Contact VetCAb-S