Zoo Poop Might Hold Clues to Stopping Foot Rot

Tuckerfan · Oct 16, 2023

It contains interesting bacterial phages.

Virus from endangered species can treat diabetic foot ulcers

In England, approximately 75,000 individuals receive treatment for diabetic foot ulcers every week. Unfortunately, many of these patients don’t respond to the standard antibiotic treatment, leading to approximately 7,000 amputations annually.

A new research conducted at Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP), located in Branton, near Doncaster, UK, found an unconventional treatment for individuals experiencing diabetic foot ulcers.

According to a statement by the researchers, feces from a range of endangered animals containing bacteriophages could treat the condition, saving the NHS an estimated £1 billion a year.
Virus found in endangered animals

Scientists from the University of Sheffield, led by Professor Graham Stafford, collaborated with Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) to study bacteriophages in the fecal matter of endangered animals, the statement added.

The animal feces contain naturally occurring viruses – bacteriophages. These viruses have the ability to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing diabetic foot ulcers.

According to scientists, the phages are prevalent in nature and have proven effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria. In particular, they often succeed in killing bacteria even when antibiotics fail.

Furthermore, the progress of this research could pave the way for these viruses to be incorporated into dressings for treating diabetic foot ulcers that were previously difficult to treat.

“Despite the smell, it turns out that the fecal matter of endangered species could hold the key to killing infectious bacteria that are otherwise resistant to antibiotics,” Stafford explained.

The team of scientists traced the phages in animals, including Guinea baboons, giraffes, lemurs, Visayan pigs, and binturongs. Stafford added that the team is working hard to develop antibacterial viruses into viable treatments for patients whose next option is the loss of a toe, foot, or leg.
Ongoing research

This research is part of a broader initiative in UK Bioscience to discover new antimicrobials, addressing the pressing global issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This problem is escalating and will impact millions of patients in the UK and around the world.

Stafford said: “It’s a delight that endangered species are contributing to such a positive and powerful purpose. It provides an ever stronger reason to conserve endangered animals. The biodiversity they harbor potentially includes new cures for a range of infectious diseases and we believe this is the tip of the iceberg in this area.”

The research is still ongoing, and the clinical trials that have not yet taken place will aim to establish the effectiveness of the bacteriophages as diabetic foot ulcer therapy.

The statement by the researchers alluded to the practice of phage therapy in the UK and said that it had been employed a few times to treat sepsis and a few diabetic foot infections.

Dr. Dave Partridge, a consultant microbiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, stated:

“Diabetic foot infections are often a challenge to treat and patients may need to have surgery to amputate part of the foot or leg, which can have a huge impact on their quality of life. If bacteriophage therapy proves successful, this could provide us with the ability to treat these infections in a different way, shortening courses of antibiotics and potentially avoiding the need for surgery.”

The fecal matter identified in five animals was among a group of 450. These animals are part of more than 70 rare and endangered species found at the 260-acre park in Branton.

“It is remarkable to think that this exciting research could help those who would otherwise have to go through traumatic therapies and amputations,” said Dr. Charlotte Macdonald, director of animals at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

She added, “This highlights the One Health approach, and how intricately connected human health is to animal health, and protecting biodiversity is critical for the ongoing well-being of the planet and all the creatures that live on it – including humans!”
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matthunter · Oct 16, 2023

Dayton just hung out at the wrong zoo.

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Zoo Poop Might Hold Clues to Stopping Foot Rot

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matthunter Ice Bear

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Zoo Poop Might Hold Clues to Stopping Foot Rot

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