In the Bristol Vet School Microbiology group we study infectious diseases and commensal organisms in both large and small animals, with the aim of improving both animal and human health and welfare. We have a particular interest in the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease, the role of bacteria in forage production, and in the ecology of zoonotic diseases. We use molecular and traditional techniques to study bacteria in labs equipped to study bacteria: mammalian cell interactions to containment level 2. Our research complements research in Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health.

We work closely with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Community, the Clinical Research Community and other groups within the Infection, Inflammation and Immunotherapy (I3) Community but aspects of our research also involve understanding and monitoring how infectious disease affects animal welfare and behaviour.

We have several joint projects with industry, ranging from infectious disease to productivity. Please contact Dr Tristan Cogan to explore potential collaborations.

Some of our recent publications: 

• Insights into Pasteurellaceae carriage dynamics in the nasal passages of healthy beef calves
• Surveillance: Small animal disease surveillance: Pruritus and Pseudomonas skin infections
• Social network analysis and whole genome sequencing in a cohort study to investigate TB transmission in an educational setting
• The role of movement restrictions in limiting the economic impact of livestock infections 
• An economic evaluation of the cost of different methods of retesting chlamydia positive individuals in England
• Laminitis in dairy goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) on a low-forage diet
• Within-flock population dynamics of Dichelobacter nodosus
• Assessing the ability of silage lactic acid bacteria to incorporate and transform inorganic selenium within laboratory scale silos
• Hepatic leptospiral infections in dogs without obvious renal involvement
• Efficacy and dermal tolerance of a novel alcohol-based skin antiseptic in horses
• Silage and total mixed ration hygienic quality on commercial farms: Implications for animal production
• Failure to achieve asepsis following surgical skin preparation is influenced by bacterial resistance to chlorhexidine, but not skin preparation technique
• Streptococcus thermophilus NCIMB 41856 ameliorates signs of colitis in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease
• Distinct Salmonella Enteritidis lineages associated with enterocolitis in high-income settings and invasive disease in low-income settings
• Campylobacter species and neutrophilic inflammatory bowel disease in cats 
• European multicenter study on antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from companion animal urinary tract infections