Ingrid Hansson

Earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1991 and began a career in clinical practice with both small and large animals. In 1998, transitioned to a position as a laboratory veterinarian in bacteriology at the Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA), where research on Campylobacter commenced—resulting in a PhD thesis, "Bacteriological and epidemiological studies of Campylobacter spp. in Swedish broilers" (2007).

From 2001 to 2016, was responsible for laboratory analyses within the Swedish surveillance program for Campylobacter and played a key role in SVA's designation as the EU Reference Laboratory for Campylobacter in 2006.

In 2016, appointed Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Bacteriology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), continuing research in several bacteriological topics relevant to veterinary medicine. Promoted to Associate Professor in 2020 and Full Professor of Veterinary Bacteriology in 2024.

Key Research Areas

• Bacterial infections in livestock and companion animals, and the influence of environmental factors on their occurrence and transmission
• Campylobacter spp. in poultry – prevalence, survival, and control at farm and slaughter levels
• Hygiene and disinfection methods in animal housing and slaughterhouses  
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal populations and foodborne bacteria                        

Professor Hansson’s research focuses on veterinary bacteriology, with particular emphasis on bacterial epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and infection control in animals and food production systems. Her work integrates laboratory microbiology with applied epidemiology within a One Health framework, aiming to improve animal health, food safety, and public health outcomes.

Selection of Current Research Projects

• Infectious keratitis in Sweden: Investigating microbial isolates and antibiotic resistance patterns to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies
• Combatting colibacillosis in poultry: Developing and evaluating preventive measures to reduce disease incidence in poultry production.
• Campylobacter outbreaks in Sweden: Characterizing outbreak-associated strains to understand their survival mechanisms, virulence factors, and epidemiological dynamics.
• Reducing Campylobacter prevalence in poultry: Implementing and assessing biosecurity and management interventions to lower Campylobacter rates at the farm level.
• Fluorescent imaging (MolecuLight DX™): Applying advanced imaging technologies for real-time detection of wound bacteria in veterinary patients to enhance infection control.
• Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic pathogens: Examining resistance patterns and transmission risks in urban smallholder livestock systems to support sustainable and safe food production.

Professor Hansson teaches veterinary microbiology, infectious diseases, and food safety across several programs at SLU, including:

• Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Biology (Veterinary Medicine Program)
• Microbiology and Disease Pathogenesis (Veterinary Nursing Program)
• Molecular Cell Biology and Microbiology (Animal Science and Ethology Programs)

Supervising PostDocs, PhD students, MSc students, and research interns, focusing on bacteriology, infection control, and antimicrobial resistance.