Antibiotic Application and Resistance in Swine Production in China: Current Situation and Future Perspectives.

Hong Yang,Hanne Skomedal,Jihong Liu Clarke,André Van Eerde,Yanliang Wang,Xunji Chen,Lisa Paruch,Di Liu

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00136

Abstract

To meet increasing demand for animal protein, swine have been raised in large Chinese farms widely, using antibiotics as growth promoter. However, improper use of antibiotics has caused serious environmental and health risks, in particular Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This paper reviews the consumption of antibiotics in swine production as well as AMR and the development of novel antibiotics or alternatives in China. The estimated application of antibiotics in animal production in China accounted for about 84240 tons in 2013. Overuse and abuse of antibiotics pose a great health risk to people through food-borne antibiotic residues and selection for antibiotic resistance. China unveiled a national plan to tackle antibiotic resistance in August 2016, but more support is needed for the development of new antibiotics or alternatives like plant extracts. Antibiotic resistance has been a major global challenge, so international collaboration between China and Europe is needed.

Highlights

Over the last decades, China’s economy has grown very quickly
Because the high density of animals in big swine farms exacerbates the risk of quick spread of infectious diseases, farmers in China have responded by using higher amounts of antibiotics
China is tackling the overuse of antibiotics and the AMR problem using different approaches, including educating farmers about AMR caused by excessive use of antibiotics in animal farming, swiftly banning the use of colistin as a feed additive in animal production [30], reducing the list of approved antibiotics for animal application, promoting the use of alternative feed additives such as organic acids (e.g., Selko R -pH, http://selko. com), improving the management of animal husbandry and animal welfare, and law enforcement accompanied by an effective surveillance system [(3), http://www.moa.gov.cn/]

Summary

Introduction

China’s economy has grown very quickly. The gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 1.21 trillion US$ in 2000 to 10.35 trillion US$ in 2014 (Figure 1, World Bank, 2016). Because the high density of animals in big swine farms exacerbates the risk of quick spread of infectious diseases, farmers in China have responded by using higher amounts of antibiotics. China is tackling the overuse of antibiotics and the AMR problem using different approaches, including educating farmers about AMR caused by excessive use of antibiotics in animal farming, swiftly banning the use of colistin as a feed additive in animal production [30], reducing the list of approved antibiotics for animal application, promoting the use of alternative feed additives such as organic acids

Results

Conclusion