Antimicrobial resistance in poultry: Concerns as transboundary health problem and mitigation strategies

Abstract

The burgeoning issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being recognized as the biggest threat to human health worldwide. It is now emerging as an important transboundary problem with many of the infections having potent zoonotic potential. Use of antibiotics in poultry especially given in feed at sub-therapeutic doses for growth promotion has raised many questions as there has been increase in AMR in pathogens both of human and animal/poultry origin in recent years. Poultry including wild birds may act as reservoirs of resistant bacteria or their resistance genes, which may be transmitted to other bacteria and pose a serious problem for poultry as well as human health. Migratory birds can transmit such infections/resistance genes across countries. AMR profiling of poultry pathogens is essential so as to assess the extent of antimicrobial resistance prevailing in them and this information can be utilized in devising strategies to reduce AMR. Reports on AMR profiling of important pathogens of poultry viz. E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens in India are available. However, studies on this aspect are fragmentary, confined to small regions and most of them with assessment of phenotypic resistance. Thus, comprehensive studies representing pan India picture is essentially required both on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) so as to devise the action plan for mitigation of AMR. Different alternative strategies need to be adopted in poultry farming in India like biosecurity, good management and nutrition, vaccination, education/training, diagnostics and optimal use of antibiotics after sensitivity testing to avoid dependence on antimicrobials and thereby prevent AMR.