Abstract
The burden of antimicrobial use in agricultural settings is one of the greatest challenges facing global health and food security in the modern era. Malaysian poultry operations are a relevant but understudied component of epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to identify the prevalence, resistance patterns, and risk factors associated with Salmonella isolates from poultry farms in three states of East Coast Peninsular Malaysia. Between 8 February 2019 and 23 February 2020, a total of 371 samples (cloacal swabs = 259; faecal = 84; Sewage = 14, Tap water = 14) was collected from poultry operations. Characteristics of the sampled farms and associated risk factors were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires. Presumptive Salmonella spp. isolates were identified based on colony morphology with subsequent biochemical and PCR confirmation. Susceptibility of isolates was tested against a panel of 12 antimicrobials using disk diffusion method. Our findings revealed that the proportion of Salmonella spp.-positive isolates across sample source were as following: cloacal swab (46.3%, 120/259); faecal (59.5%, 50/84); in tap water (14.3%, 2/14); and in sewage sample (35.7%, 5/14). Isolates from faecal (15.5%, 13/84), cloacal (1.2%, 3/259), and sewage (7.1%, 1/14) samples were significantly resistant to at least five classes of antimicrobials. Resistance to Sulfonamides class (52%, 92/177) was predominantly observed followed by tetracycline (39.5%, 70/177) and aminoglycosides (35.6%, 63/177). Multivariate regression analysis identified intensive management system (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.00–2.40) as a leading driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) acquisition. A prevalence of resistance to common antimicrobials was recorded for sulfamethoxazole (33.9%), tetracycline (39.5%), and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (37.9%). A close association between different risk factors and the prevalence of AMR of Salmonella strains suggests a concern over rising misuse of veterinary antimicrobials that may contribute to the emergence and evolution of multidrug-resistant pathogen isolates. One Health approach is recommended to achieve a positive health outcome for all species.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security; today, this is rising globally in both developed and developing countries
We present findings from a study of risk factors associated with the carriage of resistant Salmonella spp. isolates in poultry farms of East Coast Peninsular Malaysia to establish a baseline for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) levels in these settings for policy makers
This study aimed to identify the prevalence, resistance patterns, and risk factors associated with Salmonella spp. resistance from poultry farms in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang states of East Coast Peninsular Malaysia
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security; today, this is rising globally in both developed and developing countries. In Malaysia and many other Southeast Asian countries, a wide use of antibiotics, especially in intensive production system, is linked to the higher resistance to various antibiotics [3]. Most of these antimicrobial compounds are accumulated and biomagnified through the food chain. Exposure among human populations to low levels of antimicrobial contaminants through marine and agricultural ecosystems has been linked to development and acquisition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria [1,4]
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