Antimicrobial Usage in Commercial and Domestic Poultry Farming in Two Communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Ralf Krumkamp,Jürgen May,Seth Ofori,Dennis Fosu,Kwasi Obiri Danso,Ellis Kobina Paintsil,Maike Lamshöft,Denise Dekker,Charity Wiafe Akenten,Linda Aurelia Ofori

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10070800

Abstract

Poultry farming is a common practice in Ghana. Antibiotics are used, particularly in commercial poultry farming, as growth promoters and to prevent and cure infections. However, there is little information on antimicrobial usage in domestic poultry farming in Ghana. This study aimed to describe antimicrobial usage in commercial and domestic poultry farming. A cross-sectional survey was conducted within the Ashanti region of Ghana including 33 commercial farms and 130 households with domestic poultry farming. The median poultry population on commercial farms was 1500 (IQR: 300–3000) compared with 18 (IQR: 10–25) on domestic farms. The majority (97%, n = 32) of commercial farms used antimicrobials, compared with 43% (n = 56) of the domestic farms. Commercial farmers were 6.1 (CI: 3.2–11.8) times more likely to read and follow instructions on antimicrobials in comparison with domestic poultry keepers. About 11% of domestic and 34% of commercial farmers had received education on antimicrobial usage. None of the commercial farmers used herbal remedies; however, 40% (n/N = 52/130) of domestic farmers administered herbs. The misuse of antimicrobials in domestic poultry production calls for stricter regulations and training to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among poultry.

Highlights

Domestic poultry farming considerably improves the socioeconomic status of families and communities in low- and middle-income countries [1]
The median commercial poultry population was 1500 (IQR: 300–3000) fowls, which was higher compared with the number of fowls kept by domestic farmers
Out of the 33 commercial farms visited by the study team, only two (6%, n/N = 2/33) were owned by females, but 55% (n/N = 72/130) of the domestic free-range poultry were owned by females

Summary

Introduction

Domestic poultry farming considerably improves the socioeconomic status of families and communities in low- and middle-income countries [1]. Households own approximately 40 million poultry compared with an estimated 70 million kept on commercial farms [3]. Both commercial farms and free-range poultry production by households face challenges such as poor husbandry conditions, feeding status and diseases among farm animals [4]. Extensive use of antimicrobials in animals has contributed to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [8]. High numbers of antimicrobialresistant bacteria have been isolated from patient samples of rural, urban and semi-urban health facilities in Ghana [10,11] as well as from locally produced and imported poultry [12]. In North Central Nigeria, it was observed that even though many commercial poultry farmers used antimicrobials, their level of knowledge regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) was low [13]

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Conclusion