Review Article : Antimicrobial drug resistance in poultry pathogens: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely considered a global public health threat, with the use of antimicrobials in poultry production considered one of the contributing factors. Antimicrobial agents are used for growth promotion, prevention, and treatment of poultry diseases. They are also used to prevent and treat human diseases. This unchecked dependence on antimicrobials results in their unregulated use and abuse in human and animal health, resulting in AMR. Previously, AMR was investigated using antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion method (for bacteria and fungi) and phenotypic fluorescence-based inhibition assay (for viruses). This was done after culturing the bacteria and fungi in growth media or propagating viruses in embryonic chicken eggs or specific cell lines. Recent studies utilizing metagenomics and next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have also identified a large array of antimicrobial resistance genes that had not been discovered earlier. In this study, a systematic review of different studies focusing on AMR in some poultry pathogens was conducted using different databases, such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL library sources for relevant studies. These sources were screened against the protocol eligibility criteria, where 103 studies met the inclusion criteria. We wish to review the current state of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, fungi and viruses in poultry and also explore alternative approaches for preventing and treating diseases and promoting growth in food animals such as poultry. This is essential in enhancing efforts of harmonizing testing practices and facilitating free access to information and data on AMR with the aim of enhancing treatment measures, along with monitoring the advancement of AMR in poultry pathogens.