Abstract
Background and Aim: Since 2015, local newspapers reported that pig and poultry farmers in Uganda use antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to promote growth in animals and control diseases. This study was conducted to assess farmers' knowledge, attitude and perceptions about the use of antiretroviral drugs as boosters in pigs and poultry and the possibility of detecting the antiretroviral drugs in meat using available laboratory methods. Materials and Methods: In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in ten districts in Uganda. In 20 focus group discussions with 100 pig and poultry farmers and 70 animal health service providers, we assessed the use of ARV in livestock enterprises. Subsequently, samples of chicken, pigs, and animal feeds were collected from volunteer participants, and screened for residues of saquinavir, lopinavir, nevirapine, and efavirenz using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometer. Results: Participants in all ten districts were predominantly smallholder farmers supplying the local markets. All groups reported the use of ARVs in pigs and broiler birds but not in layer hens. In the absence of good quality feeds, the motivation for feeding ARVs was rapid animal weight gain, as well as the control of animal diseases, for which farmers have no alternative solutions. ARVs were obtained within the community for free, against cash, or in-kind payment. Residues of lopinavir were detected in four, and saquinavir in seven districts, and all three sample matrices. Conclusion: Our study findings confirm anecdotal news reports on ARV use in livestock. While our findings are not generalizable to the whole country, they call for a representative follow-up. As the drugs were detected in tissues destined for human consumption, the potential risk to human health warrants further investigation.
Highlights
The majority of Ugandans depend on agriculture for food and income; the sector accounts for about 73% of the total employment, and transforming subsistence farming into commercial agriculture is one of the priorities of the Uganda National Poverty Eradication Plan [1]
All groups reported the use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in pigs and broiler birds but not in layer hens
Pig and poultry farming are popular because they require little land and comparatively small start-up capital with cash returns after a relatively short time compared to ruminants
Summary
The majority of Ugandans depend on agriculture for food and income; the sector accounts for about 73% of the total employment, and transforming subsistence farming into commercial agriculture is one of the priorities of the Uganda National Poverty Eradication Plan [1]. The increase in livestock production is driven by increased demand for milk, meat, and eggs both locally and regionally in East Africa. The demand for pork and chicken is increasing, especially in urban centers. Because of this ready market for meat and eggs, farmers have replaced traditional but slowly maturing breeds with faster growing broiler breeds from high-income countries; for instance, farmers have turned to hybrid broilers that mature in 4 months compared to local birds that need 12 months until they reach market weight. This study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude and perceptions about the use of antiretroviral drugs as boosters in pigs and poultry and the possibility of detecting the antiretroviral drugs in meat using available laboratory methods
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
