Use Of Antibiotics In Animals Research Articles

Antibiotics in broilers chicken production: a review of impacts, challenges and potential alternatives

Globally, the use of antibiotic in animal industry was well known in the 20th century. Antibiotics usage as therapeutic and subtherapeutic means of improving growth and feed efficiency in livestock was well documented in literature. However, continuous use of antibiotics in food animals for increased growth and disease prevention has resulted in the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in animals. This has led to disease treatment failure in the affected animals. The problem of transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria to human through food chain and contamination of environment is another challenge of antibiotic usage in poultry production. Hence, the ban was placed on antibiotic usage in animal production. The restriction to the use of animal growth promoting antibiotic has gained high compliance in the developed countries. However, in the third world countries, this is still a battle that is on-going. To achieve the 2023 Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance goal, a lot is still left to be done. This review synthesized information on implications of antibiotics use on broiler chickens’ production cost efficiency and profitability; impact of antibiotics mode of action, diseases prevention and treatments of infection in broiler chickens’ production; challenges of antibiotics residual effect on meat quality and safety and alternatives to synthetic antibiotic for broiler chickens’ production.

Antibiotic Use Characteristics and Patterns in Humans and Poultry in Wakiso District, Uganda.

Antibiotic use in animals has been identified as a major contributing factor for antibiotic resistance. Given the limited access to veterinary services, the choice of antibiotic and the dosage are determined by the farmers. By analyzing prescription practices and their appropriateness, we can compare performance in antibiotic stewardship across regions to drive change toward national goals and to guide policy interventions. This study used an integrated approach to assess antibiotic use at the grassroots in a rural poultry-keeping community in Wakiso District, Uganda. Medical prescriptions of 347 outpatients were captured between September 2021 and November 2021 via systematic random sampling of patients attending a local health center and were reviewed to decode antibiotic use characteristics and patterns. In the same period, structured questionnaires were issued to 36 poultry farmers in the same area to obtain information on their antibiotic use practices. Of the 347 human outpatient prescriptions reviewed, 250 (72%) recommended at least one antibiotic at a mean of 1.7 antibiotics per prescription. Conversely, all the poultry farms reported antibiotic use. There was significantly more use of macrolides and tetracyclines on poultry farms than at the local health centers and more use of penicillins, nitroimidazoles, and cephalosporins in humans than in poultry. There is unregulated use of critically important antibiotics in poultry and a misuse of antibiotics in the health center due to the lack of adequate diagnostic services. There is a need to improve point-of-care diagnostics of both human and poultry diseases in this community to guide antibiotic use.

Methods for Measuring Sensitivity and Prevalence of Anti Microbial Resistance in Campylobacter Spp

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in thermophilic Campylobacter. Campylobacter has become the leading cause of infectious enteric zoonoses in developed and developing countries worldwide, with the aim of identifying key predictors to improve clinical outcomes and reduce food poisoning and infections, particularly in children, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)( good health and well-being). Theoretical framework: This theme presents the main concepts and theories underlying the research. The framework includes understanding the data on morphology, structure and percentages of each antibiotic, as well as means of phenotypic identification based on selective media for bacteria, the prevalence of resistance on a global scale and a clear message for public health that this is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for reducing the rate of antimicrobial resistance. The methodology adopted: for this search consisted of a systematic review of the literature. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Neliti and Research Gate using the keywords "antimicrobial resistance Campylobacter ssp". The search yielded 203 articles, which were reviewed according to the inclusion criteria: published between 1980 and 2024, original articles, accessible full text, in English or Spanish, Brazilian, Chinese and relevant to mechanisms and percentages over time. A more in-depth review based on exclusion criteria, such as discrepancies in search titles, inaccessibility of articles and duplication, resulted in the selection of nine targeted articles that dealt solely with the bacterium Campylobacter ssp. Results and discussion: Antibiotic resistance has emerged in Campylobacter, mainly due to the use of antibiotics in animals entering the food chain. Resistance to the antibiotics mainly used in the treatment of infections, macrolides and fluoroquinolones, has become a clinical problem, and interventions aimed at reducing this resistance are recommended. Resistance to fluoroquinolones and macrolides is due to chromosomal mutations. Resistance to other usable antibiotics, which is due to the acquisition of resistance genes, has not yet spread. However, the fact that resistance genes come from both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species suggests the possibility of the emergence of acquired resistance in Campylobacter. Implications of the research: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, offering insight into how the results may be applied or influence practice in the field of public health and also for clinicians. These implications could include clinical practice guidelines, developing predictive tools and developing policies to reduce gastroenteritis infections, particularly in neonates and young children. Originality/value: this study provides information on a bacterium which has alerted public health through food poisoning, which increases resistance in silent mode and which affects a large age group between 0-14 years, which is more frequent and is linked to effective identification tools. Not forgetting the prevalence of the percentages of each antibiotic.

Major or minor? The EU food animal antibiotic policy and the varied use

PurposeLimiting the use of antibiotics in food animals is a cornerstone of contemporary EU policy. Despite that marketing of antibiotics for growth promotion and nutrition has been banned since 2006, the use is still high and varied. This paper aims to investigate the forces behind the different usage patterns in Italy, with one of the EU’s most extensive use of antibiotics in animals, versus Sweden, with the union’s most restricted use, including how these usage patterns are related to EU and national policies.Design/methodology/approachThe industrial network approach/the 4R resources interaction model is adopted to investigate the major forces behind the different antibiotic usage patterns. Furthermore, the study relies on the notion of three main characteristics related to the use of a resource activated in several user settings (Håkansson and Waluszewski, 2008, pp. 20–22). The paper investigates the Swedish and the Italian using settings, with a minimised, respectively, extensive usage of antibiotics. The study is exploratory in nature and based on qualitative data collected through a combination of primary and secondary sources.FindingsThe paper underlines the importance of integrating forces for policy to succeed in attempts to reduce the use of a particular resource. It reveals that Sweden’s radically reduced use was based on great awareness, close interactions between animal-based food producers and policy – and that integrating forces were supported by an era of state-protected food production, with promising ability to distribute the cost of change. The Italian characteristics hindering the integration of forces mounting for reduced use were restricted awareness, top-down business and policy interactions – and a great awareness about the difficulties of distributing the cost of change.Originality/valueThe study deals with the analysis of forces affecting the different usage of antibiotics within two EU settings. The investigation, based on the industrial network approach’s notion of connectivity of economic resources, that is, of exchange having a content and substance beyond discrete transactions, reveals how indirect related contextual forces, neglected by policy, have an important influence on the ability to achieve change, in this case of antibiotics usage patterns.

The contribution of animal antibiotic use to antibiotic resistance in human infections: Panel evidence from Denmark

Antibiotic use (ABU) in animals is postulated to be a major contributor to selection of antibiotic resistance (ABR) which subsequently causes infections in human populations. However, there are few quantifications of the size of this association. Denmark, as a country with high levels of pig production and strong ABR surveillance data, is an ideal case study for exploring this association.This study compiles a dataset on ABU across several animal species and antibiotic classes, and data on the rate of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in humans across key pathogens, in Denmark over time (2010−2020). Panel data regressions (fixed effects, random effects, first difference and pooled ordinary least squares) were used to test the association between the level of ABR in human isolates and the level of ABU in animals.A positive relationship was identified between ABR in humans and ABU in cattle, with some evidence of a positive relationship for poultry and companion animals, and a negative relationship for fish, although the latter is likely driven by confounding factors. When lagging ABU by one year, the effect of ABU in cattle and companion animals remained similar, the effect of ABU in poultry fell in size, and ABU in fish was no longer significant, perhaps due to differences in life cycle length among animal species. Additional covariates were explored, including pet populations, agricultural production and GDP per capita (at purchasing power parity), but these results were limited by the statistical power of the dataset. Under all models, animal ABU determined only a minority of the change in human ABR levels in this context with adjusted R2 ranging from 0.19 to 0.44.This paper supports the role of animal ABU in determining human ABR levels but suggests that, despite comprising a large portion of systemwide ABU, it only explains a minority of the variation. This is likely driven in part by data limitations, and could also be due to a persistence of ABR once resistance has emerged, suggesting a significant role for socioeconomic and transmission factors in bringing ABR down to desirable levels.

Nanoformulations for lysozyme-based additives in animal feed: An alternative to fight antibiotic resistance spread

Abstract The problem of antibiotic resistance (AR) in pathogenic bacteria due to the massive use of antibiotics in animals is an underestimated issue. Finding alternatives to reduce or eliminate the appearance and spread of AR is a pressing issue for humanity. Enzymes with antibiotic properties may serve as antimicrobial agents, less prone to generating AR due to their proteic nature and mode of action. Lysozyme is a natural antimicrobial agent, amenable to replacing small-molecule antibiotics in animal farming (poultry and livestock) due to its similar effects on animal health and growth. Moreover, it is safe for human and animal consumption and environmentally friendly due to its biodegradability. The development and testing against pathogens of lysozyme-containing nanomaterials fabricated with biocompatible polymers, particularly polysaccharides is reviewed, focusing on their antimicrobial properties, often superior to lysozyme alone due to a synergistic effect of the nanoscaled materials.

THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD ANIMALS – A THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH

Background: Antibiotics are widely used in food animals to prevent disease, promote growth and maintain productivity. Modern animal production practices involve regular use of antimicrobials, but abusive use can lead to harmful consequences. The aim of this review was to provide comprehensive information regarding the risk of regular application of antibiotics in food animals, the potential consequences and impact on human health, and options for the prevention of antibiotic resistance in the food chain. Review Results: Although organizations such as WHO, UN, and EU have taken steps to reduce and limit the use of antibiotics in animals, these are proving insufficient in developing countries. In many countries, the antibiotics used in animals appear to exceed that in humans. The abuse in food animals promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes that can be transmitted to humans through food consumption and direct contact with animal food or environment mechanisms. This can lead to human infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, causing treatment failure and, therefore, more severe and longer-lasting illnesses, increased hospitalization rates, more deaths and higher costs to society. Furthermore, as food animals and animal-derived foods are traded globally, they contribute to antibiotic resistance in countries far from where the problem originates. Conclusion: Overcoming the problem of antibiotic resistance requires a multidisciplinary approach with effective action coordination and information exchange between the agricultural, food, veterinary and health sectors. Through international cooperation, efforts should focus on reducing unnecessary antibiotics use and reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but national-level action on antibiotic resistance and food safety is also essential.

Occurrence of antimicrobial residues in broiler chickens from selected farms and markets in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animal meant for human and animal’s consumption lead to occurrence of antibiotic residues which threaten the health of both animals and humans. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of antimicrobial residues in broiler chicken in Kano state, Nigeria. Samples of fresh breast muscle, thigh muscle, liver and kidney were collected from 100 birds and examined using microbial inhibition test and ELISA test to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial residues and Enrofloxacin residues. A questionnaire was also administered to 33 workers and managers of the selected bird’s farms to assess their knowledge on the use of antibiotics and presence of antimicrobial residues. The result of the study revealed that 43% of the studied birds tested positive to antibiotic residue. Kidney samples recorded the highest (43%) residue present while thigh muscles (35%) recorded the least. The result indicated that among the birds detected with positive antibiotic residues, 36.4% were also positive for Enrofloxacin residue. All the respondents were using one or more antibiotic for treatment, prophylaxis or both and to a lesser extent as growth promoters. Majority (55.5%) of the respondents were not aware of the presence of residues in poultry. Most of the respondents (63.7%) have knowledge of withdrawal period but all of them were not observing withdrawal practice before disposing their birds. Doxycycline antibiotic was found to be the most indiscriminately use antibiotic, while erythromycin and chloramphenicol are the least. The study advocates the need for awareness campaigns for the farmers on the correct way of administering the antibiotics with special emphasis on withdrawal periods as well as continuous monitoring of the residues for public health reasons.

Challenges and opportunities when moving food production and consumption toward sustainable diets in the Nordics: a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023.

The terms 'Nordic countries' or 'The Nordics' include the five countries Denmark, Finland, Island, Norway, and Sweden. This review includes evaluation of the Nordic countries against Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)/World Health Organizations' (WHO) guiding principles for healthy, sustainable diets with respect to environmental impact (principles #9 - #13) and sociocultural aspects (principles #14 - #16). A food systems perspective is taken to summarize and discuss the most important challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable diets. Food system, food security, self-sufficiency, and resilience perspectives are applied. The information can underpin decisions when developing and implementing Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) in the Nordics. None of the Nordic countries are on track to reach the 2030 UN climate and biodiversity goals. We describe how food production, processing, and consumption contribute to these and other environmental challenges, and what kinds of dietary changes/transitions consistent with these goals are required. A major challenge is the high production and consumption of meat and too low consumption of fish, vegetables, and fruits. Meat production is a major source of emissions and, together with farmed fish, heavily dependent on imported feed ingredients, leaving a large land-use and water footprint in exporting countries while domestic land resources are not used optimally. Dietary patterns have changed drastically over the past 50 years, and in large parts of the population, meat consumption has doubled since the 1970s, rendering historic food culture less useful as a basis for present-day recommendations. The Nordics have Europe's lowest use of antibiotics in animal and fish production and have made some progress in reducing food waste along the food chain. A major opportunity is better alignment of food production and consumption based on local or regional production potentials, in conjunction with better and more constructive integration with the global food system while integrating novel technologies to reduce emissions and resource use.

Antibiotic Resistance of Foodborne Microorganisms Isolated in the Republic of Tajikistan

Introduction: The sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population is mainly determined by food quality. The World Health Organization is alarmed by the increasing widespread use of antibiotics in animal, poultry, and fish production. The number of drugs used in agriculture is almost twice as high as the number of those used to treat humans. Objective: To establish antibiotic resistance of microorganisms isolated from food products. Materials and methods: Bacteria isolated from 261 samples of food products (eggs, meat and dairy products) on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan in 2022 were used as materials for the study. Microorganisms (n = 138) were isolated and identified by the bacteriological method using differential diagnostic media. The phenotypic sensitivity of bacteria to nine antimicrobials was determined by the disc diffusion method (DDM). The statistical significance of the results was assessed by calculating the arithmetic mean (M) and standard error of the mean (m) in Microsoft Excel (2010). Results: A total of 138 Enterobacterales (52.2 %) and Staphylococcus (47.8 %) bacteria were tested. Analysis of the phenotypic profile of antibiotic sensitivity of cultures in the genus Staphylococcus showed that most of them were resistant to kanamycin and rifampicin (66.7 %); 54.6 % and 45.5 % were resistant to ceftriaxone and lincomycin, respectively. About 30 % of the staphylococci were resistant to erythromycin, tobramycin, levofloxacin, and gentamicin, while the share of staphylococci resistant to ciprofloxacin was the smallest (15.2 %). Enterobacteria showed high resistance to kanamycin (94.5 %), more than 61.2 % of cultures were resistant to tobramycin; 41.7 % and 33.4 % of cultures were resistant to ceftriaxone and gentamicin. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the importance of continuous surveillance over the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food products.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Traditionally Fermented Bovine Milk from Selected Farms of Kajiado- Central Sub-County, Kenya

Introduction: Fermented bovine milk provides a conducive environment for the growth of bacteria some of which could be of zoonotic importance. These bacteria can develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to the regular use of antibiotics in animals. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated from traditionally fermented milk obtained and processed from 114 indigenous cows kept by Maasai pastoralists in Kajiado County, Kenya. The Kirby-Bauer Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolated Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Salmonella typhi. Results: The susceptibility of the isolated bacteria was determined using nine antibiotics namely chloramphenicol (10μg), kanamycin (30μg), penicillin G (10μg), streptomycin (10μg), oxytetracycline (30μ) tetracycline (30μg), vancomycin (30μg), gentamycin (10μg) and Ampicillin (10μg). The Staphylococcus (S.) aureus isolates exhibited diverse resistance patterns to the antibiotics with the greatest resistance observed against oxytetracycline (69.2%), streptomycin (69.2%), and kanamycin (61.5%). However, a significant proportion of the S. aureus strains demonstrated a 100% susceptibility rate to gentamycin and vancomycin. Escherichia coli isolates exhibited resistance to vancomycin (100%), tetracycline (80%), oxytetracycline (80 %), and ampicillin (60 %) and were highly (100%) sensitive to the other antibiotics. Salmonella typhi isolates were resistant to vancomycin (88.8%) and highly (100%) sensitive to chloramphenicol, penicillin G, gentamycin, and streptomycin. Klebsiella spp. were highly resistant to vancomycin (100%) and were sensitive to gentamycin (100%) and streptomycin (100%). Conclusion: The study showed a high prevalence of AMR in bacteria isolated from traditional milk consumed by the pastoralists and thus there is a high risk of zoonotic spread of the pathogenic bacteria. There is a need to educate the local households on strategies to minimize the occurrence of AMR in animals and also improve hygiene practices in the preparation of traditionally fermented milk.

Spread of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in poultry and its risks to public health: A comprehensive review

The livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) strains are prevalent in the poultry farming environment and are a common component of the bacterial microbiota on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy animals. The origin and spread of LA-MRSA are attributed to the use of antibiotics in animals, and close contact between people and different animal species increases the risk of animal exposure to humans. The epidemiology of LA-MRSA in poultry significantly changed when ST398 and ST9 were found in food-producing animals. The significance of LA-MRSA and zoonotic risk associated with handling and processing foods of avian origin is highlighted by the LA-MRSA strain's ability to infect chickens. People who work with poultry are more prone to contract LA-MRSA than the general population. There is scientific consensus that individuals who have close contact with chickens can become colonized and subsequently infected with LA-MRSA; these individuals could include breeders, medical professionals, or personnel at chicken slaughterhouses. The prevention of LA-MRSA infections and diseases of poultry origin requires taking precautions against contamination across the entire chicken production chain.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ АНТИБАКТЕРИАЛЬНЫХ ПРЕПАРАТОВ В ПТИЦЕВОДСТВЕ

Due to the intensive development of poultry farming, infectious diseases have become widespread. One of the most common in poultry farming is colibacteriosis. In addition, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, staphylococcosis, clostridiosis, etc. are becoming more widespread. Antibiotics have so far been considered the main means of combating bacterial diseases. And for the treatment of humans, antibiotics are very often prescribed without taking into account the resistance of the etiological agent. The widespread use of antibiotics in poultry farming has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant risk to human and animal health. These public health issues, which have led to the adoption of legislation restricting the use of antibiotics in animals, necessitate the search for alternative strategies for the control and treatment of bacterial infections. Modulation of the innate immune system of birds using immunostimulating compounds is a promising solution to enhance the immune response of birds to a wide range of bacterial infections without the risk of developing antibiotic resistance. It was also found that antibiotics penetrate into livestock products — milk, meat, eggs and remain there even after heat treatment. After consuming products with a residual amount of antibiotics in the human body, microorganisms become resistant to antimicrobial drugs used in humane medicine, therefore, antibiotic therapy is often ineffective. The use of antibiotics for preventive purposes, non-compliance with the waiting period for the removal of animals and poultry from the body, the lack of production control for the content of antibiotics before the release of products leads to the appearance and spread of antibiotic-resistant, including epidemiologically (epizootically) significant strains of microorganisms. As for alternative therapies for bacterial diseases in birds, phage therapy against infection caused by S. typhimurium in chickens proved to be as effective as antibiotic therapy (enrofloxacin or colistin) and less invasive than the use of antibiotics, since fewer changes in the microbiome were observed.

Comparison of Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli Strains Isolated From Swine, Poultry, and Farm Workers in the Respective Livestock Farming Units in Greece.

Human health is at risk because commensal intestinal bacteria in livestock have been developing increased antibiotic resistance, mainly due to antibiotics' extensive use in recent years. In this study, we compared the antibiotic resistance of E. coli strains isolated from fecal samples obtained from swine, poultry, and farm workers in the corresponding livestock farming units. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between the antibiotic resistance patterns of E. coli in livestock and in humans closely interacting with them. Antibiotic resistance is determined using the microdilution method, which measures the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for seven commonly used antimicrobial agents. Most E. coli isolates displayed significant resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole was observed, too, in swine and swine farmers. In contrast, high resistance rates to nalidixic acid were observed in E. coli strains isolated from poultry and poultry farmers, with percentages of 66.7% and 50%, respectively. Furthermore, 31.57% of the isolated strains from swine and swine farmers were resistant to at least one antibiotic. In comparison, 44.44% of the poultry strains and 33.33% of the poultry farmers' strains were resistant to at least two antibiotics. Additionally, a high prevalence of multidrug resistance was observed among the E. coli strains isolated from all four categories. The study's results provide evidence that the use of antibiotics and the increased resistance of intestinal bacteria affect the resistance of intestinal bacteria in people working on farms. These findings highlight the potential role of antibiotic use in animals as a contributing factor to the development of antibiotic resistance in both animals and humans. Additionally, it suggests that individuals working on farms may be at an increased risk of acquiring antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli due to their proximity to and interaction with animals.

A systematic review of tetracycline resistance genes in animals and derived products in Latin America and the Caribbean

We aimed to systematize and assess scientific information on tetracycline (TET) resistance genes in animals, products, and by-products in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Only original articles published in peer-reviewed journals were considered. Sixty articles published between 2003 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria. The geographical areas of study were Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Costa Rica, and, to a lesser extent, Colombia, Bolivia, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. The studies were related to livestock, wild animals, and pets. The most common isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The tet genes found in higher frequency in the samples or isolates evaluated were tetA, tetB, tetM, tetL, tetK, tetC, tetO, tetD, tetG, tetW, tetS, tetQ, tetE, tetH, tetJ, tetZ, and tetY. Studies evaluating the presence of tet genes in animals in LAC are limited despite TET being antibiotics widely used in animals. It is necessary to establish cross border public policies that allow the constant training of medical and related personnel regarding the responsible use of antibiotics in animals and the effective monitoring of the phenomenon in the region.

Chlortetracycline Concentration Impact on Salmonella Typhimurium Sustainability in the Presence of Porcine Gastrointestinal Tract Bacteria Maintained in Continuous Culture.

Concern exists that the continued use of antibiotics in animal feeds may lead to an increased prevalence of resistant bacteria within the host animal's gastrointestinal tract. To evaluate the effect of chlortetracycline on the persistence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium within a diverse population of porcine cecal bacteria, we cultured a mixed population of cecal bacteria without or with added chlortetracycline. When grown at a 24 h vessel turnover rate, chlortetracycline-susceptible S. Typhimurium exhibited more than 2.5 times faster (p < 0.05) disappearance rates than theoretically expected (0.301 log10 colony-forming unit/mL per day) but did not differ whether treated or not with 55 mg of chlortetracycline/L. Chlortetracycline-resistant S. Typhimurium was not recovered from any of these cultures. When the mixed cultures were inoculated with a chlortetracycline-resistant S. Typhimurium, rates of disappearance were nearly two times slower (p < 0.05) than those observed earlier with chlortetracycline-susceptible S. Typhimurium, and cultures persisted at >2 log10 colony-forming units/mL for up to 14 days of treatment with 110 mg of chlortetracycline/L. Under the conditions of this study, chlortetracycline-resistant S. Typhimurium was competitively enabled to persist longer within the mixed populations of porcine gut bacteria than chlortetracycline-susceptible S. Typhimurium, regardless of the presence or absence of added chlortetracycline.

Generating evidence on antibiotic use across human and animal health sectors using the World Health Organization’s Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification: Exploratory pilot study in rural Pune, India

Background and Aim: Human antibiotic formulations in animal feed for therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes have contributed to antimicrobial resistance worldwide; however, little evidence is available in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to generate evidence of antibiotic use across the human and animal health sectors by investigating the overlap in antibiotic use in community settings in rural blocks of Pune District, India, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification. Materials and Methods: An exploratory pilot study using a cross-sectional design in two randomly selected rural blocks of the Pune district included 138 interviews with general physicians (GPs, n = 62), pharmacists (n = 60), and veterinary practitioners (n = 16) using semi-structured interview schedules and the WHO AWaRe classification. IBM-Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 21.0 software was used for descriptive statistics and to calculate the proportions of the different antibiotic groups. The WHO AWaRe classification was used to describe antibiotic use by the study participants and to assess the overlap in antibiotic use. Results: Our study provides evidence of an overlap in human and animal antibiotic use in rural community settings across the human and animal health sectors. Amoxicillin (access group), penicillin (access group), and ofloxacin (watch group) were used in both human and animal health. Amoxicillin and penicillin were used to treat common bacterial infections, ofloxacin was used to treat skin infections in humans and animals, and ofloxacin was used to treat pneumonia in animals and urinary bladder infections in humans. In contrast, azithromycin (watch group), cefixime (watch group), and amoxicillin (Access Group), with or without other antibiotics, were the most commonly used antibiotics by GPs in humans. Conclusion: We confirmed the overlap in antibiotic use across the human and animal health sectors in rural community settings, suggesting the need for interventions following the One Health approach. Further, research is required to assess the patterns of this overlap, as well as behavior, knowledge, and potential solutions to help avoid this overlap and prevent the rampant use of antibiotics in the animal and human health sectors in rural community settings. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics use, overlap, rural India, WHO AWaRe.

Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of antibiotics in manure and the surrounding soil from typical chicken farms in Hangzhou, China

The widespread use of antibiotics in animal and human medication has raised global concerns over environmental contamination caused by antibiotic residues. This research investigated the occurrence of 12 kinds of antibiotics belonging to three groups, sulfonamides (SAs), tetracyclines (TCs), and fluoroquinolones (FQs), in chicken manure and the surrounding soil from different chicken farms in Hangzhou, South China, were detected in the samples via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and the contamination characteristics of each type of antibiotic and the correlations between each antibiotic and environmental factors were analyzed to identify the key influencing factors. An ecological risk assessment of antibiotics in the soil environment was conducted using the risk quotient (RQ) method to analyze the potential hazard level. The results indicated that: the total concentration of FQs was much higher than those of SAs and TCs in chicken manures and the soil samples. The mean concentration of FQs (39.17 μg·kg–1), TCs (34.37 μg·kg–1), and SAs (20.24 μg·kg–1) in chicken manure were significantly higher than those in the soil samples. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) was the main antibiotics detected in manure (19.42 μg·kg–1) and the soils samples (near soil: 18.42 μg·kg–1, far soil: 10.29 μg·kg–1), followed by enrofloxacin (ENR), tetracycline (TC), and ofloxacin (OFL). The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that moisture content (MS), total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) had a greater influence on the antibiotic concentration in the soil samples. Basis on the calculated risk quotient (RQs) values, the risk assessment indicated Sulfamerazine (SD) and Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in soil posed a high risk, while trimethoprim (TMP), TC, CIP, and OFL in soils posed a medium or low risk. This research provides control and environmental monitoring data about chicken farms and scientific information that can be used to alleviate antibiotics pollution.

The opinions of farm animal veterinarians in Ireland on antibiotic use and their role in antimicrobial stewardship

BackgroundAntibiotic use and resistance in animal production are a concern to public health, and there is an urgent need to reduce antibiotic use in farm animals. To prevent blame shifting, professionals from human medicine, animal medicine and environmental backgrounds must collaborate to tackle this issue. Veterinarians are typically responsible for overseeing and prescribing antibiotic use in animals. There are currently no available studies on the opinions of Irish farm animal veterinarians on antibiotic use, reduction opportunities and their relationships with farmers. A digital survey was developed and sent out to Irish farm animal veterinarians. This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional study of Irish farm animal veterinarians’ attitudes towards antimicrobial stewardship, their prescribing behaviours, antibiotic reduction opportunities and their attitudes for the future of antibiotic use. The veterinarian-farmer relationship is examined and potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use on farms are identified.ResultsIn total, 114 complete questionnaires were received, representing approximately 11 per cent of all farm animal veterinarians in Ireland. Respondents were aware of the problem of antibiotic resistance and recognise their role in the fight against it. They realise what actions they must take to reduce antibiotic use and identify barriers that prevent their farmer clients from implementing their advice. Many of them say that they can reduce antibiotic use on farms in the future, but some remain doubtful. There was no statistical difference between veterinarians that had less experience working than those that had more experience in their attitudes towards future reduction in antibiotic use.ConclusionMost of the respondents seek to use antibiotics as judiciously as they can. The majority agree that antibiotic overuse is the main contributor to antibiotic resistance. Possible solutions to reduce antibiotic use include the development of antibiotic treatment guidelines, assigning one unique practice to each farm and compulsory CPD (Continuous Professional Development) courses.

Antibiotic Residues in fresh Chicken, Fish and Beef Meat samples in ‎Maiduguri, Nigeria

Prudent use of antibiotics in animal industry is essential for treatment of diseases and preventive measure. However, uncontrolled use of these agents in large amounts and consistently could result in the formation of antibiotic residues in muscle and organs of animal. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of antibiotic residue in fresh meats in Maiduguri. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to December 2022 to determine the antibiotic residue in 3 sources of meat samples. A total of 150 fresh meat samples (chicken, fish and beef) were collected from different sale points Maiduguri, and analyzed using a Premi® Test kit (R-Biopharm AG, Germany), a microbial screening commercial test kit for the detection of antibiotic residues. The results showed an overall antibiotic residue of 127/150 (84.7%) meat samples were positive for antibiotic residues. High antibiotic residues was found in Chicken meats 47/50 (94%), followed by fish 43/50 (86%), and beef 37/50 (74%). The results in this study show the presence of antibiotic residues in meat. Therefore, it is recommended that effective legislation on antibiotic use in animals should be enforced.