Veterinary medicinal product usage among food animal producers and its health implications in Central Ethiopia

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of salmonellae isolated from eggs of local chicken in selected towns of Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Salmonellosis is one of the most common food-borne diseases in industrialised and developing countries. In recent year, an increase in antimicrobial resistance among different Salmonella serotypes has been observed.

OBJECTIVE

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolated from local chicken eggs in four selected towns in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A total of 115 eggs were examined to detect Salmonella by using standard microbiological methods. The susceptibilities of the isolates to nine antimicrobials were tested by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.

RESULT

The study revealed that of the 115 eggs examined, 22 (19.1%) were positive for Salmonella of which 14 (12.2%) and 8 (7%) of the isolates were from shells and contents, respectively. The occurrence of Salmonella in egg shells and content and between different altitudes did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Most isolates were resistant to more than three antimicrobials with a high resistance to kanamycin, ampicillin, nalidixic acid, cotrimoxazole, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate the potential importance of local chicken eggs as source of multiple antimicrobial-resistant salmonellae and the need for proper cooking before consumption. Further studies are required to describe the epidemiology of Salmonella in various agroclimatic zones of Ethiopia.

Veterinary Drug Residues in the Food Chain as an Emerging Public Health Threat: Sources, Analytical Methods, Health Impacts, and Preventive Measures

Veterinary medications are necessary for both contemporary animal husbandry and food production, but their residues can linger in foods obtained from animals and pose a dangerous human risk. In this review, we aim to highlight the sources, occurrence, human exposure pathways, and human health effects of drug residues in food-animal products. Following the usage of veterinary medications, pharmacologically active compounds known as drug residues can be found in food, the environment, or animals. They can cause major health concerns to people, including antibiotic resistance development, the development of cancer, teratogenic effects, hypersensitivity, and disruption of normal intestinal flora. Drug residues in animal products can originate from variety of sources, including water or food contamination, extra-label drug use, and ignoring drug withdrawal periods. This review also examines how humans can be exposed to drug residues through drinking water, food, air, and dust, and discusses various analytical techniques for identifying these residues in food. Furthermore, we suggest some potential solutions to prevent or reduce drug residues in animal products and human exposure pathways, such as implementing withdrawal periods, monitoring programs, education campaigns, and new technologies that are crucial for safeguarding public health. This review underscores the urgency of addressing veterinary drug residues as a significant and emerging public health threat, calling for collaborative efforts from researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that ensure the safety of the global food supply chain.

Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and resistance genes of Staphylococcus aureus in milk and milk products in the Arsi highlands of Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

In Ethiopia, milk production and handling practices often lack proper hygiene measures, leading to the potential contamination of milk and milk products with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant strains, posing significant public health concerns. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and presence of resistance genes in S. aureus strains isolated from milk and milk products.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Arsi highlands, Oromia, Ethiopia from March 2022 to February 2023. A total of 503 milk and milk product samples were collected, comprising 259 raw milk, 219 cottage cheese, and 25 traditional yogurt samples. S. aureus isolation and coagulase-positive staphylococci enumeration were performed using Baird-Parker agar supplemented with tellurite and egg yolk. S. aureus was further characterized based on colony morphology, Gram stain, mannitol fermentation, catalase test, and coagulase test. Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed for confirming the presence of S. aureus and detecting antimicrobial resistance genes.

RESULTS

S. aureus was detected in 24.9% of the milk and milk products, with the highest occurrence in raw milk (40.9%), followed by yogurt (20%), and cottage cheese (6.4%). The geometric mean for coagulase-positive staphylococci counts in raw milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese was 4.6, 3.8, and 3.2 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance analysis revealed high levels of resistance to ampicillin (89.7%) and penicillin G (87.2%), with 71.8% of the isolates demonstrating multidrug resistance. Of the 16 S. aureus isolates analyzed using PCR, all were found to carry the nuc gene, with the mecA and blaZ genes detected in 50% of these isolates each.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the widespread distribution of S. aureus in milk and milk products in the Arsi highlands of Ethiopia. The isolates displayed high resistance to ampicillin and penicillin, with a concerning level of multidrug resistance. The detection of the mecA and blaZ genes in selected isolates is of particular concern, highlighting a potential public health hazard and posing a challenge to effective antimicrobial treatment. These findings highlight the urgent need to enhance hygiene standards in milk and milk product handling and promote the rational use of antimicrobial drugs. Provision of adequate training for all individuals involved in the dairy sector can help minimize contamination. These measures are crucial in addressing the threats posed by S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, and ensuring the safety of milk and its products for consumers.

Potential Causes of Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance and Preventive Measures in One Health Perspective-A Review

Antimicrobial resistance, referring to microorganisms' capability to subsist and proliferate even when there are antimicrobials is a foremost threat to public health globally. The appearance of antimicrobial resistance can be ascribed to anthropological, animal, and environmental factors. Human-related causes include antimicrobial overuse and misuse in medicine, antibiotic-containing cosmetics and biocides utilization, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene in public settings. Prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial misuse and overuse, using antimicrobials as feed additives, microbes resistant to antibiotics and resistance genes in animal excreta, and antimicrobial residue found in animal-origin food and excreta are animals related contributive factors for the antibiotic resistance emergence and spread. Environmental factors including naturally existing resistance genes, improper disposal of unused antimicrobials, contamination from waste in public settings, animal farms, and pharmaceutical industries, and the use of agricultural and sanitation chemicals facilitatet its emergence and spread. Wildlife has a plausible role in the antimicrobial resistance spread. Adopting a one-health approach involving using antimicrobials properly in animals and humans, improving sanitation in public spaces and farms, and implementing coordinated governmental regulations is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance. Collaborative and cooperative involvement of stakeholders in public, veterinary and ecological health sectors is foremost to circumvent the problem effectively.

Livestock producers' knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) regarding antimicrobial use in Ethiopia

Introduction

Inappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock production is an important aspect of the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Ethiopia, a low-income country with a large and increasing livestock population, AMU in food animals is not properly regulated. Hence, farmers are fully free to use antimicrobials to their (perceived) benefit. Therefore, understanding farmers' mindsets is important to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the livestock sector.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess livestock disease management practices and knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) among livestock producers regarding AMU, residues, and resistance, as well as factors potentially explaining differences in KAB. We determined the KAB of livestock owners of three selected districts of central and western Ethiopia (n = 457), using a pretested questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between potential explanatory variables and the KAB scores of the respondents.

Results

The results showed that 44% of the farmers used antimicrobials in the past few years, where antibiotics (21%) and trypanocides (11%) were most widely used to manage livestock diseases. Furthermore, most farmers showed poor knowledge about AMU, residues, and AMR (94%) and unfavorable attitudes (<50% correct answers) toward contributing factors for AMR (97%). On the contrary, 80% of the respondents had overall good behavior scores (≥50% correct answers) related to AMU. Multivariate analysis results showed that having good knowledge, keeping ≥2 animal species, and the occurrence of ≥4 livestock diseases on the farm in a year were strong predictors of bad behavior scores (p < 0.05). The findings of the current investigation also revealed that the incidence of livestock diseases on the farm and a higher level of formal education significantly contributed to better knowledge and desirable attitudes but bad AMU behavior.

Conclusion

A low level of awareness about and undesirable attitudes toward AMU and AMR could potentially affect farmers' behavior toward judicious AMU, thus requiring awareness creation efforts on livestock disease management practices.

Efficacy of Penicillin–Streptomycin Brands against Staphylococcus aureus: Concordance between Veterinary Clinicians’ Perception and the Realities

Antibiotics must be safe and effective for use in both human and veterinary medicine. However, information about the efficacy of different brands of antibiotics commonly used in veterinary practices is lacking in Ethiopia. In this study, we determined the efficacy of three brands of penicillin–streptomycin (Pen&strep, Penstrep, and Pro&strep) by performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cow milk from dairy farms in the towns of Sebata and Bishoftu, Central Ethiopia. We also assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of veterinarians regarding the quality and use of brand antibiotics and the antibiotic utilization practices of dairy farm personnel using a structured questionnaire. Of 43 S. aureus isolated and tested, 33 (77%), 10 (23%), and 1 (2%) were susceptible to brands A, B, and C, respectively. According to the respondents, all of them reported that penstrep is the most prescribed antibiotic in dairy farms (100%), followed by oxytetracycline (78%) and sulfa drugs (52%). All veterinarians perceived that antibiotics imported from Western countries have a higher efficacy than those from Eastern countries, and they preferred brand A to the other brands, witnessing its better clinical outcome. The majority (87%) and a little more than half (53%) of the respondents perceived the overuse of antibiotics in veterinary clinics and dairy farms, respectively. Our study revealed the better efficacy of brand A against S. aureus compared to the other brands. Interestingly, the veterinarians’ perception of and preference toward the use of brand antibiotics agreed with the findings of our antibacterial susceptibility testing. The prudent use of brand A is critically important for sustaining effective treatment, avoiding the risk of antimicrobial resistance, and helping to address animal welfare issues.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Enterococcus species isolated from laying hens in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia: a call for AMR surveillance in the poultry sector

Background

The use of antimicrobials in layer poultry production for improved production, growth promotion, prophylaxis and treatment purposes has contributed to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry. In Zambia, there is a paucity of information on the prevalence and AMR patterns of Enterococcus species isolated from laying hens.

Objectives

This study investigated the prevalence and AMR patterns of enterococci isolated in layer hens in Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021. Three hundred and sixty-five pooled cloacal swab samples were collected from 77 layer poultry farms. Enterococci identification and confirmation were performed using Analytical Profile Index (API 20 STREP) and 16S rRNA sequencing, respectively. A panel of nine antibiotics was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing and interpreted according to the CLSI 2020 guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and WHONET 2020.

Results

A total of 308 (83%) single Enterococcus species isolates were obtained and showed resistance to tetracycline (80.5%), erythromycin (53.6%), quinupristin/dalfopristin (53.2%), ampicillin (36.72%), vancomycin (32.8%), linezolid (30.2%), ciprofloxacin (11.0%), nitrofurantoin (6.5%) and chloramphenicol (3.9%). The prevalence of enterococci resistant to at least one antibiotic was 99.4% (n = 306), of which 86% (n = 265) were MDR.

Conclusions

This study found a high prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci. The presence of MDR requires urgent intervention and implementation of AMR surveillance strategies and antimicrobial stewardship programmes in layer poultry production in Zambia.

Antimicrobial use in cattle and poultry production on occurrence of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli. A systematic review with focus on sub-Saharan Africa

Antimicrobial use in livestock production has been linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide; however, optimization of their use has been considered an important strategy in dealing with it. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to assess the literature on antimicrobial usage (practices, frequency, class, type) in cattle and poultry production with regard to resistance in Escherichia coli (E. coli) including multidrug resistance (MDR) (b) summarize evidence for quantitative (volumes of active antimicrobial ingredients) and quality (identify and quantify active ingredient) and (c) to identify data gaps. Peer reviewed literature search was conducted by querying two online databases: PubMed and Google scholar from November 15, 2018 to February 2019. The inclusion criteria for eligibility were articles: published in English between 2008 and 2018, including poultry (chicken) or cattle or both, E. coli bacteria of choice, antimicrobial use on farms, quantitative data and quality of antimicrobial used. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction and Rayyan software for eligibility studies. The search retrieved 1,446 probable articles including those from the reference list of significant papers, of which twenty-four articles remained on full text review with more than a third of the studies being conducted in Nigeria. Farm surveys and antimicrobial sales were identified as the main sources of data and the mean quantities of antimicrobials based on sales data were 23,234, 41,280.87, and 1,538,443 kg of the active ingredient in Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa, respectively. One study from Cameroon determined the quantities of active ingredients based on dose metrics while another study still from Cameroon mentioned the quality of antimicrobials. Tetracyclines, beta-lactams/aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones were the most common classes of antimicrobials (antibiotics) used. Our review reveals a dearth of information in Sub- Saharan Africa on the quantity and quality of veterinary drugs and yet they play a role in the overall picture of antimicrobial resistance. This finding gives an opportunity in the area of focus for future research as far as resistance and multidrug resistance are concerned in food producing animals.

Prevalence and molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk and milk products in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is an important opportunistic pathogen of raw milk and milk products, and the enterotoxins cause food poisoning. Milk and milk products are important reservoirs of enterotoxin-producing S. aureus. The aims of this systematic review were to estimate the pooled prevalence of S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and to summarize their molecular characteristics, assess the potential sources of S. aureus contamination in bulk milk and analyse the antimicrobial resistance patterns of the isolates.

Methods

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched publicly available scientific online databases and search engines: PubMed, Research for Life, African Journal Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar. In addition, the reference lists of the identified studies were manually checked for relevant literature. A random effects model using the DerSimonian method was used to compute pooled prevalence estimates, and the data were transformed using variance stabilizing Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation.

Results

A total of 38 studies were included in this systematic review. The pooled prevalence of S. aureus was highest in raw cow milk (30.7%), followed by camel milk (19.3%), goat milk (13.6%) and pasteurized milk (3.8%). The pooled prevalence of S. aureus in locally produced soft cheese (ayib) and traditional fermented milk (ergo) was 18.6% and 14.9%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of MRSA in milk and milk products was 0.73%. In this study, 58.9% of S. aureus isolates recovered from milk and milk products harbored at least one type of enterotoxin gene. Raw milk of the three species (cow, goat and camel) showed the highest S. aureus pooled prevalence rate at processing plants (50.3%), followed by milk collection centers (MCCs) (47.1%), selling points (34.5%), farm bulk milk (25.8%), milking buckets (24.8%) and udder milk (20.3%). Water for washing milking utensils (39.3%) was more contaminated than swab samples from farm workers’ nares (31.5%), milkers’ hands (25.9%), MCCs containers (23.8%), bulk tanks (20.4%), udders (15.6%), milking buckets (14.2%) and towels (10%). S. aureus isolates were highly resistant to penicillin G (92%), followed by ampicillin (82%) and amoxicillin (62.6%). The pooled multidrug resistance (MDR) was high (62.1%).

Conclusion

This systematic review revealed a high and increasing level of S. aureus contamination of raw milk from udder to MCCs or processing plants. Enterotoxin genes and MRSA were reported in milk, milk products and samples from farm workers. S. aureus showed resistance to different antimicrobial agents, with β-lactams showing the highest pooled antimicrobial resistance and the level of MDR was high. The results of this study indicated that the consumption of raw milk and milk products may predispose consumers to staphylococcal food poisoning. Application of good hygiene and handling practices across the dairy value chain starting from farm, udder health, milk cooling, heat treatment of milk before drinking and rational use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine can reduce the potential health risks from S. aureus and MRSA contamination of milk and milk products.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacy Professionals on Poultry Antibiotic Dispensing, Use, and Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in Zambia: Implications on Antibiotic Stewardship and WHO AWaRe Classification of Antibiotics

Globally, the inappropriate dispensing and use of antibiotics in animals has contributed to the development of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is insufficient information among community pharmacy professionals on antibiotic use (ABU) and AMR in food-producing animals. This study assessed community pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding poultry antibiotic dispensing, use, and bacterial AMR in the Lusaka district of Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 178 community pharmacy professionals between February and April 2022 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata version 17. Of the total participants (n = 178), 51.1% (n = 91) were pharmacists. The most dispensed antibiotic was oxytetracycline, a Watch antibiotic, mainly without prescriptions. Good knowledge of ABU and AMR was associated with work experience for more than one year (p = 0.016), while good practices were associated with male gender (p = 0.039) and work experience of more than one year (p = 0.011). The study found moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and moderate practices of pharmacy professionals on poultry ABU and AMR. There was high dispensing of poultry antibiotics without prescriptions, which calls for strict implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance programs in poultry production in Zambia to reduce AMR.

The quality of veterinary medicines and their implications for One Health

OBJECTIVE

Substandard and falsified (SF) veterinary medicines affect animal health, agricultural production and food security and will influence antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both animals and humans. Yet, our understanding of their extent and impact is poor. We assess the available public domain evidence on the epidemiology of SF veterinary medicines, to better understand their prevalence and distribution and their public health impact on animals and humans.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, Global Health, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, Scopus, Google Scholar, Google and websites with interest in veterinary medicines quality up to 28 February 2021. Identified articles in English and French were screened for eligibility. The Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guidelines were used to assess the quality of prevalence surveys.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fourteen publications were included with a failure frequency (the percentage of samples that failed at least one quality test) of 6.5% (2335/35 733). The majority of samples were from post-marketing surveillance by medicines regulatory authorities of the Republic of Korea and China. A small proportion (3.5%) of samples, all anti-infectives, were from 20 prevalence surveys, with more than half (53.1%, 662/1246) collected in low-income and lower middle-income countries in Africa and Asia. The prevalence survey sample size ranged from 4 to 310 samples (median (Q1-Q3): 50 (27-80)); 55.0% of surveys used convenience outlet sampling methods. In 20 prevalence surveys more than half of the samples (52.0%, 648/1246) failed at least one quality test. The most common defects reported were out-of-specification active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) (API) content, failure of uniformity of units and disintegration tests. Almost half of samples (49.7%, 239/481) that failed API content tests contained at least one of the stated APIs below pharmacopoeial limits. Fifty-two samples (4.2% of all samples) contained one or more incorrect API. One hundred and twenty-three publications described incidents (recalls/seizures/case reports) of SF veterinary medicines in 29 countries.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that SF veterinary products are likely to be a serious animal and public health problem that has received limited attention. However, few studies of SF veterinary medicines are available and are geographically restricted. Lower API content and disintegration/dissolution than recommended by pharmacopoeial standards risks treatment failure, animal suffering and contribute to AMR. Our findings highlight the need of more research, with robust methodology, to better inform policy and implement measures to assure the quality of veterinary medicines within supply chains. The mechanism and impact of SF veterinary products on animal and human health, agricultural production, their economy and AMR need more transdisciplinary research.

Isolation, Assessments of Risk Factors, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test of Klebsiella from Gut of Bee in and around Haramaya University Bee Farm, East Hararghe, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was employed from March 2021 to October 2021 to isolate and identify Klebsiella species found in the gut of honey bees collected from worker of honey bee (Apis mellifera) from hives in Haramaya University bee farm, Damota and Finqile's, managed under traditional and modern beekeeping apiculture. From the selected farm, a total of 60 samples of live adult honey bees were collected purposively. The live adult worker of the honey bee was individually surface-sterilized and complete alimentary canals of the worker bee were dissected and processed for Klebsiella isolation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the occurrence of Klebsiella species and the proportion of Klebsiella found in the gut was analyzed for the association with study variables by the Pearson chi-square test. The overall prevalence of Klebsiella spp. was 50% from samples. The prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 26.7% and that of Klebsiella oxytoca was 23.3% from isolated using bacteriological examined samples. The isolates were characterized for the antimicrobial susceptibility test using the disc diffusion method. Among the isolated colonies, Klebsiella pneumoniae had the highest resistance to ampicillin (84.2%) and showed less resistance to gentamycin and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (26.3%). Klebsiella oxytoca was highly resistant to ampicillin (54.5%) and erythromycin (54.5%) and showed low and equal resistance to gentamycin and amoxicillin (18.2%). Molecular characterization should be conducted to identify Klebsiella spp. from honey bees. Monitoring antimicrobial effectiveness is recommended to tackle the existing problem in apiculture farms, and its possible public health threat should be noted for community by public health professionals.

Medicinal plants used to treat livestock ailments in Ensaro District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Background

In Ethiopia, the majority of animal owners throughout the country depend on traditional healthcare practices to manage their animals' health problems. This ethnoveterinary study was carried out in Ensaro District, North Showa Zone, and Amhara Region, Ethiopia, to identify medicinal plant species used by the local community to treat various livestock ailments.

Methods

To collect ethnobotanical information, a total of 389 informants (283 men and 106 women) were selected. Among these 95 traditional medicine practitioners were purposely chosen, while the remaining 294 were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, guided filed walks and focus group discussions. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity Level (FL) values, preference, and direct matrix exercise ranking were determined using quantitative methods. Statistical tests were used to compare indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants among different informant groups.

Results

A total of 44 ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species were collected and identified that were distributed across 43 genera and 28 families. The family Solanaceae stood first by contributing 4 species followed by Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and lamiaceae with 3 species each. Thirty- seven (88.09%) medicinal plants were collected from wild habitats, 6 medicinal plant species were collected from home garden. The most frequently used life form was shrubs (23 species, 54.76%) followed by herbs (13 species, 30.95%). The widely used parts of medicinal plants were leaves followed by roots. Prepared remedies were administered through drenching, dropping, smearing, eating, wrapping, fumigating and washing. There was significant difference in the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants between gender, urban and rural people, general and key informants and among age groups.

Conclusion

Ensaro District is a relatively rich in diversity of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants together with a rich indigenous knowledge in the local communities to collect and effectively utilize for the management different livestock diseases. On the other hand, these days, agricultural expansion, fuel wood collection, cutting plants for fence, furniture and charcoal production are the major threatening factors of these plant resources. Thus, people of the study area must implement in situ and ex-situ conservation strategies to ensure sustainable utilization of these species.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-022-03320-6.

Study on identification, assay and organoleptic quality of veterinary medicines in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Medicines of poor quality are currently prevailing problems undermining the quality of health care services in veterinary and human medicine. In this study, physico-chemical quality of veterinary medicines was evaluated.

METHODS

A total of 959 veterinary medicines samples were collected during routine regulatory activities, i.e. pre-registration, re-registration, consignment checking and post-marketing surveillance, in Ethiopia. The samples were transported to Animal Products, Veterinary Drug and Feed Quality Assessment Centre (APVD-FQAC), which is the quality control laboratory of the Veterinary Drug and Feed Administration and Control Authority (VDFACA) and stored until analysis. The samples were subjected to visual inspection and chemical analysis following the United States, European or British Pharmacopoeias, or manufacturer's methods.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that 12 (1.3%) of tested products showed defects in physical characteristics, packaging, or labelling information, while a total of 66 (6.9%) samples of the investigated products failed to comply with the Pharmacopoeias and supplier's specification limit set for assay. Of these, 60 samples did not comply with the minimum assay specification limit.

CONCLUSION

Overall, 8.2% of the investigated veterinary medicine samples did not comply with the specification set for the investigated quality attributes and thus were categorized as of poor quality. This indicates the need for continued strengthening of regulatory functions.

Current perspective on veterinary drug and chemical residues in food of animal origin

The marked increase in the demand for animal protein of high quality necessitates protecting animals from infectious diseases. This requires increasing the use of veterinary therapeutics. The overuse and misuse of veterinary products can cause a risk to human health either as short-term or long-term health problems. However, the biggest problem is the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria or parasites. This is in addition to economic losses due to the discarding of polluted milk or condemnation of affected carcasses. This paper discusses three key points: possible sources of drug and chemical residues, human health problems, and the possible method of control and prevention of veterinary drug residues in animal products.

Isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and risk factors assessment of non-typhoidal Salmonella from apparently healthy and diarrheic dogs

Background

Dogs are one of the important asymptomatic carriers of antimicrobial resistant and potentially pathogenic strains of Salmonella. They can harbor large bacterial load in the intestines and mesenteric lymph nodes which can be shed in their feces with the possibility of transmission to humans. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted with the objectives of estimating the prevalence of non-typhoidal Salmonella, assessing the risk factors for dog’s Salmonella carriage, and profiling the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella isolates among housed dogs in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 415 rectal swab samples were collected from randomly selected dogs. Samples were examined for non-typhoidal Salmonella using standard bacteriologic culture and biochemical tests. The disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer test) was employed to evaluate the isolates for their susceptibility against five antimicrobials.

Results

Non-typhoidal Salmonella were isolated from 26 (6.3%) of the rectal swab samples, with significantly higher occurrence in diarrheic (15.2%) than non-diarrheic (5.5%) dogs. The risk of Salmonella harboring was significantly higher in female dogs than in male dogs (OR = 2.5, p = 0.027). Dogs fecal shedding of Salmonella was relatively higher in households who used offal as a main feed type for their dogs (23.1%; 95% CI = 5–53.8) than those who used leftover food (10.1%; 95% CI = 5.7–16.1) and practiced mixed feeding system (17%; 95% CI = 7.6–30.8). Salmonella isolates showed higher resistance to ampicillin (41.7%), while all isolates were fully susceptible to gentamicin. Moreover, 58.3% of Salmonella isolates showed resistance to at least one of the tested antimicrobials. Majorities (72.7%) of the dog owners had no awareness on the risk of zoonotic salmonellosis from dog and all of the respondents use bare hand to clean dog kennel.

Conclusion

Our study reveals the importance of both diarrheic and apparently healthy housed dogs in the harboring and shedding of antimicrobial resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella. The risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella spread among pet owners is not negligible, especially in households who use offal as main feed type. Therefore, an integrated approach such as: proper dog handling practices; continuous evaluation of antimicrobial resistance; and rational use of antimicrobials in the field of veterinary sector are necessary to tackle the problem.

Antimicrobial use in agriculture: critical review of the factors influencing behaviour

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health emergency affecting humans and animals, diminishing the effectiveness of medication used to treat illness. The agri-food sector has attracted increased attention for imprudent antimicrobial use (AMU) and its contribution to AMR. Thus, ascertaining farmers' and veterinarians' behaviours surrounding AMU is essential to address imprudent AMU and generate behaviour change within the agri-food sector. Therefore, the aim of this critical review is to investigate, assess and collate the current body of evidence to identify psychosocial factors including knowledge, understanding, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours surrounding AMU. Database searches were limited to articles utilizing qualitative and quantitative methodologies, available in English with no restriction on publication year. Of the 1156 articles identified, 103 were retained for this review. Findings on the psychosocial aspects were thematically analysed. Five key themes emerged from the data: (i) knowledge and awareness of antimicrobials; (ii) attitudes towards antimicrobials; (iii) influential relationships; (iv) resources; and (v) factors influencing AMU. Results indicated that to overcome barriers experienced by key stakeholders, a carefully considered, evidence-based approach, incorporating behaviour change theory, is required when designing intricate interventions/strategies, in order to elicit successful and sustained AMU behaviour change.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of animal producers towards antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in Oromia zone, north eastern Ethiopia

Antimicrobial resistance is the failure of antimicrobial’s effect against the growth and multiplication of microorganisms. Imprudent and over antimicrobial use (AMU) aggravates antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials are massively used in animal production as compared with AMU in human health sectors. This research was done with the objective of assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) status of animal producers towards AMU and AMR. A Cross-sectional study design and questionnaire were conducted and both qualitative and quantitative data analyses were used. The logistic regression was used to test the effect of each predictor variable on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the participants. Out of 571 animal producers, the majority (80.2%) of them were not knowledgeable and 85.3% of the animal producers had a negative attitude towards the AMU and AMR. Likewise, the practice of 78.5% of the animal producers were practice improperly towards AMU and AMR. All the questions that were designed to assess the KAP of the animal producers were significantly associated (P<0.05) with each respective category of KAP. The educational status of animal producers was negatively correlated (OR = 0.38) with all their knowledge, attitude, and practice of AMU and AMR, but sex has a positive correlation (OR = 2.89) with both the knowledge and practice of animal producers. In conclusion, the animal producers in the Oromia zone had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding AMU and AMR. The animal producer’s attitude and their practices were negative and improper respectively. As a result, consecutive awareness creation on both AMU and AMR is recommended and integrated AMU governance in animal production is recommended to be applied.

Pharma to farmer: field challenges of optimizing trypanocide use in African animal trypanosomiasis

Trypanocides are a key control component of African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) in tsetse-infested areas of sub-Saharan Africa. While farmers are dependent upon trypanocides, recent research highlights their inappropriate and ineffective use, problems with drug quality, and treatment failure. There are currently gaps in knowledge and investment in inexpensive AAT diagnostics, understanding of drug resistance, and the effective use of trypanocides in the field. Without this important knowledge it is difficult to develop best practice and policy for existing drugs or to inform development and use of new drugs. There needs to be better understanding of the drivers and behavioural practices around trypanocide use so that they can be incorporated into sustainable solutions needed for the development of effective control of AAT.

Antimicrobial Use in Animals in Timor-Leste Based on Veterinary Antimicrobial Imports between 2016 and 2019

Monitoring veterinary antimicrobial use is part of the global strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study was to quantify veterinary antimicrobials imported into Timor-Leste between 2016 and 2019 and describe the antimicrobial import profile of importers. Data were obtained from import applications received by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) of Timor-Leste. Import quantities were analysed by antimicrobial class, importance for human medicine, recommended route of administration and type of importer. An average of 57.4 kg (s.d. 31.0 kg) and 0.55 mg/kg (s.d. 0.27 mg/kg) animal biomass of antimicrobials was imported per year. Tetracyclines (35.5%), penicillins (23.7%), and macrolides (15.9%) were the commonly imported antimicrobial classes. Antimicrobials imported for parenteral administration were most common (60.1%). MAF was the largest importer (52.4%). Most of the critically important antimicrobials for human medicine were imported by poultry farms for oral administration and use for growth promotion could not be ruled out. In conclusion, the use of antimicrobials in animals in Timor-Leste is very low, in keeping with its predominantly subsistence agriculture system. Farmer education, development of treatment guidelines, and strengthening of the veterinary service is important for addressing the potential future misuse of antimicrobials especially in the commercial poultry industry.

Multidrug-Resistant, Including Extended-Spectrum Beta Lactamase-Producing and Quinolone-Resistant, Escherichia coli Isolated from Poultry and Domestic Pigs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

We determined the phenotypic profile of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolated from 698 samples (390 and 308 from poultry and domestic pigs, respectively). In total, 562 Enterobacteria were isolated. About 80.5% of the isolates were E. coli. Occurrence of E. coli was significantly higher among domestic pigs (73.1%) than in poultry (60.5%) (p = 0.000). In both poultry and domestic pigs, E. coli isolates were highly resistant to tetracycline (63.5%), nalidixic acid (53.7%), ampicillin (52.3%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (50.9%). About 51.6%, 65.3%, and 53.7% of E. coli were MDR, extended-spectrum beta lactamase-producing enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE), and quinolone-resistant, respectively. A total of 68% of the extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producers were also resistant to quinolones. For all tested antibiotics, resistance was significantly higher in ESBL-producing and quinolone-resistant isolates than the non-ESBL producers and non-quinolone-resistant E. coli. Eight isolates were resistant to eight classes of antimicrobials. We compared phenotypic with genotypic results of 20 MDR E. coli isolates, ESBL producers, and quinolone-resistant strains and found 80% harbored blaCTX-M, 15% aac(6)-lb-cr, 10% qnrB, and 5% qepA. None harbored TEM, SHV, qnrA, qnrS, qnrC, or qnrD. The observed pattern and level of resistance render this portfolio of antibiotics ineffective for their intended use.

Antimicrobial Usage Factors and Resistance Profiles of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Backyard Production Systems From Central Chile

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen and important cause of foodborne disease worldwide. Many animal species in backyard production systems (BPS) harbor STEC, systems characterized by low biosecurity and technification. No information is reported on STEC circulation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and potential drivers of antimicrobial usage in Chilean BPS, increasing the risk of maintenance and transmission of zoonotic pathogens and AMR generation. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize phenotypic and genotypic AMR and to study the epidemiology of STEC isolated in BPS from Metropolitana region, Chile. A total of 85 BPS were sampled. Minimal inhibitory concentration and whole genome sequencing was assessed in 10 STEC strain isolated from BPS. All strains were cephalexin-resistant (100%, n = 10), and five strains were resistant to chloramphenicol (50%). The most frequent serotype was O113:H21 (40%), followed by O76:H19 (40%), O91:H14 (10%), and O130:H11 (10%). The stx1 type was detected in all isolated strains, while stx2 was only detected in two strains. The Stx subtype most frequently detected was stx1c (80%), followed by stx1a (20%), stx2b (10%), and stx2d (10%). All strains harbored chromosomal bla_AmpC. Principal component analysis shows that BPS size, number of cattle, pet and horse, and elevation act as driver of antimicrobial usage. Logistic multivariable regression shows that recognition of diseases in animals (p = 0.038; OR = 9.382; 95% CI: 1.138–77.345), neighboring poultry and/or swine BPS (p = 0.006; OR = 10.564; 95% CI: 1.996–55.894), visit of Veterinary Officials (p = 0.010; OR = 76.178; 95% CI: 2.860–2029.315) and close contact between animal species in the BPS (p = 0.021; OR = 9.030; 95% CI: 1.385–58.888) increase significantly the risk of antimicrobial use in BPS. This is the first evidence of STEC strains circulating in BPS in Chile, exhibiting phenotypic AMR, representing a threat for animal and public health. Additionally, we identified factors acting as drivers for antimicrobial usage in BPS, highlighting the importance of integration of these populations into surveillance and education programs to tackle the potential development of antimicrobial resistance and therefore the risk for ecosystemic health.

Data on antimicrobial use in livestock: Lessons from Uganda

In 2016, the General Assembly of the United Nations recognised inappropriate Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in livestock as one of the leading causes of increasing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This is happening at a time when livestock production is expected to increase dramatically particularly in Africa, in response to the large rise in aggregate demand due to population growth, urbanisation and increasing income levels. Therefore, understanding the characteristics and appropriateness of AMU in livestock in this region is of utmost importance, yet data is seldom available. We propose to collect information on AMU in livestock by including related questions in nationally representative agricultural surveys that are carried out regularly (annually or every 2-3 years) by National Statistical Offices. This approach, with its limitation though, is a viable and cost-effective way to gather essential information on AMU in livestock farming. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) piloted the introduction of key AMU questions in the Annual Agricultural Survey (AAS), gathering data from 6 thousand agricultural households nation-wide. Results show that AMU is considerable among livestock keeping households (35%), who use antibiotics not only for curative treatment (~58%) but also for disease prevention (~44%) and growth promotion (~5%). Data from the AAS also allows users to explore linkages between antibiotics use, livestock production practices (e.g. herd composition and size, feeding, breeding techniques, etc.) and other household / farm characteristics (e.g. location, education, household size, etc.), thereby effectively informing policy decisions.

Assessment of Drivers of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Poultry and Domestic Pig Farming in the Msimbazi River Basin in Tanzania

Uncontrolled use of drugs both in humans and animals coupled with environmental contamination exacerbate the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This paper assessed the drivers of antimicrobial use and resistance in poultry and domestic pig farming and the environment. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to collect information regarding demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices, attitudes, and perceptions of the drivers of antimicrobial use and resistance in animal farming and the environment. We found a higher proportion of usage of veterinary antimicrobials for prophylactic purposes (87.6%) in animal farming, than for therapeutic purposes (80.5%). The degree of farming experience was significantly (p < 0.05) related to the knowledge on the source of antimicrobial use, methods used in disease diagnosis, access to veterinary services, stocking of antimicrobials at home, and presence of agriculture activities that involve the use of manure. Uncontrolled disposal of wastes from households, disposal of human and veterinary drugs, and weak implementation of the legal framework was identified as the major contributors to the environment. The high usage of veterinary antimicrobials and the environmental contamination identified requires multisectoral interventions, as well as a review of government strategies, policies, and regulations on antimicrobial use.

Antimicrobial use and resistance in food-producing animals and the environment: an African perspective

BACKGROUND

The overuse of antimicrobials in food animals and the subsequent contamination of the environment have been associated with development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This review presents information on antimicrobial use, resistance and status of surveillance systems in food animals and the environment in Africa.

METHODS

Information was searched through PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and African Journal Online databases. Full-length original research and review articles on antimicrobial use, prevalence of AMR from Africa covering a period from 2005 to 2018 were examined. The articles were scrutinized to extract information on the antimicrobial use, resistance and surveillance systems.

RESULTS

A total of 200 articles were recovered. Of these, 176 studies were included in the review while 24 articles were excluded because they were not relevant to antimicrobial use and/or resistance in food animals and the environment. The percentage of farms using antimicrobials in animal production ranged from 77.6% in Nigeria to 100% in Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Ghana and Egypt. The most antibiotics used were tetracycline, aminoglycoside and penicillin groups. The percentage of multi drug resistant isolates ranged from 20% in Nigeria to 100% in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tunisia. In the environment, percentage of multi drug resistant isolates ranged from 33.3% in South Africa to 100% in Algeria. None of the countries documented national antimicrobial use and resistance surveillance system in animals.

CONCLUSION

There is high level of antimicrobial use, especially tetracycline, aminoglycoside and penicillin in animal production systems in Africa. This is likely to escalate the already high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and multi drug resistance in the continent. This, coupled with weak antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems in the region is a great concern to the animals, environment and humans as well.