Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses hotspots

The objective of this report is to present data and expert knowledge on poverty and zoonoses hotspots to inform prioritisation of study areas on the transmission of disease in emerging livestock systems in the developing world, where prevention of zoonotic disease might bring greatest benefit to poor people

Reducing the risk of transmission of critical antimicrobial resistance determinants from contaminated pork products to humans in South-East Asia

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical challenge worldwide as it impacts public health, especially via contamination in the food chain and in healthcare-associated infections. In relation to farming, the systems used, waste management on farms, and the production line process are all determinants reflecting the risk of AMR emergence and rate of contamination of foodstuffs. This review focuses on South East Asia (SEA), which contains diverse regions covering 11 countries, each having different levels of development, customs, laws, and regulations. Routinely, here as elsewhere antimicrobials are still used for three indications: therapy, prevention, and growth promotion, and these are the fundamental drivers of AMR development and persistence. The accuracy of detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) depends on the laboratory standards applicable in the various institutes and countries, and this affects the consistency of regional data. Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the standard proxy species used for indicating AMR-associated nosocomial infections and healthcare-associated infections. Pig feces and wastewater have been suspected as one of the hotspots for spread and circulation of ARB and ARG. As part of AMR surveillance in a One Health approach, clonal typing is used to identify bacterial clonal transmission from the production process to consumers and patients – although to date there have been few published definitive studies about this in SEA. Various alternatives to antibiotics are available to reduce antibiotic use on farms. Certain of these alternatives together with improved disease prevention methods are essential tools to reduce antimicrobial usage in swine farms and to support global policy. This review highlights evidence for potential transfer of resistant bacteria from food animals to humans, and awareness and understanding of AMR through a description of the occurrence of AMR in pig farm food chains under SEA management systems. The latter includes a description of standard pig farming practices, detection of AMR and clonal analysis of bacteria, and AMR in the food chain and associated environments. Finally, the possibility of using alternatives to antibiotics and improving policies for future strategies in combating AMR in a SEA context are outlined

Global distribution of fluoroquinolone and colistin resistance and associated resistance markers in escherichia coli of swine origin – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Fluoroquinolones and polymyxins (colistin) are considered as critical drugs for human medicine. Antimicrobials of these classes are also used in swine production worldwide and this usage can contribute to selection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a threat to both human and animal health. Given the dynamic epidemiology of AMR, updating our knowledge regarding distribution and trends in the proportion of resistant bacteria is of critical importance. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to describe the global prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to fluoroquinolones and colistin in Escherichia coli collected from swine. Results: Four databases (PubMed, PubAg, Web of Science, and CAB abstracts) and reports of national surveillance programs were scanned and 360 articles were included in the analysis. We identified higher prevalence levels of fluoroquinolone and colistin resistance in isolates from pig populations in Asia compared to Europe. The heterogeneity of pooled estimates was also higher in Asian countries suggesting that prevalence of AMR is still not fully characterized. There was a major knowledge gap about the situation of AMR in South American and African countries. We also identified key deficiencies in how AMR data was reported in the studies. A meta-analysis using 6, 167 publicly available genomes of swine E. coli established the prevalence and global distribution of genetic determinants that can lead to fluoroquinolone and colistin resistance. Conclusion: This study provides the most comprehensive information on prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to key antimicrobials in pig populations globally. There is a need to establish national surveillance programs and effective policies, particularly in certain world regions, to curtail the threat of evolution of resistant isolates in swine production that can potentially contribute to public health detrimentally. Copyright © 2022 Hayer, Casanova-Higes, Paladino, Elnekave, Nault, Johnson, Bender, Perez and Alvarez

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria from imported vegetables and spices purchased from niche markets in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The role of imported vegetables and spices in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in Canada has been inadequately studied. In this investigation, resistant organisms from imported vegetables and spices in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan were investigated. A total of 147 vegetable and spice products imported from primarily Asian and African countries, were purchased from international markets in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Samples were selectively cultured for a panel of bacteria where resistance is known to be emerging. The proportion of samples positive for each organism were as follows: E. coli (n=15, 10.2%), Salmonella spp. (n=2, 1.4%), Enterobacter spp. (n=12, 8.2%), K. pneumoniae (n=2, 1.4%), Acinetobacter spp. (n=12, 8.2%), Pseudomonas spp. (n=10, 6.8%), S. aureus (n=7, 4.8%) and Enterococcus spp. (n=69, 46.9%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates was conducted by broth micro dilution and agar dilution. Based on the susceptibility of each organism, isolates were then screened for resistance genes (β-lactamases and plasmid mediated quinolones resistance determinants) by PCR. Multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae were identified. Among other organisms, methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were identified. Resistance to the penicillins, cephalosporins, quinolones and aminoglycosides mediated by broad spectrum β-lactamases and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance determinants (PMQR) were identified. Broad spectrum β-lactamase producers were cultured from 6/147 (4.1%) of samples tested. The most common enzymes found were CTX-M-15 (n=4), TEM-4 (n=1) and SHV-142 (n=1). The PMQRs (QnrB1, QnrB2, QnrS1 and AAC(6’)-Ib-cr) containing isolates were cultured from 2/147 (1.4%) of the samples. While all multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were susceptible to meropenem and colistin, several non-fermenters were resistant to these drugs. However, none of these organisms produced carbapenemases or possessed mobilized colistin resistance determinants (MCR-1, MCR-2, MCR-3, MCR-4). Salmonella spp. were susceptible to the most of tested drugs. With the exception of two MRSA, the S. aureus isolates were susceptible to other non-beta lactam drugs. Enterococcus spp. isolates were resistant to various drugs but susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin and vancomycin. It was interesting to observe that all of the multi-drug resistant organisms originated from countries which are recognized to have a high prevalence of resistance. Therefore, further study is required to understand the extent of antimicrobial resistance transmission by imported vegetables and spices from these countries to Canada

Knowledge and use of antibiotics among low-income small-scale farmers of Peru

The extensive use and misuse of antibiotics in the livestock sector is one of the main drivers of the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Although small-scale farms constitute most of the livestock production in low and middle-income countries, knowledge and use of antibiotics among these populations is sparse. We conducted 201 questionnaires to estimate the use and knowledge of antibiotics by small-scale farmers located in the coastal area of the Lima region of Peru. Our results show that farmers had a small number of livestock (e.g. average of 11 cows, 7 pigs and 19 chickens per farm) and 80% earned less than minimum wage. More than half of farmers reported at least one episode of respiratory disease, diarrhea, mastitis, skin lesion or post-parturition infection in their animals during the previous year, and 40% of these episodes were treated with antibiotics. Farmers reported using 14 different antibiotics, most commonly oxytetracycline (31% of episodes treated with antibiotics), penicillin (21%), gentamicin (19%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethazine (18%). The third-generation cephalosporin ceftiofur was occasionally used to treat mastitis. Most farmers relied on veterinarians to prescribe (95% of respondents) and administer (59%) antibiotics. Only half of farmers knew what micro-organisms can be treated with antibiotics and the degree of knowledge of antibiotics (based on a 5-question metric) was positively correlated with respondents’ educational level, monthly income, knowledge of the animal health authority, farm area, number of cows and knowledge of an antiparasitic drug. In contrast, knowledge of antibiotics was not correlated with respondents’ age, gender, main occupation, knowledge of a veterinarian or household size. Potential misuse of antibiotics was reported, including 21% of framers reporting stopping the treatment when clinical signs disappear and infrequent use of antibiotics to treat parasites or animals not eating. Our study highlights poor knowledge and potential misuse of antibiotics among small-scale farmers in coastal Peru, but high reliance on veterinarians for prescription and administration. Strengthening farmers' relationships with veterinarians and improving the diagnostic capacity of the veterinary sector could result in more judicious antibiotic use on these farms

Monitoring and Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Use and Antibiotic Resistance in Animals

Antimicrobial resistance is a global One Health topic that affects us all, whether we are working in human or veterinary medicine. Although antibiotic use in farm animals is decreasing in many countries, other nations are still using these essential medical resources as growth promoters to boost economic gains. As veterinarians responsible for animal welfare, it is vital that we are permitted to treat sick animals effectively, but we must learn to be more prudent in our use of these drugs. It is essential that we, as responsible clinicians, policy makers, and researchers, develop methods of quantifying, monitoring, benchmarking, and reporting antibiotic use in both farm and companion animals, so that antimicrobial stewardship schemes can be implemented and their successes or failures analyzed. This Special Issue includes research on antibiotic use and resistance in a variety of animal species, covering cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, and pets. The relationship between antimicrobial use and resistance in animals is investigated on a global scale, with authors from Austria, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, India, the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom

Codévelopper des stratégies pour réduire l'utilisation des antibiotiques : le cas des élevages de poulets au Viêt Nam

La résistance aux antibiotiques est un problème de santé publique mondial et pourrait entraîner des millions de décès si rien n'est fait. En tant que problématique One Health, elle doit être adressée à la fois dans le secteur humain, animal et environnemental. Le Viêt Nam compte près de 100 millions d'habitants, il est l'un des pays d'Asie du Sud-Est dont l'économie et la démographie connaissent la croissance la plus rapide. Le secteur de la production de poulets est en pleine transformation. Le taux de croissance moyen de la population de poulets est de 6 % par an et les élevages s'intensifient. L'utilisation abusive et excessive d'antibiotiques est courante au Viêt Nam car les produits sont facilement accessibles et le secteur peu réglementé. En conséquence, de nombreuses bactéries isolées dans les élevages de poulets sont résistantes aux antibiotiques. Des stratégies existent pour lutter contre cette menace mais sont difficilement mises en place. L'objectif de cette thèse est de codévelopper avec les acteur·rices de la filière poulets et de la chaîne de distribution du médicament vétérinaire des stratégies pour réduire l'utilisation des antibiotiques dans les élevages. Pour répondre à cet objectif, nous avons adopté une approche transdisciplinaire, systémique et participative. Après une étude exploratoire pour comprendre le contexte dans lequel se déroule notre étude, nous avons construit une typologie des pratiques d'utilisation des antibiotiques parmi les différents systèmes de production de poulet. Nous avons identifié trois systèmes de production : les élevages de basse-cour, les élevages familiaux commerciaux et les élevages intensifs. Le processus de prise de décision des éleveur·ses varie en fonction du système de production. Au cours de l'étude exploratoire, nous avons également identifié des changements dans le cadre réglementaire et essayé de comprendre de quelle manière ces changements sont compris, reconnus et appliqués par les acteur·rices de la chaîne de distribution du médicament vétérinaire. Après avoir cartographié la chaîne et identifié la position des parties prenantes concernant les réglementations, nous avons exploré les barrières et les motivations pour les mettre en oeuvre. Les principales barrières concernent le manque de capacité des autorités à les faire appliquer, le décalage entre la théorie et les pratiques, le manque de connaissances et la forte proportion de petites exploitations. Étant donné que les éleveur·ses n'auront pas d'autre choix que de s'adapter, nous avons ensuite exploré comment ces acteur·rices font face à la nécessité de réduire l'utilisation des antibiotiques à une échelle locale. Nous avons identifié des solutions telles que l'utilisation de probiotiques fabriqués localement, le partage de connaissances et l'organisation d'éleveur·ses en coopératives. Enfin, tous les résultats obtenus ont été mis en contexte par l'organisation d'ateliers visant à coconstruire des stratégies. Les ateliers ont été organisés au niveau local avec les acteur·rices de la filière poulets et de la chaine de distribution du médicament vétérinaire. Ces stratégies codéveloppées ont pour objectifs d'améliorer la formation et la communication sur la biosécurité et la production biologique. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons identifié des barrières systémiques mais aussi des leviers permettant de réduire l'utilisation des antibiotiques au Viêt Nam. Notre étude souligne la nécessité d'adopter une approche systémique et participative pour codévelopper des solutions et des stratégies. Celles-ci doivent ensuite être diffusées auprès des décideur·ses politiques pour un changement durable des pratiques. Nous avons également identifié le développement d'une filière qualité qui pourrait agir comme un levier au changement. Cependant le développement d'une telle filière devrait se faire en prenant en considération les acteur·rices les plus vulnérables. Des études complémentaires doivent être menées dans ce sens