Vaccination against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae as an alternative strategy to antimicrobial use in Danish pig herds

In this study the objective was to determine whether use of vaccination against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) had an effect on the antimicrobial consumption in finisher pigs, when compared to herds without vaccination. Based on observational data, we found that the change in antimicrobial consumption after vaccination was initiated was significant associated with the baseline antimicrobial use before vaccination. The decrease in antimicrobial used was more pronounced in vaccinated herds (N=101) when compared to herds without vaccination (N=320), indicating an effect of vaccination against APP on the antimicrobial consumption level

Associations between vaccination and antimicrobial consumption in Danish pig herds, 2013

Antimicrobial agents are being used in modern swine production worldwide, generating concern in regards to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Identifying efficient alternatives has therefore become a subject of interest. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of routinely used vaccination as an alternative to antimicrobial consumption in weaner pig herds. The hypothesis was that herds with increased use of vaccination would have a lower antimicrobial consumption. Data were obtained from the Danish VetStat database in which prescriptions of medication for livestock are recorded as well as the Danish Central Husbandry Register. All Danish one-site pig herds, active in year 2013, with \u3e50 sows and \u3e200 weaners were selected for the study. Initially, data were analysed using a univariable model, and secondly a multivariable linear regression model was applied. The analyses included use of three different vaccines against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M_HYO) and Lawsonia intracellularis (LAW), respectively, as well as annual production measured as number of weaners produced in a year. The outcome was the average antimicrobial consumption measured in animal daily does (ADD) per weaner pig. Out of the 1,513 herds selected for the study, 1,415 herds had antimicrobials prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders, and 836 for respiratory disorders. PCV2 vaccine was used in 880 herds, M_HYO vaccine in 787 and LAW vaccine was the least used, with 115 herds using it. The results suggested that antimicrobials to some extent were being used for other disease categories than those officially prescribed by the veterinarians. On average, herds using the different combinations of vaccines had higher use of antimicrobials than herds not using the vaccines – probably as a result of health problems in the herds existing prior to the initiation of vaccine use. Information about vaccination protocols, health status, biosecurity, and management practices was not available limiting the ability to assess causality

Exposure assessment of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases/AmpC beta-lactamases-producing in meat in Denmark

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) and AmpC Beta-Lactamases (AmpC) are of great concern because of their ability to cause antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae hampering the effect of treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics. The main objective of this study was to assess the relative importance of different types of meat for the exposure of consumers to ESBL/AmpC and their potential relevance for human cases in Denmark

Comparison of Antimicrobial Consumption Patterns in the Swiss and Danish Cattle and Swine Production (2007–2013)

Veterinary antimicrobial consumption patterns vary considerably across Europe. These differences are not only limited to the total amount consumed but are also observed with regards to the relative proportion of the various antimicrobial classes used. Currently, most of the data on veterinary antimicrobials are reported at sales level without any information on the consumption by different animal species. This hinders a proper comparison of antimicrobial consumption at the species level between countries. However, it is imperative to improve our understanding on antimicrobial usage patterns at the species level, as well as on the drivers contributing to those differences. This will allow for development of tailored interventions with the lowest possible risk for human health, while ensuring effective treatment of diseased livestock. An important step to attain such an objective is to perform detailed comparisons of the antimicrobial consumption in each species between countries. We compared antimicrobial consumption estimates for cattle and pigs in Switzerland and Denmark, in order to distinguish species-specific patterns and trends in consumption from 2007 to 2013. Swiss data were obtained from a previous study that assessed methodologies to stratify antimicrobial sales per species; Danish antimicrobial consumption estimates were assembled from Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Research Programme reports. A decrease in antimicrobial consumption in milligrams per kilogram of biomass was observed for both countries (4.5% in Denmark and 34.7% in Switzerland) when comparing 2013 to 2007. For pigs and cattle, the overall consumption per kilogram of biomass of most antimicrobial classes was higher in Switzerland than in Denmark. Large variations in the relative consumption of different antimicrobial classes were also evident. Sulfonamides/trimethoprim and tetracyclines were consumed in a higher proportion in Switzerland than in Denmark, whereas the relative consumption of penicillins was higher in Denmark. The differences observed in veterinary antimicrobial consumption are not solely related to animal demographic characteristics in these two countries. Other factors, such as the level of biosecurity and farming practices, veterinarians and farmers' education, or governmental/industry programs put in place might also partly explain these variations. These differences should be taken into account when aiming to implement targeted interventions to reduce antimicrobial consumption

Quantification of antimicrobial use in Swiss pigs: comparison with other Swiss livestock species and with Danish pigs

Few countries have introduced monitoring of antimicrobial usage (AMU) per animal species. Such an achievement is an objective of the ESVAC project (European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption). Implementing these monitoring systems would allow detailed AMU comparisons between countries enabling an evaluation of interventions to reduce antimicrobial consumption effectively