The subject of antimicrobial resistance in the animal sector featured at the annual ReAct Africa and South Centre Annual Conference held on Lusaka in July 2022.
A new research paper, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Jul 2022), aimed to use cognitive interviews in a respondent-adjusted way to study how survey questions related to antimicrobial use are understood and answered by 12 small-scale farmers in Kenya and Uganda.
For effective awareness raising on prudent use of antimicrobials, dairy farmers need regular education and veterinary experts need tools and strategies to educate farmers on prudent use of antimicrobials, a new research study says.
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A team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the International Livestock Research Institute, the University of Copenhagen, Royal Veterinary College and CABI carried out a systematic literature review to consolidate the current state of knowledge on antimicrobial resistance in food crop value chains globally. The review is published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (3 Feb 2022).
On November 18, the first day of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the CGIAR Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Hub hosted a virtual seminar addressing antimicrobial awareness. Launched in 2019 and led by ILRI, the AMR Hub is a global research and development partnership for reducing agricultural-related AMR in low- and middle-income countries.
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) have signed a memorandum of collaboration to strengthen activities to address antimicrobial resistance in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Through this collaboration, at the CGIAR AMR Hub ICARS will build training capacity of LMIC partners in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, establish a state-of-the art centre of excellence for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and co-develop capacity for research through exchange programmes at ILRI.
Scientists from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Makerere University, and Institute of Virology and Immunology have assessed the use of antimicrobials in smallholder livestock systems in Uganda. Their findings, which are published in the Journal of Frontiers in Veterinary Science show that antibiotics and anti-helminthics are readily available over-the-counter to livestock keepers in the country and antibiotics sales contribute a third of the profit for veterinary drug stockists.
The British Poultry Coucil released its Antibiotic Stewardship report highlighting nearly 75% reduction in total antibiotics in the last decade, 95.5% reduction in the use of critically important antibiotics and 97.2% decrease in the use of fluroquinolones.
A perspective by Christian Ducrot et al. (2021) published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Disease evaluates the challenges faced by farmers in Africa. The perspective acknowledges that Africa reports lowest usage of antimicrobials in the world, however, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens isolated from animals and animal products remains high. The authors, who are from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and French research organisations namely, The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), and Institute of Research and Development (IRD), advocate for policies that consider specific farmer needs, including improved access to veterinary drugs, and improved regulation of their use.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has published its 5th report on Antimicrobial Agents intended for use in animals where 160 countries (156 members, one non-contiguous territory and three non-OIE members) have contributed data. OIE has been engaged in combating antimicrobial resistance through a One Health approach. Globally very little information is available on resistance patterns in animal pathogens or in animal commensal bacterial. OIE recognises that surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in animal microorganisms is an important to assess the level and evolution of AMR in animals and later to provide a better understanding of the AM use and AMR epidemiology.
