Comparing Farm Biosecurity and Antimicrobial Use in High-Antimicrobial-Consuming Broiler and Pig Farms in the Belgian–Dutch Border Region

The threat to public health posed by antimicrobial resistance in livestock production means that the pig sector is a particular focus for efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU). This study sought to investigate the risk factors for AMU in Irish pig production. Antimicrobial use data were collected from 52 farrow-to-finish farms. The risk factors investigated were farm characteristics and performance, biosecurity practices, prevalence of pluck lesions at slaughter and serological status for four common respiratory pathogens and vaccination and prophylactic AMU practices. Linear regression models were used for quantitative AMU analysis and risk factors for specific AMU practices were investigated using logistic regression. Farms that milled their own feed had lower total AMU (p < 0.001), whereas higher finisher mortality (p = 0.043) and vaccinating for swine influenza (p < 0.001) increased AMU. Farms with higher prevalence of pericarditis (p = 0.037) and lung abscesses (p = 0.046) used more group treatments. Farms with higher prevalence of liver milk spot lesions (p = 0.018) and farms practising prophylactic AMU in piglets (p = 0.03) had higher numbers of individual treatments. Farms practising prophylactic AMU in piglets (p = 0.002) or sows (p = 0.062) had higher use of cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. This study identified prophylactic use and respiratory disease as the main drivers for AMU in Irish pig production. These findings highlight areas of farm management where interventions may aid in reducing AMU on Irish pig farms.

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Antimicrobial resistance in eight US hospitals along the US–Mexico border, 2000–2006

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s095026881300318x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 142 (11) ◽

pp. 2378-2387 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. R. BENOIT ◽

K. D. ELLINGSON ◽

S. H. WATERMAN ◽

M. L. PEARSON

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

International Travel ◽

Border Region ◽

Quinolone Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Oxacillin Resistance ◽

The Us ◽

Mexico Border ◽

Us Mexico Border ◽

Pathogen Combinations

SUMMARYAntimicrobial resistance (AR) is a growing problem worldwide and international travel, cross-border migration, and antimicrobial use may contribute to the introduction or emergence of AR. We examined AR rates and trends along the US–Mexico border by analysing microbiology data from eight US hospitals in three states bordering Mexico. Microbiology data were ascertained for the years 2000–2006 and for select healthcare and community pathogens including, three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) pathogens and 10 antimicrobial–pathogen combinations. Resistance was highest in S. aureus (oxacillin resistance 45·7%), P. aeruginosa (quinolone resistance 22·3%), and E. coli (quinolone resistance 15·6%); six (60%) of the 10 antimicrobial–pathogen combinations studied had a significantly increasing trend in resistance over the study period. Potential contributing factors in the hospital and community such as infection control practices and antimicrobial use (prescription and non-prescription) should be explored further in the US–Mexico border region.

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Quantification, description and international comparison of antimicrobial use on Irish pig farms

Porcine Health Management ◽

10.1186/s40813-020-00166-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lorcan O’Neill ◽

Maria Rodrigues da Costa ◽

Finola C. Leonard ◽

James Gibbons ◽

Julia Adriana Calderón Díaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Ingredient ◽

Sample Population ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Pig Production ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Reduction Strategies ◽

Veterinary Antimicrobials ◽

Prophylactic Use

Abstract Background There is concern that the use of antimicrobials in livestock production has a role in the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in animals and humans. Consequently, there are increasing efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU) in agriculture. As the largest consumer of veterinary antimicrobials in several countries, the pig sector is a particular focus of these efforts. Data on AMU in pig production in Ireland are lacking. This study aimed to quantify AMU on Irish pig farms, to identify the major patterns of use employed and to compare the results obtained to those from other published reports and studies. Results Antimicrobial use data for 2016 was collected from 67 Irish pig farms which represented c. 35% of national production. The combined sample population consumed 14.5 t of antimicrobial by weight of active ingredient suggesting that the pig sector accounted for approximately 40% of veterinary AMU in Ireland in 2016. At farm level, median AMU measured in milligram per population correction unit (mg/PCU) was 93.9 (range: 1.0–1196.0). When measured in terms of treatment incidence (TI200), median AMU was 15.4 (range: 0.2–169.2). Oral treatments accounted for 97.5% of all AMU by weight of active ingredient and were primarily administered via medicated feed to pigs in the post weaning stages of production. AMU in Irish pig production in 2016 was higher than results obtained from the national reports of Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and France but lower than the United Kingdom. Conclusions Pig production in Ireland is an important consumer of veterinary antimicrobials. The quantities and patterns of AMU on Irish pig farms are comparable to pig production in other European countries but higher than some countries with more advanced AMU reduction strategies. This AMU is characterised by a high proportion of prophylactic use and is primarily administered to pigs post weaning via medicated feed. Further studies to better understand the reasons for AMU on Irish pig farms and strategies to improve health among weaner pigs will be of benefit in the effort to reduce AMU.

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Coaching Belgian and Dutch Broiler Farmers Aimed at Antimicrobial Stewardship and Disease Prevention

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10050590 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 590

Author(s):

Nele Caekebeke ◽

Moniek Ringenier ◽

Franca Jonquiere ◽

Tijs Tobias ◽

Merel Postma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Prevention ◽

Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽

Management Model ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Performance Parameters ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Individual Coaching ◽

Broiler Production ◽

The Individual ◽

Farm Biosecurity

A reduction in antimicrobial use (AMU) is needed to curb the increase in antimicrobial resistance in broiler production. Improvements in biosecurity can contribute to a lower incidence of disease and thereby lower the need for AMU. However, veterinary advice related to AMU reduction or biosecurity is often not complied with, and this has been linked to the attitudes of farmers. Behavior change promoted by coaching may facilitate uptake and compliance regarding veterinary advice. Thirty broiler farms in Belgium and the Netherlands with high AMU were included in this study for 13 months. For each farmer, the attitude towards AMU reduction was quantified using an adjusted Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement (ADKAR®) change management model, and farm biosecurity was assessed with the Biocheck.UGent™ tool. Subsequently, farmers were coached to improve disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. After the individual coaching of farmers, there was a change in their attitudes regarding AMU, reflected by an increase in ADKAR® scores. Biosecurity levels improved by around 6% on average, and AMU was reduced by 7% on average without negative effects on performance parameters. Despite these improvements, no significant association could be found between higher ADKAR® scores and lower AMU. Further investigation into sociological models is needed as a tool to reduce AMU in livestock production.

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Antimicrobial use on Italian Pig Farms and its Relationship with Husbandry Practices

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030417 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 417 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jacopo Tarakdjian ◽

Katia Capello ◽

Dario Pasqualin ◽

Andrea Santini ◽

Giovanni Cunial ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Farm Workers ◽

Farm Size ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Large Variability ◽

Defined Daily Doses ◽

Size Number ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Husbandry Practices ◽

Finishing Pig ◽

On Farm

The analysis of antimicrobial use (AMU) data in livestock allows for the identification of risk factors for AMU, thereby favoring the application of responsible AMU policies on-farm. Herewith, AMU in 36 finishing pig farms in northern Italy from 2015–2017 was expressed as defined daily doses for Italian pigs (DDDita) per population correction unit (DDDita/100kg). A retrospective analysis was then conducted to determine the effects of several husbandry practices on AMU. Overall, AMU ranged between 12 DDDita/100kg in 2015 and 8 DDDita/100kg in 2017, showing no significant trends, due to the large variability in AMU between farms. However, a 66% AMU reduction was observed in 19 farms during 2015-2017. Farm size, number of farm workers, air quality, average pig mortality, and presence of undocked pigs on the farm had no significant effects on AMU. Rather, welfare-friendly farms had 38% lower AMU levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, animal welfare management seems to be relatively more important than farm structure and other managerial characteristics as drivers of AMU in finishing pig farms.

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Antimicrobial resistance in commensal Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. is influenced by production system, antimicrobial use, and biosecurity measures on Spanish pig farms

Porcine Health Management ◽

10.1186/s40813-021-00206-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Oscar Mencía-Ares ◽

Héctor Argüello ◽

Héctor Puente ◽

Manuel Gómez-García ◽

Edgar G. Manzanilla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Production System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Global Public Health ◽

E Coli ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Surveillance Programs

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat consequence of antimicrobial use (AMU) in human and animal medicine. In food-producing animals factors such as management, husbandry or biosecurity may impact AMU. Organic and extensive Iberian swine productions are based on a more sustainable and eco-friendly management system, providing an excellent opportunity to evaluate how sustained differences in AMU impact the AMR in indicator bacteria. Here, we evaluate the usefulness of commensal Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates as AMR bioindicators when comparing 37 Spanish pig farms from both intensive and organic-extensive production systems, considering the effect of AMU and biosecurity measures, the last only on intensive farms. Results The production system was the main factor contributing to explain the AMR differences in E. coli and Enterococcus spp. In both bacteria, the pansusceptible phenotype was more common (p < 0.001) on organic-extensive farms when compared to intensive herds. The microbiological resistance in commensal E. coli was, for most of the antimicrobials evaluated, significantly higher (p < 0.05) on intensive farms. In enterococci, the lincosamides usage revealed the association between AMR and AMU, with an increase in the AMR for erythromycin (p < 0.01), quinupristin-dalfopristin (p < 0.01) and the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype (p < 0.05). The biosecurity measures implemented on intensive farms influenced the AMR of these bioindicators, with a slightly lower resistance to sulfamethoxazole (p < 0.01) and the MDR phenotype (p < 0.05) in E. coli isolated from farms with better cleaning and disinfection protocols. On these intensive farms, we also observed that larger herds had a higher biosecurity when compared to smaller farms (p < 0.01), with no significant associations between AMU and the biosecurity scores. Conclusions Overall, this study evidences that the production system and, to a lesser extent, the biosecurity measures, contribute to the AMR development in commensal E. coli and Enterococcus spp., with antimicrobial usage as the main differential factor, and demonstrates the potential value of these bacteria as bioindicators on pig farms in AMR surveillance programs.

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Antimicrobial use, biosecurity, herd characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance in indicator Escherichia coli in ten Finnish pig farms

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105408 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105408

Author(s):

Jinhyeon Yun ◽

Johanna Muurinen ◽

Suvi Nykäsenoja ◽

Leena Seppä-Lassila ◽

Virpi Sali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Pig Farms

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HAM-ART: An optimised culture-free Hi-C metagenomics pipeline for tracking antimicrobial resistance genes in complex microbial communities

10.1101/2021.08.16.456459 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lajos Kalmar ◽

Srishti Gupta ◽

Iain R. L. Kean ◽

Xiaoliang Ba ◽

Nazreen Hadjirin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Gene ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Bioinformatics Pipeline ◽

Shotgun Metagenomics ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

Pig Farms

AbstractShotgun metagenomics is a powerful tool to identify antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in microbiomes but has the limitation that extrachromosomal DNA, such as plasmids, cannot be linked with the host bacterial chromosome. Here we present a laboratory and bioinformatics pipeline HAM-ART (Hi-C Assisted Metagenomics for Antimicrobial Resistance Tracking) optimised for the generation of metagenome-assembled genomes including both chromosomal and extrachromosomal AMR genes. We demonstrate the performance of the pipeline in a study comparing 100 pig faecal microbiomes from low- and high-antimicrobial use pig farms (organic and conventional farms). We found significant differences in the distribution of AMR genes between low- and high-antimicrobial use farms including a plasmid-borne lincosamide resistance gene exclusive to high-antimicrobial use farms in three species of Lactobacilli.Author SummaryAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest global health threats humanity is facing. Understanding the emergence and spread of AMR between different bacterial species is crucial for the development of effective countermeasures. In this paper we describe a user-friendly, affordable and comprehensive (laboratory and bioinformatics) workflow that is able to identify, associate and track AMR genes in bacteria. We demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of the method by comparing 50 faecal microbiomes from pig farms with high-antibiotic use (conventional farms), and 50 faecal microbiomes from pig farms with low-antibiotic use (organic farms). Our method provides a novel approach to resistance gene tracking, that also leads to the generation of high quality metagenomic assembled genomes that includes genes on mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, that would not otherwise be included in these assembled genomes.

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Implementation and evaluation of different eradication strategies for Brachyspira hyodysenteriae

Porcine Health Management ◽

10.1186/s40813-020-00162-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Willem Neirynck ◽

Filip Boyen ◽

Ilias Chantziaras ◽

Tamara Vandersmissen ◽

Philip Vyt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Rodent Control ◽

Eradication Programme ◽

Brachyspira Hyodysenteriae ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Before And After ◽

Mlst Type ◽

High Level ◽

Cleaning And Disinfection

Abstract Background Brachyspira infections are causing major losses to the pig industry and lead to high antimicrobial use. Treatment of Brachyspira (B.) hyodysenteriae infections may be problematic due to the high level of antimicrobial resistance. The present study implemented and evaluated farm-specific eradication programmes for B. hyodysenteriae in 10 different infected pig farms in Belgium. Results Ten pig farms clinically infected with B. hyodysenteriae volunteered to implement a farm-specific eradication programme. The programme depended on the farm and management characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility of the B. hyodysenteriae strain and the motivation of the farmer. Two farms practiced total depopulation, six farms partial depopulation and two farms antimicrobial medication without depopulation. In addition, all farms implemented biosecurity measures, and faeces samples were tested for the presence of B. hyodysenteriae at 6, 9 and 12 months after the start of the program. Single Brachyspira isolates from before and after the programme were typed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Eradication was successful in four farms. Two of them (farrow-to-finish and finishing herd) had applied total depopulation and respected a vacancy period of at least 3 weeks. A third farm (gilt farm) practised partial depopulation, the rooms remained empty for 28 days and changed the source of breeding gilts. The fourth farm practised partial depopulation, the stables remained empty for 3 weeks, and used antimicrobial medication. The eradication programme was not successful in six farms. Two of the latter farms only used medication without partial depopulation. Four farms practiced partial depopulation, one of them combined it with antimicrobial medication. The cleaning and disinfection procedures, rodent control, stand-empty period and/or other biosecurity measures in the six farms were not always implemented properly. In two of three farms, isolates belonging to the same MLST type were found before and after eradication. Conclusions Total depopulation or partial depopulation combined with implementing strict biosecurity measures allowed eradication of B. hyodysenteriae from clinically infected pig farms. Programmes based on antimicrobials without depopulation or partial depopulation without strictly adhering to all suggested biosecurity measures were not successful. Stockmanship and motivation of the farmer to permanently maintain high biosecurity standards are essential for success.

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High biosecurity and welfare standards in fattening pig farms are associated with reduced antimicrobial use

animal ◽

10.1017/s1751731120000828 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 2178-2186 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A.H. Stygar ◽

I. Chantziaras ◽

I. Toppari ◽

D. Maes ◽

J.K. Niemi

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Use ◽

Pig Farms

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