Contamination of Fresh Produce with Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Associated Risks to Human Health: A Scoping Review

Fresh produce, when consumed raw, can be a source of exposure to antimicrobial residues, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of clinical importance. This review aims to determine: (1) the presence and abundance of antimicrobial residues, ARB and ARGs in fresh agricultural products sold in retail markets and consumed raw; (2) associated health risks in humans; and (3) pathways through which fresh produce becomes contaminated with ARB/ARGs. We searched the Ovid Medline, Web of Science and Hinari databases as well as grey literature, and identified 40 articles for inclusion. All studies investigated the occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, and ten studies focused on ARGs in fresh produce, while none investigated antimicrobial residues. The most commonly observed ARB were E. coli (42.5%) followed by Klebsiella spp. (22.5%), and Salmonella spp. (20%), mainly detected on lettuce. Twenty-five articles mentioned health risks from consuming fresh produce but none quantified the risk. About half of the articles stated produce contamination occurred during pre- and post-harvest processes. Our review indicates that good agricultural and manufacturing practices, behavioural change communication and awareness-raising programs are required for all stakeholders along the food production and consumption supply chain to prevent ARB/ARG exposure through produce.

Gain of mass between two profiles of treatments to pigs with Self-Organizing Factors

Highly-diluted medicines are used in clinical practice to treat many pathologies of pigs [1-4]. This therapeutic tool had its potential for valued use due to the global scenario changing on the restriction to limit of antimicrobial residues in the security feeding and production of foods from animal origin for human consume, especially the meat production [5]. Through the evidence of mass measurement, the usage profile of group B treatment shown to work with pigs and give greater weight live gain in group A during the available trial. Future studies should be conducted with larger numbers of animals to confirm the incidence of the unique profile, with replications to assess the complete production cycle, including the relationship ending / sow / year. Finally, other scales and dilutions should be analyzed to adjust for best answer from the best treatment effect profile

ANTIMICROBIALS USE IN BROILER CHICKEN BREEDING: CASE OF THE AIN DEFLA PROVINCE (ALGERIA)

The objective of this study is to assess the use of antimicrobials in the broiler production in Algeria, through a survey completed by private veterinarians of the Ain Defla province. In this context, 65 band breeding were studied for antimicrobial use between October 2019 and June 2020. The results showed that all of the studied bands received antimicrobial treatments for at least 5 days during the breeding period. Quinolones class was the most widely used class of antimicrobials (24.4%), followed by the tetracyclines class (22.5%), sulfonamides (20.1%) and polypeptides (12.1%). Macrolides and beta-lactams come last (4.02% and 3.22% respectively). 160 mg of active compound were administered per kg of chicken meat produced. The number of daily doses (nDDkg) was 10.5, while the treated live weight (nCDkg) was 2.66. Per molecule, chickens were more exposed to colistin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin. The withdrawal period of used bands was not respected, and meat from these treated broilers was found to contain antimicrobial residues at 33.9%. The reasons for this frequent use are various: poor conditions and bad practices of breeding, poor quality of day-old chicks, veterinary practices, and difficulties of control by veterinary authorities.

Prevalence of Antimicrobial Residues in Tissues of Broilers Sold at a Local Market in Enugu State, Nigeria Using the European Four Plate Test

ABSTRACTBackgroundConsumption of animal tissues treated with antimicrobial agents may be deleterious if they contain violative levels of the residues. This study determined antimicrobial residues prevalence in broilers sold at Ikpa market, Nsukka, Nigeria.MethodsTissues from muscle, liver and kidney of 60 commercial broilers (180 samples) were tested for antimicrobial residues using the conventional Four Plate Test.ResultPrevalence of 80.0% (48/60) and 51.7% (93/180) was recorded in the birds and samples {muscle 40.0%(24/60); liver 55.0%(33/60) and kidney 60.0%(36/60)} respectively. There was no significant association between residue occurrence and tissue type (χ2 (2) = 5.206; p = 0.074). Possible antimicrobial classes detected were: macrolid (50.0%) at pH 8.0 with Micrococcus luteus; β-lactams and tetracyclines (64.4%) with Bacillus subtillis at pH 6.0; sulphonamides (53.3%) at pH 7.2 with Bacillus subtillis, and aminoglycosides (46.8%) at pH 8.0 with Bacillus subtillis. Twenty-four tissue samples were positive at all four pH levels indicating use of more than one class of antimicrobials during each treatment.ConclusionAntimicrobial residues were detected in commercial broilers (muscles, liver and kidney) sampled at Ikpa Market, Nsukka. This is of public health importance given that antimicrobial residues are not monitored in poultry consumed in Nigeria.

Antibacterial Residues in Some Imported Chickens to Iraq

In this study three of trademarks of frozen chickens imported to Iraq were chosen to study the antibacterials residues in the chicken meat. The three trade marks were TM1, TM2 and TM3. Three chickens of each trade mark were bought from local market of Baghdad, from each chick a piece of muscle was cut from the thigh and the chest and from each piece four samples were tested for antimicrobial residues by using four plate test (FTP). The results showed presence of antibacterials residues in 49% of tested samples. For TM2 and TM3 the positive samples were 62.5% and 83% respectively while no antibacterials residues detected for TM1. Concluded from this study the presence of antibacterials residues in imported chickens to Iraq.

Emerging Electrochemical Sensors for Real-Time Detection of Tetracyclines in Milk

Antimicrobial drug residues in food are strictly controlled and monitored by national laws in most territories. Tetracyclines are a major broad-spectrum antibiotic class, active against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and they are the leading choice for the treatment of many conditions in veterinary medicine in recent years. In dairy farms, milk from cows being treated with antibiotic drugs, such as tetracyclines, is considered unfit for human consumption. Contamination of the farm bulk tank with milk containing these residues presents a threat to confidence of supply and results in financial losses to farmers and dairy. Real-time monitoring of milk production for antimicrobial residues could reduce this risk and help to minimise the release of residues into the environment where they can cause reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance. In this article, we review the existing literature for the detection of tetracyclines in cow’s milk. Firstly, the complex nature of the milk matrix is described, and the test strategies in commercial use are outlined. Following this, emerging biosensors in the low-cost biosensors field are contrasted against each other, focusing upon electrochemical biosensors. Existing commercial tests that identify antimicrobial residues within milk are largely limited to beta-lactam detection, or non-specific detection of microbial inhibition, with tests specific to tetracycline residues less prevalent. Herein, we review a number of emerging electrochemical biosensor detection strategies for tetracyclines, which have the potential to close this gap and address the industry challenges associated with existing tests.

Antibacterial Residue Excretion via Urine as an Indicator for Therapeutical Treatment Choice and Farm Waste Treatment

Many of the infectious diseases that affect livestock have bacteria as etiological agents. Thus, therapy is based on antimicrobials that leave the animal’s tissues mainly via urine, reaching the environment through slurry and waste water. Once there, antimicrobial residues may lead to antibacterial resistance as well as toxicity for plants, animals, or humans. Hence, the objective was to describe the rate of antimicrobial excretion in urine in order to select the most appropriate molecule while reducing harmful effects. Thus, 62 pigs were treated with sulfamethoxypyridazine, oxytetracycline, and enrofloxacin. Urine was collected through the withdrawal period and analysed via LC-MS/MS. Oxytetracycline had the slowest rate of degradation (a half-life time of 4.18 days) and the most extended elimination period in urine (over 2 months), followed by enrofloxacin (a half-life time of 1.48 days, total urine elimination in ca. 3 weeks) and sulfamethoxypyridazine (a half-life time of 0.49 days, total urine elimination in ca. 1 week). Bacterial sensitivity and recommendations for responsible use are limiting when selecting the treatment. Nevertheless, with similar effectiveness, sulfamethoxypyridazine would be the choice, as waste treatment would only need to be implemented for 1 week after treatment. Thus, more in-depth knowledge regarding antibacterial elimination would improve resource management, while protecting animals and consumers’ health.