Assessing farm biosecurity and farmers' knowledge and practices concerning antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in poultry and pig farms in Southern Togo

Abstract

ackground and Aim: Several factors contribute to the unusual incidence of antibiotic resistance, which is now a primary public health concern. However, failure in managing preventive and therapeutic antibiotic use on farms is one of the most crucial factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the biosecurity of farms, farmers' competence, and practices related to antibiotics and their resistance in poultry and pig rearing in Togo. Materials and Methods: Through a cross-sectional survey, 121 commercial poultry farmers and 97 commercial pig farmers were questioned to evaluate the biosecurity of farms and farmers' competence and practices related to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Descriptive analyses, including the evaluation of proportions, were carried out. In addition, results from qualitative factors were evaluated in a defined grid and totaled up to assess cleanliness measures, awareness, and behavior regarding antibiotics and their resistance. Results: The results demonstrated that most farmers working on poultry farms had a university education, while most working on pig farms had secondary education. Most poultry (69%) and pig (44%) farms were of small sizes (<1000 animals in poultry and <10 animals in pig farming). The footbaths were used in just 51% of poultry farms and 4% of pig farms, respectively, with 37% and 82% of poultry and pig farms having inadequate levels of hygiene. In poultry farms, respiratory issues and periodic decline in egg-laying were the main problems. Simultaneously, skin disorders (scabies) and plagues (African swine fever) were the primary health constraints in pig farming. Tetracycline is the most commonly used antibiotic by farmers. However, in poultry and pig farms, 21% and 67% of farmers were unaware of antibiotics. In addition, 39% and 57% were unaware of antibiotic resistance. Poultry and pig farmers' competence were substantially linked to their education level. Poultry farmers demonstrated better practices, including procuring antibiotics based on veterinary prescriptions (63%) and they knew where antibiotics should be bought (90%). Nevertheless, 43% of farmers asserted unpleasant activities – no application for laboratory testing (93%) and use of antibiotics for prevention (82%). In pig farming, most farmers (69%) reported inadequate incidents of the use of antibiotics. Conclusion: This study identified a crucial non-compliance with biosecurity measures and good practices toward antibiotic use on many farms. Therefore, training of farmers is mandatory for safe livestock products.

Antimicrobial use and resistance in food animal production: food safety and associated concerns in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…For example, in many countries including North America, asymptomatic calves are administered macrolides for prophylaxis or metaphylaxis of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) (Cameron and McAllister 2016 ). Widespread across low- and middle-income countries, with specific interests in the SSA region, is the prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal production (Moffo et al 2020 ; Mdegela et al 2021 ; Adebowale et al 2022 ; Bedekelabou et al 2022 ). Enforcing this practice is the increasing demand for animal protein from a rapidly growing population (Mankhomwa et al 2022 ).…”

“…Findings from a similar study in southern Togo showed that poultry farmers (93%) utilized antibiotics in production more than pig farmers (50%). About 84% of the farmers who consented to antimicrobial use utilized them as prophylaxis in the production of poultry and pigs (Bedekelabou et al 2022 ). Almost all the farmers (98%) recruited in the study reportedly failed to consult a veterinarian for proper clinical and laboratory diagnosis as well as antibiotic prescriptions.…”

“…Conforming to the trend across West Africa, the most frequently used antimicrobials based on the study were tetracycline (85%), erythromycin/tylosin (73%), and colistin (57%). Poor biosecurity practices were also widely observed, especially in pig farms (Bedekelabou et al 2022 ).…”

“… Tetracycline, erythromycin tylosin, colistin. Pigs and poultry N/P Togo Bedekelabou et al ( 2022 ) N/P N/P Poultry, sheep, goats, cattle 41.5 Ethiopia Gebeyehu et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamide-trimethoprim N/P Cattle, sheep, goats, equines, poultry 84.0 Ethiopia Gemeda et al ( 2020 ) Tetracyclines, penicillins, sulfonamides, macrolides, and quinolones Oxytetracycline, cloxacillin, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, norfloxacin Poultry, pigs, ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) 14.0 Tanzania Mdegela et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, quinolones, sulfonamides, macrolides, and aminoglycosides Oxytetracycline, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, sulfadiazine trimethoprim, tylosin, neomycin Pigs and poultry 80.5 Tanzania Kimera et al ( 2020a ) Tetracyclines, macrolide, aminoglycoside, polymyxin Tetracycline, tylosin, erythromycin, neomycin, colistin Poultry 90.0 Kenya Kiambi et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, beta-lactams, macrolide Tetracycline, penicillin, azithromycin Cattle, sheep, goats N/P Kenya Mangesho et al ( 2021 ) Beta-lactams, aminoglycoside Penicillin, streptomycin Poultry, pigs, ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) 100.0 Rwanda Manishimwe et al ( 2017 ) N/P N/P Poultry, pigs ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) 58.0 Uganda Mickecz et al ( 2020 ) Tetracycline, sulfonamides, quinolones, beta-lactams Oxytetracycline, doxycycline, sulfadiazine, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin, ampicillin Pigs, poultry, ruminants, cattle N/P Cameroon ...…”

“… Tetracycline, erythromycin tylosin, colistin. Pigs and poultry 84.0 Togo Bedekelabou et al ( 2022 ) N/P N/P Poultry, sheep, goats, cattle 38.1 Ethiopia Gebeyehu et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamide-trimethoprim N/P Cattle, sheep, goats, equines, poultry 10.0. Ethiopia Gemeda et al ( 2020 ) Tetracyclines, penicillins, sulfonamides, macrolides, and quinolones Oxytetracycline, cloxacillin, sulfamethoxazole, tylosin, norfloxacin Poultry, pigs, ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) 60.0 Tanzania Mdegela et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, quinolones, sulfonamides, penicillins, macrolides, and aminoglycosides Oxytetracycline, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, sulfadiazine trimethoprim, tylosin, neomycin Pigs and poultry 87.6 Tanzania Kimera et al ( 2020a ) Tetracyclines, macrolide, aminoglycoside, polymyxin Tetracycline, tylosin, erythromycin, neomycin, colistin Poultry 75.0 Kenya Kiambi et al ( 2021 ) Tetracyclines, beta-lactams, macrolide.…”