Assessment of animal diseases caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials: Poultry

Abstract

In this opinion, the antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria responsible for transmissible diseases that constitute a threat to poultry health have been assessed. The assessment has been performed following a methodology based on information collected by an extensive literature review and expert judgement. Details of the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. A global state of play is provided for: Avibacterium (Haemophilus) paragallinarum, Bordetella avium, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus cecorum, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Escherichia coli, Gallibacterium spp., Mycoplasma synoviae, Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Pasteurella multocida, Riemerella anatipestifer and Staphylococcus aureus. Among those bacteria, EFSA identified Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus cecorum with ≥ 66% certainty as being the most relevant antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the EU based on the available evidence. The animal health impact of these most relevant bacteria, and their eligibility for being listed and categorised within the Animal Health Law Framework, will be assessed in separate scientific opinions.

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli in dogs and cats, horses, swine, poultry, cattle, sheep and goats

“…However, the various forms of colibacillosis are most associated with broiler chickens and turkeys. In other avian species, the infections naturally occur especially when animals are kept intensively in confined conditions (Mellata, 2013 ; Nolan et al, 2020 ; EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021d ; Kathayat et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The global state of play for AMR animal pathogens that cause transmissible animal diseases (ToR 1) and the results of the assessment of the most relevant AMR bacteria in the EU (first part of ToR 2) for dogs and cats, horses, swine, poultry, cattle, sheep and goats were published in separate EFSA scientific opinions (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021a , 2021b , 2021c , 2021d , 2021e , 2021f ).…”

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial‐resistant Enterococcus faecalis in poultry

“…This fact sheet does not focus on any particular AMR phenotypes in E. faecalis . For more information on antimicrobial resistance in poultry isolates, we refer to the recent EFSA scientific opinion on the most relevant AMR bacteria in the EU for poultry (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021a ), where this has been reviewed with tables and figures showing proportion of resistance in clinical E. faecalis isolates from across the world.…”

“…The global state of play for AMR animal pathogens that cause transmissible animal diseases (ToR 1) and the results of the assessment of the most relevant AMR bacteria in the EU (first part of ToR 2) for poultry were published in a separate EFSA scientific opinion (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021a ).…”

“…According to the results of the assessment already conducted, Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) was identified among the most relevant AMR bacteria in the EU for poultry due to its increasing clinical importance in the last decades, problems associated with its treatment (often due to a late aetiological diagnosis) and its wide distribution, along with the high levels of resistance found for certain antimicrobials, which are also widely used for its treatment (lincosamides and spectinomycin) (EFSA AHAW Panel, 2021a ).…”