Characterization of commercial poultry farms in Mexico: Towards a better understanding of biosecurity practices and antibiotic usage patterns

Abstract

Mexico is one of the world’s major poultry producing countries. Two significant challenges currently facing the poultry industry are the responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials, and the potential occurrence of infectious disease outbreaks. For example, repeated outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H7N3 have occurred in poultry since its first detection in Mexico in 2012. Both of these challenges can be addressed through good husbandry practices and the application of on-farm biosecurity measures. The aims of this study were: (i) to assess the biosecurity measures practiced across different types of poultry farms in Mexico, and (ii) to collect information regarding antimicrobial usage. A cross-sectional study was carried out through on-farm interviews on 43 poultry farms. A multiple correspondence analysis was performed to characterize the farms based on their pattern of biosecurity practices and antimicrobial usage. Three clusters of farms were identified using an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. In each cluster, a specific farm type was predominant. The biosecurity measures that significantly differentiated the visited farms, thus allowing their clusterization, were: the use of personal protective equipment (e.g. face masks, hair caps, and eye protection), the requirement for a hygiene protocol before and after entering the farm, the use of exclusive working clothes by staff and visitors, footbath presence at the barn entrance, and the mortality disposal strategy. The more stringent the biosecurity measures on farms within a cluster, the fewer the farms that used antimicrobials. Farms with more biosecurity breaches used antimicrobials considered critically important for public health. These findings could be helpful to understand how to guide strategies to reinforce compliance with biosecurity practices identified as critical according to the farm type. We conclude by providing certain recommendations to improve on-farm biosecurity measures.

Can Improved Farm Biosecurity Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials in Food Animals? A Scoping Review

“…In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), raising farmer awareness about the negative effects of untargeted AMU and promoting good farming practices, biosecurity, diagnostic services, and vaccination programs is essential [13]. Studies have shown that proper emphasis on hand hygiene at poultry farms and sensitization about biosecurity management can decrease AMU [43]. Initiatives to better inform farmers and veterinarians on appropriate AMU and farm biosecurity could help reduce AMU on farms [5].…”

Characterisation of Chicken Farms in Vietnam: A Typology of Antimicrobial Use Among Different Production Systems

“…The number of key variables is usually recommended to be 5 times less than the sample size (Alvarez et al, 2018). The other variables were removed because they were either compiled into a new one, correlated with other variables that were homogeneous in response, or not addressed by all respondents (Ornelas-Eusebio et al, 2020). The 3 groups were described from categories that were overexpressed (p-value less than 5%) in the group and they were transformed into a new variable called, ClusterTypo.…”

Assessing Biosecurity Compliance in Poultry Farms: A Survey in a Densely Populated Poultry Area in North East Italy

“…In the event of a negative outcome, different options can be applied, ranging from recommendations to penalties or even training of the farmer and personnel [ 13 ]. In previous publications, questionnaires or checklists proved to be useful tools for collecting data on biosecurity and assessing the compliance of poultry farms in the European Union (EU) [ 3 , 6 , 14 ] and in non-EU countries [ 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 ], highlighting potential deficiencies and opportunities for intervention.…”