The vertical transmission of antibiotic residues from parent hens to broilers

Abstract

Imprudent and superfluous use of antibiotics contributes to the selection of resistant bacteria, which is a large threat to human health. Therefore analytical procedures have been implemented in the poultry production sector to check if antibiotic treatments are registered, aiming to achieve more prudent use of antibiotics. These methods rely on the analysis of feathers, a matrix in which antibiotic residues persist. However, other routes besides direct administration, through which poultry feathers could contain antibiotic residues, should also be taken into account. In this research the vertical transmission from parent hen to broiler was investigated through a controlled animal study for the antibiotics enrofloxacin, doxycycline and sulfachlorpyridazine. Vertical transmission was observed for all antibiotics to both egg and egg shell. Also it is demonstrated that the transferred antibiotics from parent hen to chick are subsequently excreted via the chick's droppings. Through this route, the broilers' environment is contaminated. If eggs are hatched that were taken during treatment of the parent hen, this indirect route and/or the direct vertical transmission can eventually result in the detection of low concentrations of antibiotic residues in the broilers' feathers at greater age: <50 µg kg −1 for freely extractable residues and <10 µg kg −1 for non-freely extractable residues. No antibiotics were detected in the broilers' muscle or kidney from 4 weeks of age. This research provides relevant information regarding the possible amount of residues originating from vertical transmission when monitoring matrices such as feathers and broiler droppings in order to stimulate correct use and registration of antibiotics in the poultry sector.

Bio-Fermented Malic Acid Facilitates the Production of High-Quality Chicken via Enhancing Muscle Antioxidant Capacity of Broilers

“…Pathogens develop resistance to antibiotics at a rate much faster than the discovery of new antibiotics, and resistant microorganisms can spread between food-producing animals and humans [ 2 ]. Antibiotic resistance and residues in broiler production have been taken as one of the biggest challenges of human health [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. As the voice of antibiotic-free food is gradually increasing, it is a global trend in animal production to reduce or ban the use of antibiotics for growth in feed [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Review of hatchery transmission of bacteria with focus on Salmonella, chick pathogens and antimicrobial resistance

“…Thus, antimicrobial treatment at hatcheries may have long-lasting effects on AMR in birds' microbiota, and which may be impacted further by the hatcheries' incoming or resident bacterial populations. An additional factor may be the presence of antimicrobial drugs originating from medicated breeding flocks but persisting within eggs and the resulting chicks and hatcher debris (Jansen et al 2020).…”