Antimicrobial resistance situation in animal health of Bangladesh

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a crucial multifactorial and complex global problem and Bangladesh poses a regional and global threat with a high degree of antibiotic resistance. Although the routine application of antimicrobials in the livestock industry has largely contributed to the health and productivity, it correspondingly plays a significant role in the evolution of different pathogenic bacterial strains having multidrug resistance (MDR) properties. Bangladesh is implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) for containing AMR in human, animal, and environment sectors through "One Health" approach where the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) is the mandated body to implement NAP strategies in the animal health sector of the country. This review presents a "snapshot" of the predisposing factors, and current situations of AMR along with the weakness and strength of DLS to contain the problem in animal farming practices in Bangladesh. In the present review, resistance monitoring data and risk assessment identified several direct and/or indirect predisposing factors to be potentially associated with AMR development in the animal health sector of Bangladesh. The predisposing factors are inadequate veterinary healthcare, monitoring and regulatory services, intervention of excessive informal animal health service providers, and farmers' knowledge gap on drugs, and AMR which have resulted in the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, ultimate in the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in all types of animal farming settings of Bangladesh. MDR bacteria with extreme resistance against antibiotics recommended to use in both animals and humans have been reported and been being a potential public health hazard in Bangladesh. Execution of extensive AMR surveillance in veterinary practices and awareness-building programs for stakeholders along with the strengthening of the capacity of DLS are recommended for effective containment of AMR emergence and dissemination in the animal health sector of Bangladesh.

First report from Bangladesh on genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant Pasteurella multocida type B:2 in fowl cholera

“…Antibiotic therapy is still considered as a tool in the treatment of FC. However, AMR has become a global problem as resistant isolates have emerged by the excessive and unjustified use of antimicrobials [5,19,67]. The P. multocida strains of the present study showed resistance to ampicillin (90.91%), tetracycline (90.91%), and nalidixic acid (63.64%) according to the EUCAST breakpoints (Figure -1).…”

“…However, all of the tested isolates were sensitive to colistin, suggesting that colistin could effectively be used for the treatment of FC with P. multocida considering the serious worldwide concern on AMR. Frequent and excessive use of antibiotics in the livestock of Bangladesh [19,21] might have a role in AMR development against multiple antibiotics in clinical infections like FC [75,76].…”

“…However, the prolonged, indiscriminated, and unnecessary overuse of antibiotics in the poultry farms have resulted in an increased incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates of P. multocida, posing a serious threat to public health and livestock [8]. The unplanned and irrational use of antibiotics has reduced the efficacy of most of the antimicrobial agents that are currently used in the treatment of infections in poultry infected with P. multocida in Bangladesh [19]. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests can provide information about the selection of appropriate antimicrobials and curtail the imprudent use of antimicrobials [20][21][22].…”

Antibiotic Usage and Resistance in Food Animal Production: What Have We Learned from Bangladesh?

“…Commercial chicken and fish farms perform intensive operations to increase production and minimize disease prevalence. Many types of drugs, including antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals, and antimicrobial growth promoters are extensively used in commercial chicken and aquaculture production sectors [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Despite the massive benefit of treating animal diseases using antimicrobial drugs, the resulting emergence of antibiotic resistance has raised global concerns [ 22 ].…”

“…Many farmers in Bangladesh are less aware of the negative impact of excessive, irrational, and prophylaxis use of antibiotics in animals, and aquaculture. Inadequate veterinary healthcare facilities, insufficient monitoring and regulatory services on antibiotic usage, high occurrence of diseases, and malpractices by unqualified veterinary healthcare providers (quack, drug sellers, and animal feed dealers) contributed a crucial role in the increased and misusage of antibiotics in animal health sectors [ 21 ].…”