Even therapeutic antimicrobial use in animal husbandry may generate environmental hazards to human health

Abstract

The potential negative impact for human health of veterinary use of antimicrobials in prophylaxis, metaphylaxis and growth promotion in animal husbandry was first established in the 1960s and 1970s. Determination of the molecular structure of antimicrobial resistance plasmids at that time explained the ability of antimicrobial resistance genes to disseminate among bacterial populations and elucidated the reasons for the negative effects of antimicrobials used in food animals for human health. In this issue of Environmental Microbiology, Liu et al. (2016) show that even therapeutic use of antimicrobials in dairy calves has an appreciable environmental microbiological footprint. We discuss the negative implications of this footprint for human health and the possibility they may lead to calls for increased regulation of veterinary antimicrobial use in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

A Meta-analysis Describing the Effects of the Essential oils Blend Agolin Ruminant on Performance, Rumen Fermentation and Methane Emissions in Dairy Cows

“…Dairy production faces numerous global challenges, while milk demand is globally rising; increasing concerns appear over its environmental impact including methane (CH 4 ) emissions, and the transfer of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans [1]. In response to these concerns more efficient and safe animal production systems need to be developed.…”

An Essential Oil Blend Decreases Methane Emissions and Increases Milk Yield in Dairy Cows

“…Partially in response to the European Union legislation to ban antimicrobial growth promoters in animal production systems and to address concerns over transfer of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans [3] there has been an increased interest in the use of plant extracts to modify rumen fermentation, boost animal production and decrease GHG emissions [4] [5]. Essential oils (EO) are volatile compounds that can be classified as alcohol, ester or aldehyde derivatives of phenylpropanoids and terpenoids [6].…”

Report on intussusception in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818) from commercial farms in Mexico: A case study

“…However, treatment for intussusception should include an integral approach considering other possible causes like toxins or stress problems induced by inadequate management. Correction of these problems would help to reduce the use of chemicals in fish culture, decreasing environmental pollution (Cabello and Godfrey, 2016). In the present case of intussusception, though the primary cause of the syndrome could not be established, it is construed that it is related to the presence of Aeromonas sp.…”