Mortality, disease and associated antimicrobial use in commercial small-scale chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Abstract

HighlightsHigh mortality (2.6 chickens/100 chickens/week) in small-scale Mekong Delta flocks.Disease most common in the brooding period; mortality peaks in the 5–10 week period.Antimicrobials use (AMU) most common in the early (‘brooding’) period.Farmers tend to repeat AMU behavior over consecutive flock cycles.AMU was associated with the density of veterinary drug shops.

Veterinary Drug Shops as Main Sources of Supply and Advice on Antimicrobials for Animal Use in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

“…A recent study showed that the density of veterinary drug shops at commune level was positively correlated with AMU in chicken flocks in this area [8]. In Vietnam, in 2015 there were~10,400 licenced veterinary drug shops (average 150-200 per province).…”

“…The median number of staff members (including the owner) working in each shop was 2 [IQR 1-2], the respective values were 2 [IQR 2-2] and 2 [IQR 1-2] for Cao Lanh and Thap Muoi. In term of staffing capacity, the median value was 12 person-days [IQR 7 -14] per week, 14 [IQR [9][10][11][12][13][14] for Cao Lanh and 10 [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] for Thap Muoi drug shops. There were 5 (5.4%) shops staffed by personnel adding a total of 22.5-28.0 days/week.…”

“…High levels of AMU have been reported both in chicken and pig production in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam [13][14][15]. This behaviour is partly driven by the prevailing farming conditions that lead to a high incidence of disease and mortality [8]. In addition, farmers often use antimicrobials prophylactically as a replacement for good farming practices [16].…”

Labelling and quality of antimicrobial products used in chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

“…Globally, the quantity of antimicrobials used in chicken production is estimated at 138.0 doses/1,000 animal‐days [inter quartile range (IQR) 91.1–438.3], a higher amount than AMU in the two other major terrestrial food animal species (pig and cattle) (Cuong, Padungtod, Thwaites, & Carrique‐Mas, ). Previous studies have reported exceptionally high levels of antimicrobial use (AMU) in chicken farms in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam (Carrique‐Mas et al., ; Carrique‐Mas et al., ; Cuong et al., ; Nguyen et al., ). However, there are currently no published data on the quality of antimicrobial products used in these farming systems.…”

“…TA B L E 1 Characteristics of 20 antimicrobial products investigated, sorted by the number of flocks where they were used 91.1-438.3], a higher amount than AMU in the two other major terrestrial food animal species (pig and cattle) (Cuong, Padungtod, Thwaites, & Carrique-Mas, 2019). Previous studies have reported exceptionally high levels of antimicrobial use (AMU) in chicken farms in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam (Carrique-Mas et al, 2015;Carrique-Mas et al, 2019;Cuong et al, 2019;Nguyen et al, 2016).…”