Quantification of Antimicrobial Use on Commercial Broiler Farms in Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Pakistan has a large broiler industry with extensive antimicrobial use.
• Monitoring antimicrobial use (AMU) is vital for antimicrobial stewardship.
• Quantifying AMU on commercial broiler farms is necessary to guide interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively quantify AMU on commercial broiler farms in Pakistan using different metrics.
• To identify the most common antimicrobial active substances and classes used.
• To assess the proportion of critically important antimicrobials (CIAs) used in broiler production.

Main Methods:

• Data on on-farm AMU (therapeutic and prophylactic) were collected from 100 commercial broiler farms in Punjab, Pakistan.
• AMU was quantified using four metrics: treatment incidence (TI) based on defined daily dose (TIDDDvetPK), TI based on defined course dose (TIDCDvetPK), TI based on used daily dose (TIUDDvetPK), and mg/kg biomass.
• Antimicrobial active substances (AS) and products were identified and categorized according to WHO importance.

Main Results:

• Median values were: TIDDDvetPK 57.7, TIDCDvetPK 13.3, TIUDDvetPK 75.3, and 301 mg/kg biomass.
• 66% of treatments were prophylactic, with 34% therapeutic.
• Colistin (17%), enrofloxacin (8%), neomycin (7%), and amoxicillin (7%) were the most common AS.
• 57% of AS were classified as CIAs for human medicine.
• 30% of treatments occurred in the first week, mainly for early chick mortality prophylaxis.

Conclusions:

• Alarmingly high AMU in Pakistani broiler production necessitates urgent reduction, especially of CIAs and prophylactic use.
• Improving farm management practices and strengthening regulatory oversight are crucial for prudent antimicrobial use.
• Reducing AMU in broiler farms can mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).