Assessing farm biosecurity and farmers’ knowledge and practices concerning antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in poultry and pig farms in Southern Togo
Bedekelabou, Andre Pouwedeou; Talaki, Essodina; Dzogbema, Koffi Francois-Xavieret al.
2022 • In Veterinary World, 15 (7), p. 1727 - 1737
[en] Background and Aim: Several factors contribute to the unusual incidence of antibiotic resistance, which is now a primary public health concern. However, failure in managing preventive and therapeutic antibiotic use on farms is one of the most crucial factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the biosecurity of farms, farmers’ competence, and practices related to antibiotics and their resistance in poultry and pig rearing in Togo. Materials and Methods: Through a cross-sectional survey, 121 commercial poultry farmers and 97 commercial pig farmers were questioned to evaluate the biosecurity of farms and farmers’ competence and practices related to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Descriptive analyses, including the evaluation of proportions, were carried out. In addition, results from qualitative factors were evaluated in a defined grid and totaled up to assess cleanliness measures, awareness, and behavior regarding antibiotics and their resistance. Results: The results demonstrated that most farmers working on poultry farms had a university education, while most working on pig farms had secondary education. Most poultry (69%) and pig (44%) farms were of small sizes (<1000 animals in poultry and <10 animals in pig farming). The footbaths were used in just 51% of poultry farms and 4% of pig farms, respectively, with 37% and 82% of poultry and pig farms having inadequate levels of hygiene. In poultry farms, respiratory issues and periodic decline in egg-laying were the main problems. Simultaneously, skin disorders (scabies) and plagues (African swine fever) were the primary health constraints in pig farming. Tetracycline is the most commonly used antibiotic by farmers. However, in poultry and pig farms, 21% and 67% of farmers were unaware of antibiotics. In addition, 39% and 57% were unaware of antibiotic resistance. Poultry and pig farmers’ competence were substantially linked to their education level. Poultry farmers demonstrated better practices, including procuring antibiotics based on veterinary prescriptions (63%) and they knew where antibiotics should be bought (90%). Nevertheless, 43% of farmers asserted unpleasant activities – no application for laboratory testing (93%) and use of antibiotics for prevention (82%). In pig farming, most farmers (69%) reported inadequate incidents of the use of antibiotics. Conclusion: This study identified a crucial non-compliance with biosecurity measures and good practices toward antibiotic use on many farms. Therefore, training of farmers is mandatory for safe livestock products.
Research Center/Unit :
Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires de Dakar
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Bedekelabou, Andre Pouwedeou ; Department of Public Health and Environment, Inter-States School of Veterinary Sciences, Medicine of Dakar (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal
Talaki, Essodina ; Higher School of Agronomy (ESA), University of Lomé, Togo, Togo ; Regional Center of Excellence on Avian Sciences (CERSA), The University of Lomé, Togo, Togo
Dzogbema, Koffi Francois-Xavier ; Regional Center of Excellence on Avian Sciences (CERSA), The University of Lomé, Togo, Togo
Dolou, Malibida ; Higher School of Agronomy (ESA), University of Lomé, Togo, Togo ; Regional Center of Excellence on Avian Sciences (CERSA), The University of Lomé, Togo, Togo
Savadogo, Madi ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) ; Department of Public Health and Environment, Inter-States School of Veterinary Sciences, Medicine of Dakar (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal ; Department of Biomedical and Public Health, Research Institute for Health Sciences (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Seko, Malik Orou; Department of Public Health and Environment, Inter-States School of Veterinary Sciences, Medicine of Dakar (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal
Alambedji, Rianatou Bada; Department of Public Health and Environment, Inter-States School of Veterinary Sciences, Medicine of Dakar (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal
Language :
English
Title :
Assessing farm biosecurity and farmers’ knowledge and practices concerning antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in poultry and pig farms in Southern Togo
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