Researchers are warning that the animals we eat could be the gateway to a pandemic in the form of antimicrobial resistance, creating a wave of deadly superbugs.
The World Health Organization estimates that drug-resistant diseases could cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.
The researchers analyzed this public health and food safety challenge in the food animal industry in Southeast Asia International Journal of Food Science and Technology.
This challenge is relevant for Australia, which has strong political, economic and social ties with countries in the region. Australia marked its 50th anniversary of involvement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a special summit in Melbourne earlier this year.
Life scientist Professor Rajaraman Eri and microbiologist Dr Charmaine Lloyd from RMIT University in Australia and public policy expert Dr Pushpanathan Sundram from Thailand co-wrote the journal article.
“A major pandemic is about to happen in the form of antimicrobial resistance,” says Eri, Associate Dean of Biosciences and Food Technology at RMIT and also a veterinarian.
“We will face a situation in the world where we run out of antibiotics. That means we won’t be able to treat infections.”
Asia is a hotspot of antimicrobial resistance in animals, with Southeast Asia being an epicenter, the team says.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, there are more than 2.9 billion chickens, 258 million ducks, 7 million cattle, 15.4 million buffalo, 77.5 million pigs, 13.7 million sheep and 30.6 million goats in the region.
“Livestock farming, mainly for smallholder farmers, provides employment and additional income, improves the nutritional components and nutritional security of households, and provides food and economic well-being for their respective countries,” said Sundram, who contributed to the study while at the Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai worked. Thailand.
The research paper highlights the challenges in Southeast Asia associated with antimicrobial resistance and residue in animals, and points out the need to differentiate the two concepts.
Resistance occurs when microorganisms develop resistance to the antimicrobials to which they are exposed.
“On farm, the presence of antibiotics in food, soil, run-off water and animal waste can contribute to the development of this resistance,” says Lloyd from RMIT’s School of Science.
“The overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs, especially for growth promotion in healthy animals, has led to an increase in resistance.
“As resistant bacteria in animals can be transmitted to humans through the food chain or through direct contact, this transmission route highlights the link between human and animal health, highlighting the need to address antimicrobial resistance in food animals.”
Food animal residues are remains of drugs, pesticides and other chemicals that remain in animal tissues or products after administration or exposure to these substances.
“Veterinary drug residues often result from overuse and inappropriate use of antimicrobials, growth promoters and other veterinary drugs in livestock farming,” said Eri.
“Efforts in the region to regulate the use of antimicrobials are ongoing, but there is growing concern about the consumption of products with antimicrobial residues, which could impact human health due to the presence of antibiotic-resistant microbiota and pathogens in hosts,” said Sundram.
“In Australia we have excellent policies to tackle antimicrobial resistance, in particular the use of antibiotics is well regulated,” Eri said.
“But that is not the case at a global level. In many countries, anyone can buy antibiotics, whether for human or animal use.”
The team has six recommendations for policymakers in ASEAN countries to address antimicrobial resistance and residues in food animals:
- Recognize the difference between residue and resistance to address resistance challenges with appropriate interventions in the food animals of Southeast Asia.
- Collaborate regionally and develop tailor-made strategies to tackle disease outbreaks, environmental challenges, residue levels and antimicrobial resistance.
- Implement country-specific awareness campaigns, robust residue and resistance surveillance, appropriate regulations and responsible antimicrobial use to reduce the risks of resistance.
- Promote international cooperation and initiatives to comprehensively address resistance, and ensure a united front against both residue and resistance.
- Strengthen public health systems and preparedness.
- Promote innovation and research into alternative antimicrobial solutions, sustainable agricultural practices and advanced diagnostics to stay ahead of evolving challenges.
