Antibiotics misuse in animals breeds resistance in humans, says expert

Dr. Sipak Shase-et al., Plateau’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), says that antibiotic misuse in animals is detrimental to humans as it causes antibiotic resistance.

Shase-et said this at the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, with the theme “Preventing AMR together”.

The CVO explained that when animals were administered antimicrobials (drugs), there was a withdrawal period in which humans were not meant to consume their produce until the withdrawal period elapsed.

He, however, said most livestock farmers in the underdeveloped world failed to adhere to this.

He said when such animal produce was consumed before the elapse of the withdrawal period, it contained traces of the antibiotics, which then built resistance.

"The failure to adhere to the withdrawal period breeds resistance, as the animal produces and consumes traces of the antibiotics.

"This then builds antibiotic resistance in the individual who consumed the produce.

"You would discover that when the individual is administered that particular antibiotic, the drug wouldn’t work as it has built resistance in the individual’s system.

“The individual would have to be given more antibiotics to get treated,” he said.

He called on stakeholders, especially livestock farmers, to ensure they desist from the abuse and misuse of antimicrobials.

Similarly, Dr. Steve Dowoh, the State Coordinator from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety, Plateau State Green House, attributed the rise in antimicrobial (drug) resistance to its use without a prescription from a professional.

He said the essence of the awareness was to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections and to promote best practises among stakeholders.

Mrs. Nanji Gambo-Oke, a poultry farmer, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended the organisers of the event.

She said the information she got would enable her to become a better farmer who ensured that the produce from her birds was wholesome and not in any way detrimental to humans.

NAN reports that the event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with other developmental partners in the health sector.