LANSING, Mich. — The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has been working diligently on the issue of antibacterial, or antimicrobial, resistance in animals, seeing this issue as a problem for both animals and humans.

 

Despite the lack of a clear link between antimicrobial use in animals and resistance in humans, new federal rules  – namely the new feed directive – are forcing farmers and farm groups to pay close attention to the matter.

A recent OIE report on the subject, OIE Annual Report On the Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Animals, claims to be the first time authorities have gotten good data on how OIE-participating countries deal with antimicrobials in animals.

“The topic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is crucial because it concerns both human and animal health,” a report summary states.

Over the past several years the OIE has developed questionnaires and sent them to member countries, which total 180. As far back as 2012 the organization was doing this, with the goal “to enhance the OIE’s engagement in the initiative to prevent AMR.”

In the 2012 effort, the group found at the time only 27 percent of responding countries had an official system in place for collecting data on antimicrobial agents used in animals. “Currently, very little information is available worldwide on animal pathogens,” says the most recent report summary.

The most recent data collection effort, which began in 2015, found a total of 96 of 130 participating OIE member countries said they do not authorize the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion in animals. Twenty-five of the countries provided a list of antimicrobials authorized for growth promotion, in which tylosin and bacitracin were most frequently cited. Colistin was mentioned by 10 of 25 member countries.

Also according to the summary, 89 of the 130 member countries revealed the quantities of antimicrobials used in animals between 2010-15.

The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), for one, has been paying attention to what the OIE is doing. According to MFB Livestock Specialist Ernie Birchmeier, the U.S. livestock and feed industry no longer allows for the growth promotion label to be used for antibiotics in feed. In fact, he explained, beginning Jan. 1 this year all major classes of antibiotics for animals needed a veterinary  prescription, or veterinary feeddirective, to be administered to major classes of livestock.

“The livestock industry in this country is committed to judicial use of antibiotics and believe we are doing our part to assist with addressing the antibiotic resistance issue,” Birchmeier said. “It is important to note that we need to take a holistic approach to this issue. The human medicine side of the equation needs to be addressed, as well.

“We also need to look at how antibiotics are used in the environment. We can’t fix the problem by just looking at one side of the equation. Farmers are committed to doing the right thing. It is imperative that we keep important animal health tools available to address livestock health issues.”

Birchmeier said with the restrictions on the use of antibiotics in farm animals in place, it’s certainly possible that more animals might get sick; however, he said he has heard no reports so far from farmers about it.

The full OIE report, as well as a summary, can be found online at http://bit.ly/2gjfvoL