THE World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has urged member states, including Zimbabwe, to avoid use of antibiotics on livestock, but manufacture their own vaccines to curb the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“OIE is currently supporting the production of theileria vaccine at the central veterinary laboratory with the objective of discouraging farmers from the use of tetracyclines in the treatment of tick-borne diseases including theileriosis,” OIE country delegate Josphat Nyika said during the AMR Week launch in Harare last week. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death in both humans and animals.
Antibiotics are used to treat infections in livestock, while in other instances they are also used to induce faster growth of food animals.
Agriculture ministry director of veterinary technical services, Pious Makaya, said livestock producers were currently engaged in a number of unsafe practices.
“Farmers are in the habit of buying tetracycline for use as a prophylactic measure to try to prevent diseases in poultry. They should not do that. Pig producers use antibiotics to boost growth in their animals. Again, that should not be practised.
“They are also not observing the withdrawal period where cattle should not be slaughtered for consumption after antibiotics have been administered to avoid the transference of the antibiotics into human beings,” Makaya said.
“Our biggest message is that we should produce and use vaccines instead of antibiotics.”
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the dangers of antimicrobials misuse also affects aquaculture and crop production.
“There are simple ways that farmers can take action and keep antimicrobials working, thus keeping animals and people healthy.
“One of the key ways to stop germs from spreading is, of course, cleanliness. Farmers must wash their hands, shoes and clothing before and after contact with animals and make sure that they clear manure and litter often,” FAO said in a note.
“When an animal gets sick, farmers should separate it from the rest of the animals to help prevent the infection from spreading. Farmers should practise an ‘all-in and all-out’ approach. This means breeding, weaning and raising animals together in groups, emptying animal housing completely whenever animal groups are moved and cleaning and disinfecting housing thoroughly before introducing new animals.”
FAO emphasised the importance of good nutrition in animals.
“An essential way to help animals stay healthy is by ensuring they have good nutrition. Water should always be clean and animal feed should be kept dry and stored safely away from potential sources of germs, such as rodents, birds, insects or other animals,” the UN agency said.
“It is also very important that farm animals are vaccinated to prevent disease. Farmers should always consult with veterinary experts to ensure animals are protected to reduce the need for antimicrobials.
“If animals fall ill, it is vital to get the correct diagnosis and treatment. Buying and using the wrong medicine puts the health of farmers, their families and the animals at risk. “Using the wrong antimicrobials is also a waste of time and money.”
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