Peste des Petits Ruminants in Central and Eastern Asia/West Eurasia: Epidemiological Situation and Status of Control and Eradication Activities after the First Phase of the PPR Global Eradication Programme (2017-2021).

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious infectious disease of small ruminants caused by peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). PPR poses a significant threat to sheep and goat systems in over 65 endemic countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It is also responsible for devastating outbreaks in susceptible wildlife, threatening biodiversity. For these reasons, PPR is the target of the Global Eradication Programme (PPR GEP), launched in 2016, which is aimed at eradicating the disease by 2030. The end of the first five-year phase of the PPR GEP (2017-2021) provides an ideal opportunity to assess the status of the stepwise control and eradication process. This review analyses 13 countries belonging to Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia, and Central and East Asia. Substantial heterogeneity is apparent in terms of PPR presence and control strategies implemented by different countries. Within this region, one country is officially recognised as PPR-free, seven countries have never reported PPR, and two have had no outbreaks in the last five years. Therefore, there is real potential for countries in this region to move forward in a coordinated manner to secure official PPR freedom status and thus reap the trade and socioeconomic benefits of PPR eradication.

Associations between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter under field conditions in Cameroon.

Lack of hygiene and biosecurity measures in poultry farms has influence on the emergence of pathogens and antimicrobial use. Antimicrobial residues in poultry meat and their excretion by poultry can exert a selective pressure and the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in litter. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance using Escherichia coli as indicator isolated from poultry litter. From January to August, 2019, antimicrobial use was measured in 47 broiler farms based on daily dose (TIUDD) and animal daily dose (TIADD) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter using the disk diffusion method. Overall, an average of 143.8 mg (ranging from 0.5 to 2061.79 mg/kg) of antimicrobials was used per kg of chicken produced, and treatment incidences of 69.7 daily doses per 1,000 broilers (44.44-106.35) and 87.3 daily doses per 1,000 broilers (1.74-376.43) were obtained for TIUDD and TIADD, respectively. After a susceptibility testing, 18 E. coli strains were resistant with a prevalence of 56.3% [95% CI: 39.1-73.5]. High levels of resistance were observed with doxycycline, ampicillin and norfloxacin which were observed to be mostly overdosed in farms. The high resistance of E. coli to ciprofloxacin (4/32: 13%), imipenem (6/32: 19%), levofloxacin (12/32: 38%) and ceftriaxone (22/32: 69%) which are second line treatment in hospital settings in Cameroon, and classified as Watch group by WHO, was associated to high AMR risk for public health in Cameroon. Intensification of health and educational sensitisation of farmers is essential to reduce widespread antimicrobial use in poultry farms and its impact public health.

Poultry Litter Contamination by Escherichia coli Resistant to Critically Important Antimicrobials for Human and Animal Use and Risk for Public Health in Cameroon.

Residues of antimicrobials used in farm can exert selective pressure and accelerate the occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria in litter. This study aimed to investigate the resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry litter. A total of 101 E. coli strains was isolated from 229 litter samples collected and stored for two months in the laboratory at room temperature. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. An overall resistance prevalence of 58.4% (95% CI: 48.8-68.0) was obtained with 59 E. coli strains resistant to various antimicrobial agents. High levels of resistance were observed with ciprofloxacin (21/59: 36%), imipenem (27/59: 45%), norfloxacin (44/59: 74%), ceftriaxone (44/59: 74%), and levofloxacin (44/59: 75%). These antimicrobials classified under the Watch group by WHO are indicators of the high AMR risk to public health in Cameroon. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a greater probability of high level of E. coli multidrug resistance was associated with lack of training in poultry farming (OR = 0.13, p = 0.01), less experience in poultry farming (OR = 11.66 p = 0.04), and the high frequency of digestive tract disease (OR = 0.10; p = 0.001). This study revealed that poultry litter constitutes a potential source of dissemination of resistant germs from farm animals to the environment and humans.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk perception of rural poultry farmers in Cameroon to antimicrobial use and resistance.

There is wide use of antimicrobial products in rural poultry farms in most sub-Sahara African countries. However, little is known of the factors that motivate rural poultry farmers towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and their level of awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This cross sectional survey was conducted to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, perception of poultry farmers in Cameroon about AMU and risk of AMR (KAPP) (n = 358). The data collection was conducted using questionnaires administered through face-to-face interview and the responses were recoded into binary scale. The sum of sufficient responses provided by each participant divided by the total number of items within the category gave a percentage of correct answers. One-way ANOVA was used to assess significant differences of mean KAPP scores across regions. Pearson correlations were used to calculate the association between KAPP scores across and within regions, while the linear regression was done to explore the relationship between demographics and farmer's dynamic characteristics. Overall, surveyed poultry farmers showed low mean score knowledge of AMU (0.30 ±â€¯0.24) and AMR (0.26 ±â€¯0.22), desirable attitude (0.29 ±â€¯0.29), appropriate practice (0.58 ±â€¯0.18) towards AMU and positive risk perception of AMR (0.37 ±â€¯0.21). Digestive tract infections and chronic respiratory diseases were the most common reasons for antimicrobial use and for preventive purposes. Gender, experience in poultry farming and stocking density were negatively associated with practice of antimicrobial use. Inappropriate combination of antimicrobials with diuretics or tetracyclines and minerals for treatment purposes were frequently observed. The findings revealed strong positive association between educational level and KAPP score and between biosecurity measures and AMU and risk perception of AMR. Thus, continuous education of rural poultry farmers on husbandry norms, drug use and microbial resistance in animal farms will enhance their knowledge and risk perception on AMU as well as enable them adopt suitable attitude and practices to control animal and human health hazards due to AMR.