AMR due to mastitis in livestock & poultry feeding practices
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to mastitis in livestock and poultry feeding practices is a growing public health concern. Mastitis, a common bacterial infection in dairy cows, is often treated with antibiotics, and when overused or misused, this leads to the development of resistant bacteria. In poultry and livestock farming, antibiotics are also added to feed for growth promotion and disease prevention, resulting in prolonged low-dose exposure that fosters resistance. Resistant bacteria can be transmitted directly to humans through contaminated animal products or through environmental pathways like soil and water contamination. Horizontal gene transfer further spreads resistance, making infections harder to treat over time. To combat AMR, improved hygiene, biosecurity, vaccination, and antibiotic stewardship are essential, along with exploring alternative feed additives like probiotics, prebiotics and plant-based compounds. These sustainable approaches aim to reduce the reliance on antibiotics, protecting both animal and human health from the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant infections. Regular monitoring and diagnostics ensure precise treatment, and education programs raise awareness about AMR risks. Regulatory policies enforcing responsible antibiotic use in agriculture are also crucial for long-term AMR control.
How to combat AMR
- Detection of resistance pathogen at field level.
- Decontamination of savage water from livestock and poultry farm.
- Environmental surveillance for the presence of resistance genes.
What Acrovet Animal Health is doing?
- Easy applicable device for AMR diagnosis
Typically, a doctor diagnoses the patient and prescribes medication. The patient takes the medicine for a few days but often realizes it's ineffective, leading to a return visit. Diagnosing antibiotic resistance through blood or urine tests can take time, delaying proper treatment. Our goal is to shorten this diagnosis time and ensure patients receive the correct antibiotics early, helping to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance. (AMR).
Figure: A prototype of antimicrobial resistance sensing device.
- In-line water decontamination system
The growing demand for a reliable supply of high-quality, safe, and clean drinking water has driven significant advancements in water treatment technologies, making it a central environmental science focus. Water contamination is often associated with numerous toxic substances, pollutants, and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, which pose serious health risks. Prolonged exposure to such contaminated water can lead to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance, creating a major public health concern.
Among the various water treatment methods, the use of nanohybrid microbots as a bioremediation strategy has gained significant attention. These microbots offer advantages due to their stability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Nanohybrid microbots not only capture and remove harmful contaminants but also actively target and degrade antimicrobial-resistant bacteria present in the water, making them a promising solution for addressing water pollution and improving water safety.
Figure: A prototype of water decontamination system to prevent the spread of AMR.