ALTERNATIVES
TO ANTIMICROBIAL GROWTH PROMOTERS IN POULTRY Guillermo Tellez DVM, MS, Ph.D. Department of Poultry Sciences, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR, USA
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It has been estimated that foodborne infections in the USA cause over seventy-six million illnesses responsible for five thousand
Elimination of enteric pathogens from animal products intended for human consumption has become a priority due to the increase in the number of cases of toxic infections produced and in accordance with government regulations.
In addition, the annual economic loss attributed to the four most common enteropathogens (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., E. coli and Shigella spp.) has been estimated to reach $ 7 billion dollars.
As a result, several methods to control foodborne pathogens have been implemented, including the use of antibiotics. However, there is great concern about the widespread use of antibiotics in animal production leading to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, and it also poses a potential risk to public health.
As a result, an increase in the rate and severity of In recent years, substantial scientific evidence has shown that the use of certain antibiotics increases enteric colonization of antibiotic-
these infections in food-producing animals as well as in humans has been reported in many countries around the world.
resistant strains of enteric pathogens in domestic
Antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of multi
animals.
drug resistant bacteria.
45 aviNews International May 2020 | Alternatives to Antimicrobial Growth Promoters in Poultry
nutrition
fatalities each year.