The safety of meat, milk, and eggs depends directly on the practices applied on farms. The irrational use of antimicrobials jeopardizes not only animal health but also consumer health. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is no longer a distant threat; it is now present in our food.

Meat, milk, and eggs can indeed contain resistant bacteria when antimicrobials are misused in livestock farming. To raise awareness and equip those working in the field, veterinarians, laboratory technicians, and producers met this Tuesday at ISRA-LNERV for a workshop organized as part of the Fleming Fund project and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

In Senegal, several investigations have highlighted problematic practices: lack of antibiograms, self-medication by producers, underdosing, breaches of protocols, and circulation of falsified medicines.

An antimicrobial is a molecule designed to kill or neutralize a microbe. But if administered incorrectly, it becomes ineffective and promotes the development of resistance,” explains veterinarian Assane Guèye Fall, director of the National Veterinary Research Laboratory. This resistance persists in the animal's body. It can then be found in animal products—meat, milk, eggs—consumed by the population. And the consequences are direct: resistant bacteria pass from animals to humans, making certain infections more difficult to treat.

The workshop, conducted with the support of FAO-ECTAD and funded by the British government through the Fleming Fund, had several objectives: to present the international recommendations of the OIE/WOAH, to review good prescribing and administration practices, and to promote biosecurity and prevention in livestock farming. "Improved data quality will make it possible to identify outbreaks of misuse, strengthen national surveillance, and guide public policy," he said.

In the midst of the Rift Valley crisis, a necessary reminder

 

As Senegal faces Rift Valley Fever (RVF), specialists have been keen to clarify a crucial point: "RVF is a viral disease. It is not treated with antibiotics. These are only indicated for secondary bacterial infections," insisted the president of the Council of the Order of Veterinary Doctors, Dr. El Hadj Sidy Fall.

This clarification aims to prevent inappropriate uses, which further contribute to the development of resistance. For Dr. Amadou Tidiane Niang of FAO Senegal, the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) must be a collective effort: “Antimicrobial resistance is a cross-cutting issue. With the WHO, WOAH, UNEP, and the African Union, we are working within a One Health approach linking animals, humans, and the environment.” He praised the collaboration with the Veterinary Association, essential for reaching those directly involved in the use of antimicrobials.