Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Al Koura, PO Box 100, Tripoli, Lebanon.
Nutrition Program, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, PO Box 13-5053, Chouran 1102 2901, Lebanon.
J Dairy Sci. 2022 Feb;105(2):1519-1532. doi: 10.3168/jds.2021-20951. Epub 2022 Jan 5.
In lower- and middle-income countries, uncontrolled use of antibiotics is causing antimicrobial resistance, affecting both animal welfare and public health. Meanwhile, studies on antibiotic use in these countries are limited. A crucial step to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is to examine the use of these drugs and identify its determinants. The aim of our study, the first of its kind in Lebanon, was to assess dairy farmers' knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR. For this, 18 farmers from different regions, educational backgrounds, experience levels, and herd sizes were interviewed. Results showed that owners of larger farms were more aware of AMU and AMR, and trying to implement preventive actions, whereas nonsystematic antimicrobial use was prevalent among the smaller farms. Mastitis and laminitis were the most treated diseases, and antibiotics used were oxytetracycline, penicillin, streptomycin, and florfenicol. Overall, antibiotic use was found as a preventive measure and a treatment of nonbacterial diseases. Irregular uses were linked to easy access of farmers to antibiotics, interrupted relations with veterinary authorities, and lack of self-assessment and inspection. Lebanese dairy farmers and owners reported feeling disadvantaged in their local trade field, facing illegal competition and unauthorized farms and industries, and lacking support from the government. Training and awareness programs must be implemented, and policies and regulations must be set, to reduce antibiotic use and hinder the spread of AMR in Lebanon.
在中低收入国家，抗生素的滥用导致了抗微生物药物耐药性的出现，这不仅影响动物福利，也对公共卫生造成威胁。同时，这些国家对抗生素使用的研究也很有限。限制抗微生物药物耐药性（AMR）传播的关键步骤是检查这些药物的使用情况并确定其决定因素。我们的研究旨在评估黎巴嫩奶农对抗生素使用（AMU）和 AMR 的了解和认识，这在该国尚属首次。为此，我们对来自不同地区、教育背景、经验水平和畜群规模的 18 名奶农进行了访谈。结果表明，拥有大型农场的所有者对抗生素使用和 AMR 的认识更为深刻，并试图采取预防措施，而小型农场则普遍存在非系统性抗生素使用的情况。乳腺炎和蹄叶炎是最常治疗的疾病，使用的抗生素有土霉素、青霉素、链霉素和氟苯尼考。总的来说，抗生素的使用被视为预防措施和非细菌性疾病的治疗手段。不规则使用与农民容易获得抗生素、与兽医当局的关系中断以及缺乏自我评估和检查有关。黎巴嫩奶农和所有者表示，他们在当地贸易领域处于不利地位，面临非法竞争和未经授权的农场和工业，并且缺乏政府的支持。必须实施培训和提高认识计划，并制定政策和法规，以减少抗生素的使用并阻止 AMR 在黎巴嫩的传播。
