[STORY 2] INTERACTIVE: Rising antibiotic resistance detected in livestock bacteria

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: Bacteria found in Malaysia’s livestock are showing increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics, including those considered critical for human health, according to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).

Surveillance data in 2024 show that Salmonella and E. coli bacteria found in poultry, pigs, and dairy cattle remain highly resistant to several commonly used antibiotics, including ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline.

The department expressed concern over the growing resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, including cefotaxime and ceftiofur, which the World Health Organization (WHO) lists as critically important antimicrobials (CIAs) for human use.

“From 2022 to 2024, we observed an increase in resistance to cefotaxime and ceftiofur, which are the third generation of cephalosporins, in Salmonella spp. isolated from broilers, pigs and dairy cattle.

“These trends are worrying because these antibiotics are often used for treating serious infections in humans like sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis,” DVS said. 

E. coli isolates showed higher resistance to the third-generation cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftiofur in poultry and pigs compared to Salmonella.

Among poultry, E. coli from broilers recorded the highest resistance levels, at 26% for cefotaxime and 18% for ceftiofur. 

In layer chickens, resistance was lower, at 10% and 8% respectively.

For Salmonella, isolates from pigs showed the highest resistance, with 8% for both cefotaxime and ceftiofur. 

In poultry, Salmonella from broilers recorded 3% resistance to cefotaxime, while those from layers showed 3% resistance to ceftiofur.

The department added that the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals poses a risk to humans, as these microbes can spread through the food chain via contaminated meat or animal products such as eggs and milk during slaughter and processing.

“They can also enter the environment when animals shed the bacteria or their resistance genes through manure and waste,” DVS said.

Once inside the human body, these bacteria or their resistance genes can persist in the gut and make it harder for human to treat infections.

In 2024, E. coli isolates from pigs recorded resistance of 97% to ampicillin, 97% to tetracycline, and 91% to chloramphenicol, while those from broiler chickens showed similar high resistance — 93% to ampicillin and 91% to tetracycline.

Salmonella isolates also showed persistent resistance.

Pigs recorded 92% resistance to ampicillin and 84% to tetracycline, while broiler chicken were at 84% and 82% respectively.

Take a look at the tables below for the resistance rates of Salmonella spp. and E. coli isolated from livestock against various antibiotics.

Resistance to quinolones has also been detected, with E. coli from broilers showing 58% resistance to enrofloxacin in 2024.

Quinolones is another class of drugs vital for human medicine, to treat serious bacterial infection in human including respiratory and urinary tract infection.

The department said it is actively monitoring the antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals through the Malaysian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (MyAP-AMR).

Through the surveillance programme, DVS found no significant difference in resistance rates across the country.

“This indicates the issue is consistent nationwide and our surveillance efforts will continue to track changes over time to ensure early detection of any emerging concerns,” DVS said.

In 2024 alone, DVS isolated 276 Salmonella spp. and 1,104 E. coli samples from farms, slaughterhouses and processing plants.

The department said the rise in AMR among livestock is largely driven by the improper use of antibiotics including administering the wrong dosage, administering the wrong dosage, extending treatment beyond recommended periods, or using unsuitable types of antibiotics that do not align with established regulations and guidelines.

“High usage of antibiotics for preventive (prophylatic) and growth promoter purposes, and poor farm biosecurity also contributes to the issue,” it said.

The department also raised concern over the ease of obtaining antibiotics without prescriptions, including through online platforms, which has enabled uncontrolled and excessive use in the livestock sector.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

INTERACTIVE: Early warning signs of a landslide – here is what you need to look out for

Image
By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI     PETALING JAYA:   Cracks in walls or floors, blocked drains, and tilting utility poles or fences – these are among the early warning signs of a landslide that people living near slopes need to watch out for, said the Mineral and Geoscience Department.   The department’s director-general Datuk Zamri Ramli said other warning signs to look out for are water seeping from slopes, pooling water at the base of slopes, and visible cracks along their surface.   “Residents living near slopes should remain vigilant for these early warning signs of landslides, particularly during heavy downpours,” Zamri told The Star.   Parts of the country are currently experiencing heavy rain during the current northeast monsoon, raising the risk of landslides especially at high-risk slopes.   Critical slopes identified nationwide     Zamri said 254 critical slopes we...
Read more

INTERACTIVE: EV boom highlights charging bay shortage

Image
By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: A surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales is outpacing the growth in the number of charging stations being built. Malaysia’s vehicle-to-charger ratio currently stands at 13 EVs per charger nationwide, an increase of 18% compared to 11 a year ago. As of June 30, figures from the Malaysia Electric Vehicle Charging Network (MEVnet) dashboard show that there were 4,161 public EV charging bays across 1,374 locations nationwide. This is a 61% increase from The Star’s previous analysis in July 2024 when 2,585 bays were installed. Despite the increasing number of charging stations being built, EV registrations have been rising at an even faster pace. There are currently 52,418 EVs on the roads as of June 30 this year, with a sharp increase recorded since January. The first six months of this year saw 17,143 electrical vehicles registered, a 60.8% year-on-year jump from 10,663 units in ...
Read more

INTERACTIVE: A once-in-33-year Raya phenomenon

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI   PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will experience a rare convergence of three major festivals eight years from now. In 2033, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year and Christmas will fall close to each other, creating a joyful overlap of celebrations. This phenomenon occurs because Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated twice in 2033 – first in early January and again in December. The first Aidilfitri of 2033 will coincidentally fall in the same month as Chinese New Year (Jan 31). The second Aidilfitri of that year will occur close to Christmas (Dec 25). Aidilfitri will happen twice in 2033 due to the Islamic lunar-based calendar being approximately 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar-based Gregorian calendar. Over time, this difference results in Islamic celebrations shifting earlier each year. Once every 33 years, this shift aligns in such a way that Muslims observe two Aidilfitri celebrations within the same Gregoria...
Read more