Cuong, N. V. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Reducing antimicrobial usage in small-scale chicken farms in Vietnam: A three-year intervention study

Indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) in animal production is a driver of antimicrobial resistance globally, with a need to define sustainable AMU-reducing interventions in small-scale farms typical of low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a before-and-after intervention study on a random sample of small-scale chicken farms in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta from 2016 to 2019. A baseline was established before providing farms (n=102) with veterinary advice on chicken health and husbandry, and antimicrobial replacement products. Thirty-five (34.2%) farms entered the intervention phase; the remainder no longer continued raising chickens. The intervention reduced AMU (-66%) (hazard ratio [HR]=0.34; p=0.002) (baseline 343.4 Animal Daily Doses per 1,000 chicken-days) and mortality (-40%) (HR=0.60; p=0.005) (weekly baseline 1.60 per 100). Chicken bodyweight increased by 100g (p=0.002) in intervention flocks. Our findings demonstrate that in the Vietnamese context, AMU can be substantially reduced in small-scale chicken farms without compromising flock health by providing veterinary advice.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Characterisation of gastrointestinal helminths and their impact in commercial small-scale chicken flocks in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Commercial small-scale chicken farms using all-in-all-out production but operating with low standards of hygiene/biosecurity are increasingly common in Vietnam. These conditions facilitate transmission of gastrointestinal helminths. However there are no published data on these parasites in these systems. The aims were: (1) to determine the prevalence/burden of gastrointestinal helminths in small-scale commercial flocks in commercial small-scale flocks in the Mekong Delta region; and (2) to investigate the association between worm burdens and birds weight and disease status. Randomly selected chickens (n=120) ( normal flocks) were investigated at the end of their production cycle ([~]18 weeks), as well as 90 chickens with signs of respiratory and/or severe disease. The gastrointestinal tract of chickens was dissected and all visible helminths were identified. 54.2% and 54.4% healthy and diseased chickens contained helminths. Diseased, colonized chickens harboured a higher mass of helminth worms (3.8 {+/-}SD 8.6g) than colonized, healthy chickens (1.9 {+/-}6.3g). Eight species were identified, three nematodes (Ascaridia galli, Cheilospirura hamulosa and Heterakis gallinarum), four cestodes (Hymenolepis, Raillietina cesticillus, Raillietina echinobothrida, Raillietina tetragona,) and one trematode (Echinostomatidae). Heterakis gallinarum was the most prevalent helminth (43.3% and 42.2% in healthy and sick chickens, respectively), followed by A. galli (26.7% and 41.1%). Colonized chickens weighed 101.5g less than non-colonized birds. Colonisation was significantly higher during the rainy months (May-November) for both H. gallinarum and A. galli. Anthelminthic usage was not associated with reduced helminth burdens. We recommend upgrading cleaning and disinfection and limiting access to ranging areas to control helminth infections in small-scale commercial chicken flocks.

systems biology↗