The cattle industry wants to know if it is contributing to the spread of so-called superbugs, antibiotic resistant bacteria that doctors consider a major threat to human health.
Ben Thorlakson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said his group wants a research project assessing the relationship between giving antibiotics to livestock and resistant bacteria found in humans.
“We share the concerns about antibiotic resistance. It’s a real area of concern.
“What we should be doing is work with the medical community in Canada and do some exploratory research looking at the presence of bacteria in feedlot environments and testing them for antibiotic resistance,” Thorlakson said.
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The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic resistance as the most important health problem in the world.
The issue arose following a recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal by University of Saskatchewan microbiologist George Khachatourians.
The article is a compilation of research about resistance and the practice of feeding antibiotics to animals and poultry as a growth promotant.
Khachatourians was not available for an interview.
Resistance is a complex problem showing up around the world, but no definitive research has made a firm connection between veterinary and human use of antibiotics.
“I don’t think any one person understands all the ways resistance happens,” said Alberta provincial veterinarian Julia Kleenliside, who works primarily with pork and poultry.
“We have an antibiotic resistance problem and it is getting worse,” said Kleenliside.
In Denmark, for example, a drug called avoparcin is used in pigs and poultry as a growth promotant.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus is a deadly bacteria that appears resistant to everything including the most powerful drug, vancomycin and avoparcin.
Researchers found there was more VRE in the gut of people, hogs and chicken where avoparcin was used, than where it wasn’t used.
However, this drug is not used in North America and VRE has appeared anyway.
“There might be more factors than avoparcin involved in VRE,” she said.
Producers and vets have to examine what products they use and determine whether some could potentially lead to resistance.
“They may have to voluntarily not use certain products,” said Kleenliside.
People should not assume antibiotics cure everything. There are some risks in using any drugs. They also need to decide that some valuable drugs used to treat humans should not be used to treat livestock or pets.
Good health regimes such as the national pork quality assurance program could also help because they raise awareness of responsible antibiotic use among producers who are committed to keeping exact records of drug use.
“People are thinking about what they are using and why they are using it,” she said.
Growing concern about resistance may result in restrictions for over-the-counter drugs, including growth promotants added to feed for young animals.
Reduced antibiotics in livestock could see a shift to heavier reliance on vaccines to maintain high health standards.
Vaccines are specific to a disease and are basically a killed bacteria. They may be a safer way to deal with a disease because they promote immunity within the animal and reduce the need for antibiotics, said Kleenliside.
Resistance threats can’t be countered by rotating antibiotics because once the resistance is established, it doesn’t disappear or weaken.
Resistance genes found in some bacteria help these organisms flourish while the others without the gene are killed by antibiotics.
