The occurrence and spread of ARB due to high demand in poultry industries are of great public health concern. The widespread emergence of antibiotic resistance, particularly MDR among bacterial pathogens, poses challenges in clinical treatment.

The prevalence and persistent outbreaks of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella in low-income countries have received growing attention among the public and scientific community. Notably, the excessive use of antibiotics in chicken feed for the purpose of treatment or as prophylaxis in the poultry industry have led to a rising rate of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the presence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella species and its mobile genetic elements from soil and effluent samples of 33 randomly selected poultry farms in Selangor, Malaysia. Salmonella species were isolated on selective media (CHROMagar™ Salmonella). VITEK^® 2 system was used to identify the isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility. Subsequently, eight isolates were subjected to the whole genome sequencing (WGS). Based on the results, Salmonella spp. was detected in 38.1% (24/63) of samples, with the highest resistance to ampicillin (62.5%), followed by ampicillin/sulbactam (50.0%) and ciprofloxacin (45.8%). Meanwhile, the identified serovars were Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Weltevreden (S. Weltevreden), S. Jedburgh, and S. Brancaster. The most prevalent resistance genes detected include qnrS1, bla_TEM-176, dfrA14, and tet(A). The IncX1 plasmid, with encoded resistance genes, was also detected in four isolates. Furthermore, mutations in the quinolone resistant-determining regions (QRDR) were discovered, specifically in the gyrA, gyrB, and parC genes. In short, surveillance such as continuous monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and emerging trends in resistance patterns through farm environmental samples could provide information to formulate public health interventions for effective infection prevention and disease control.

Background/Objectives: The increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global public health urgently needs attention. Misuse of antimicrobials in sectors such as dairy farming has led to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria and genes. This study investigated AMR patterns and profiles of Escherichia coli (E. coli) from various sources, including soil, effluent, cow dung, and milk. Methods: A total of 192 samples were collected, comprising environmental samples (soil and effluent), cow dung samples, and milk samples from eight dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia. The spread plate method was employed to isolate E. coli, and all the isolates were subjected to Gram staining to identify Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria. The Vitek^® 2 system was used for E. coli identification and susceptibility testing. Results: The prevalence of E. coli identified in the eight farms was 66.1%. A total of 360 E. coli isolates were successfully isolated, and 19.7% of the isolates presented AMR with ampicillin exhibiting the highest resistance (18.3%), followed by trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (8.9%). Additionally, 8.9% of them were multidrug resistant, which could be divided into 16 patterns. For the extended spectrum beta-lactamase screening, nine isolates were positive. Conclusions: This finding emphasizes the rise in resistant isolates in the growing dairy industry and underscores the urgency of addressing the potential reservoir of AMR. Therefore, essential measures such as continuous surveillance and effective antimicrobial stewardship programs are crucial for regulating veterinary antimicrobial use. Research on the mechanisms driving the development and dissemination of AMR is imperative for addressing One Health concerns.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) enterococci pose significant public health challenges. However, the extent of resistance in the environment is less explored. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance in a poultry farm environment. Eighty enterococcal isolates recovered from the soil and effluent water of 28 poultry farms in Selangor state were included in the study for further bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing using a VITEK 2 system. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27. The resistance rate and MDR of enterococcal isolates were reported. Out of 80 isolates recovered, 72 (90%) exhibited resistance to at least one antibiotic, with 50 isolates (62.5%) being found to be MDR. All linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) exhibit MDR, which constituted 40% of resistance among all the isolates recovered from poultry environment. Since linezolid is listed as critically important antibiotics for clinical use by the World Health Organization (WHO), the higher resistance towards it and other critically important antibiotic for human use is a serious concern. Hence, relevant agencies need to investigate the use of clinically important antimicrobials in poultry farms paying special attention towards linezolid or any other antibiotics that can facilitate the development of LRE.

Contamination of water systems with endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is becoming a major public health concern due to their toxicity and ubiquity. The intrusion of EDCs into water sources and drinking water has been associated with various adverse health effects on humans. However, there is no comprehensive overview of the occurrence of EDCs in Malaysia's water systems. This report aims to describe the occurrence of EDCs and their locations. Literature search was conducted electronically in two databases (PubMed and Scopus). A total of 41 peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and May 2021 were selected. Most of the articles dealt with pharmaceuticals (16), followed by pesticides (7), hormones (7), mixed compounds (7), and plasticisers (4). Most studies (40/41) were conducted in Peninsular Malaysia, with 60.9% in the central region and almost half (48.8%) in the Selangor State. Only one study was conducted in the northern region and East Malaysia. The Langat River, the Klang River, and the Selangor River were among the most frequently studied EDC-contaminated surface waters, while the Pahang River and the Skudai River had the highest concentrations of some of the listed compounds. Most of the risk assessments resulted in a hazard quotient (HQ) and a risk quotient (RQ) < 1, indicating negligible health risk, except for ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone, which had a potential human health risk (HQ_HH) > 1 in the Selangor River. An RQ > 1 for combined pharmaceuticals was found in Putrajaya tap water. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of EDCs in Malaysia's water systems. The findings from this review can be used to mitigate risks and strengthen legislation and policies for safer drinking water.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant “One Health” challenge in the farming industry attributed to antimicrobial misuse and overuse, affecting the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Recognizing the crucial role of the environment in facilitating the transmission of AMR is imperative for addressing this global health issue. Despite its urgency, there remains a notable gap in understanding resistance levels in the environment. This scoping review aims to consolidate and summarize available evidence of AMR prevalence and resistance genes in dairy farm settings. This study was conducted following the PRISMA Extension checklist to retrieve relevant studies conducted in Asian countries between 2013 and 2023. An electronic literature search involving PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Scopus resulted in a total of 1126 unique articles that were identified. After a full-text eligibility assessment, 39 studies were included in this review. The findings indicate that AMR studies in dairy farm environments have primarily focused on selective bacteria, especially Escherichia coli and other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., and Salmonella spp. Antimicrobial resistance patterns were reported across 24 studies involving 78 antimicrobials, which predominantly consisted of gentamicin (70.8%), ampicillin (58.3%), and tetracycline (58.3%). This review emphasizes the current state of AMR in the environmental aspects of dairy farms across Asia, highlighting significant gaps in regional coverage and bacterial species studied. It highlights the need for broader surveillance, integration with antimicrobial stewardship, and cross-sector collaboration to address AMR through a One Health approach.