Antibiotic-free broiler meat production is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to consumer perception that it is superior to conventional broiler meat. Globally, broiler farming impacts the income generation of low-income households, helping to alleviate poverty and secure food in the countryside and in semi-municipal societies. For decades, antibiotics have been utilized in the poultry industry to prevent and treat diseases and promote growth. This practice contributes to the development of drug-resistant bacteria in livestock, including poultry, and humans through the food chain, posing a global public health threat. Additionally, consumer demand for antibiotic-free broiler meat is increasing. However, there are many challenges that need to be overcome by adopting suitable strategies to produce antibiotic-free broiler meat with regards to food safety and chicken welfare issues. Herein, we focus on the importance and current scenario of antibiotic use, prospects, and challenges in the production of sustainable antibiotic-free broiler meat, emphasizing broiler farming in the context of Bangladesh. Moreover, we also discuss the need for and challenges of antibiotic alternatives and provide a future outlook for antibiotic-free broiler meat production.

Virulent and multi drug resistant (MDR) Salmonellaenterica is a foremost cause of foodborne diseases and had serious public health concern globally. The present study was undertaken to identify the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Salmonellaenterica serovars recovered from chicken at wet markets in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 870 cecal contents of broiler, sonali, and native chickens were collected from 29 wet markets. The overall prevalence of S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, and untyped Salmonella spp., were found to be 3.67%, 0.57%, and 1.95% respectively. All isolates were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for eight virulence genes, namely invA, agfA, IpfA, hilA, sivH, sefA, sopE, and spvC. S. Enteritidis isolates carried all virulence genes whilst S. Typhimurium isolates carried six virulence genes except sefA and spvC. A diverse phenotypic and genotypic AMR pattern was found. Harmonic descending trends of resistance patterns were observed among the broiler, sonali, and native chickens. Interestingly, virulent and MDR Salmonella enterica serovars were found in native chicken, although antimicrobials were not used in their production cycle. The research findings anticipate that virulent and MDR Salmonella enterica are roaming in the wet markets which can easily anchor to the vendor, consumers, and in the food chain.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella provides an exemplar for the One Health approach as it encompasses public and animal health, food safety, and environmental considerations. The contribution of environmental aspects is currently less well-defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the carriage occurrence of non-typhoidal Salmonella in migratory birds in Bangladesh and assess the potential significance to public and animal health. Cloacal swabs (N = 453) were collected in the years 2018–2020 from Tanguar and Hakaluki Haors, important wetland ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh. The prevalence of Salmonella was 13.5% (61 positive swabs). Classical serotyping identified six serovars: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars Perth, Kentucky, Albany, Infantis, Weltevreden, and Brancaster. Resistance towards 14 antimicrobials was assessed by broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration determination and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genotype established by whole-genome sequencing. S. Perth and S. Weltevreden isolates were susceptible and harbored no acquired AMR genes. Isolates from the remaining serovars were multidrug resistant, commonly possessing resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. Salmonella resistant to ciprofloxacin meets WHO criteria for priority pathogens. There was excellent concordance between resistance phenotype and the presence of corresponding AMR genes, many of which reside on Salmonella Genomic Islands. High-level ciprofloxacin resistance correlated with the presence of mutations in the chromosomal gyrB and/or parC genes. The S. Kentucky isolates were ST198, a widely distributed multidrug-resistant lineage reported in humans and animals, and constituting an ongoing risk to public health worldwide. We have demonstrated that multidrug-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella of public health significance can be recovered from migratory birds. A potential for risk can manifest through direct interaction, transmission to food-producing livestock on farms, and dissemination via the long range migratory movements of birds. Risks can be mitigated by measures including continued surveillance and implementation of good farm biosecurity practices.

Fasciolosis is an economically important parasitic disease of cattle in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle and identifying the potential risk factors associated with the disease. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from November 2012 to October 2013 on bovine fasciolosis in and around Shahjadpur upazila of Bangladesh. For this, a total of 762 fecal samples were collected from crossed breed cattle and all samples were subjected to standard sedimentation test at Animal Health Laboratory of BLRI regional station, Shahjadpur, Bangladesh. The overall prevalence of bovine fasciolosis was found to be 66.14% from 504 positive samples. From the various risk factor analysed, age categories of cattle, sex and seasonal influence were found to be significantly associated (p<0.01) with the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis. When considered the relationship with sex, it was observed that female (70.3%) cattle had significantly (p<0.01) higher than male (55.23%). As regards to age, bovine fasciolosis was significantly (p<0.01) higher in old cattle (76.43%) compared to adult (68.69%) and young (48.62%). The seasonal influence of outbreak of this disease was significantly (p<0.01) higher in summer season (72.44%) followed by winter (67.75%) and rainy season (58.55%). It can be concluded that these risk factors need to be taken in consideration when designing effective fasciolosis control management system for cattle in Bangladesh.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19, the current global health emergency, is wreaking havoc on human health systems and, to a lesser degree, on animals globally. The outbreak has continued since the first report of COVID-19 in China in December 2019, and the second and third waves of the outbreak have already begun in several countries. COVID-19 is expected to have adverse effects on crop production, food security, integrated pest control, tourism, the car industry, and other sectors of the global economy. COVID-19 induces a range of effects in livestock that is reflected economically since human health and livelihood are intertwined with animal health. We summarize the potentially harmful effects of COVID-19 on livestock and possible mitigation steps in response to this global outbreak. Mitigation of the negative effects of COVID-19 and future pandemics on livestock requires the implementation of current guidelines.

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to test the impact of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of summer tomato. The experiment consisted of two tomato varieties viz. BARI Hybrid Tomato-4 and BARI Hybrid Tomato-8 and four types of plant growth regulator (PGR)viz.,(i) control (without PGR), (ii) 4-CPA (4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid), GA3 (gibberellic acid) and 4-CPA +GA3. The two-factor experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the experiment revealed that significant variations were observed for most of the characters studied. At 75 DAT, the tallest plant (79.35 cm), number of flowers and fruits (38.11 and 19.04, respectively) plant-1, individual weight (58.44 g) and fruit yield (22.75 t ha-1) were found in BARI Hybrid Tomato-8.At 75 DAT the maximum plant height (87.90 cm), number of flowers and fruits (49.04 and 21.9, respectively) plant-1, individual fruit weight (61.16 g), and fruit yield (27.28 tha-1) were found when 4-CPA + GA3 applied together, whereas the minimum for these characters were recorded from control plants. In case of combined effect of variety and plant growth regulator, the maximum plant height (87.90 cm), number of flowers and fruits (49.04 and 21.91, respectively) plant-1, individual fruit weight (61.16 g) and fruit yield (27.28 t ha-1) were observed in BARI Hybrid Tomato-8 when treated with 4-CPA + GA3together, and the minimum for all these parameters were found in control plants. The results of the present study suggest thatboth 4-CAP and GA3together can be practiced for increasing summer tomato production for both the varieties.Progressive Agriculture 26:32-37, 2015