Foods that contain antibiotic residues have potential adverse health effects on consumers and provide selective pressure for the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study’s objective was to measure tetracycline, sulfonamide, and erythromycin residues in beef, eggs, and honey sold as “antibiotic-free” at farmers’ markets in East Tennessee (East TN) in the United States (U.S.). Between July and September 2020, 36 “antibiotic-free” food products (9 beef, 18 egg, and 9 honey products) were purchased from East TN farmers’ markets and tested for tetracycline, sulfonamide, and erythromycin residues using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (cELISA). All beef, egg, and honey products had tetracycline residue; the median concentrations were 51.75, 30.25, and 77.86 µg/kg, respectively. Sulfonamide residue was present in every sample of beef. Of 18 eggs, 11 eggs had detectable sulfonamide residue; the median concentrations were 3.50 and 1.22 µg/kg in beef and eggs, respectively. Each sample of beef and honey contained erythromycin residue; the median concentrations were 3.67 and 0.68 µg/kg, respectively. Overall, the median concentrations of tetracycline, sulfonamide, and erythromycin residues were below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) set in the U.S. for beef and eggs. Thus, the beef and eggs sold as “antibiotic-free” in East TN farmers’ markets can be considered safe for consumption. Safety determination for honey could not be made because MRLs have not been set for honey in the U.S. Because these residues should not be expected in “antibiotic-free” food products, it is important to further investigate the potential sources of these residues in these products.

In Bangladesh nomadic duck flocks are groups of domestic ducks reared for egg production that are moved to access feeding sites beyond their owners’ village boundaries and are housed overnight in portable enclosures in scavenging areas. The objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of influenza A virus RNA and H5-specific antibodies in nomadic ducks and to characterize nomadic duck raising practices in northeastern Bangladesh. We tested duck egg yolk specimens by competitive ELISA to detect antibodies against avian influenza A (H5) and environmental fecal samples by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) to detect influenza A virus RNA and H5 subtype. The median age of the ducks was 24 months (range: 8-36 months) and the median flock size was 300 ducks (range: 105-1,100). Of 1,860 egg yolk samples, 556 (30%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 28-32) were positive for antibodies against H5 and 58 flocks (94%) had at least one egg with H5 specific antibodies. Of 496 fecal samples, 121 (24%, 95% CI: 22-29) had detectable influenza A RNA. Thirty-three flocks (53%) had at least one fecal sample positive for influenza A RNA. Nomadic ducks in Bangladesh are commonly infected with avian influenza A (H5) virus and may serve as a bridging host for transmission of avian influenza A (H5) virus or other avian influenza A viruses subtypes between wild waterfowl, backyard poultry, and humans in Bangladesh.

In a group of 22 healthy pigs aged between 4 and 6 months, 2 pigs became ill with high fever, complete anorexia, cough and abnormal swaying movements on 22 June 2015. One of them died on June 24 and the second died on July 3. Shortly after, the remaining pigs also fell ill and died from the same illness by 10 August 2015. We investigated the aetiology, epidemiological and clinical features of the outbreak. We recorded the clinical signs and symptoms for each pig with the date of onset of illness. Veterinarians conductedpost‐mortemexaminations on the 12 dead pigs, they collected tissue samples from the dead pigs and placed them in a tube containing 1 mL of nucleic acid extraction buffer (lysis buffer). We tested all the tissue samples by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT‐PCR) to detect classical swine fever virus (CSFV) because the animals’ symptoms matched those of this disease. We also conducted a phylogentic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the E2 gene segment ofCSFVdetected in a lung tissue sample. The attack rate (22/22) and the case fatality were 100%. The predominant symptoms of the disease included high fever, cough, diarrhoea and swaying movements of the hind legs prior to death. Of the 12 pigs tissue samples tested, all had evidence of the presence ofCSFV RNAbyrRT‐PCR. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the virus belongs to genotype 2.2, which is closely related toCSFVgenotype 2.2 reported in India. Our investigation suggests thatCSFis circulating in pigs, posing a risk for communities in Bangladesh that rely on pigs for economic income and dietary protein. Future research could focus on estimating the disease and economic burden ofCSFVin pig rearing areas to determine if interventions might be warranted or cost‐effective.

The presence of antibiotic residues in the tissue of food animals is a growing concern due to the adverse health effects that they can cause in humans, such as antibiotic resistance bacteria. An inspector-generated sampling (IGS) dataset from the United States National Residue Surveillance Program, collected between 2014 and 2019, was analyzed to investigate the association of changes in the veterinary feed directive (VFD) regulations on the detection of violative penicillin, tetracycline, sulfonamide, desfuroylceftiofur, tilmicosin, and florfenicol, residues in the tissue of food animals. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis. While the animal production class was significantly associated with residue violations for tetracycline, having a sample collection date after the implementation of change in VFD regulations was not. However, the odds of detecting violative sulfonamide and penicillin residues in the tissue of food animals following the implementation of the change in VFD regulations were 36% and 24% lower than those collected before the implementation of the change in VFD regulations period, respectively, irrespective of animal production class. Violative desfuroylceftiofur, tilmicosin, and florfenicol residues in the tissue of food animals were not significantly associated with the implementation of changes in the VFD regulations. Further investigation of the factors that influence the presence of violative antibiotic residues in the tissue of food animals following the change in VFD regulations would lend clarity to this critical issue.

Background: Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are a growing public health threat. In 2017 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration implemented Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules changes to limit medically important antimicrobial use in food-producing animals, combating antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The effect of the VFD rule changes on the occurrence of bacteria resistant to medically-important antimicrobials in retail meats is yet to be investigated in the U.S. This study investigates whether the VFD rule changes affected the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant and erythromycin-resistant bacteria (Salmonella, Escherichia, and Campylobacter) in retail meats in the U.S. Methods: Multivariable mixed effect logistic regression models were used to analyze 2002–2019 retail meats surveillance data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) in the U.S. Variables included VFD rule changes, meat type, quarter of year, and raising claims. A potential association between these variables and the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant and erythromycin-resistant bacteria (Salmonella, Escherichia, and Campylobacter) in retail meats was estimated. Results: Analysis included data regarding tetracycline-resistant Salmonella (n = 8,501), Escherichia (n = 20, 283), Campylobacter (n = 9,682), and erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter (n = 10,446) in retail meats. The odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Escherichia (OR = 0.60), Campylobacter (OR = 0.89), and erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter (OR = 0.43) in chicken breast significantly decreased after the VFD rule changes, compared to the pre-VFD rule change period. The odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Salmonella (0.66), Escherichia (OR = 0.56), and Campylobacter (OR = 0.33) in ground turkey also significantly decreased. However, the odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Salmonella (OR = 1.49) in chicken breast and erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter (OR = 4.63) in ground turkey significantly increased. There was no significant change in the odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Salmonella and Escherichia in ground beef or pork chops. Conclusions: The implementation of VFD rule changes had a beneficial effect by reducing the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant and erythromycin-resistant bacteria in chicken and ground turkey. Ongoing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use could complement the implementation of stewardship such as VFD rule in food-producing animals in the U.S.

This study examined the impact of the 2017 Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rule changes on the prevalence of tetracycline-resistant and erythromycin-resistant bacteria (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Escherichia coli) in cecal samples of food animals (cattle, swine, chicken, and turkey) at US slaughterhouses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze 2013–2019 cecal samples of food-producing animals surveillance data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) in the U.S. The variables included year (used to evaluate VFD rule changes), host, and quarter of year. The analysis of surveillance data showed that the VFD rule changes have varying effects on tetracycline-resistant and erythromycin-resistant bacteria in food animals. For example, the odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Salmonella spp. decreased in cattle but increased in chickens following the implementation of the VFD rule changes. Similarly, the odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli decreased in chickens but increased in swine after the VFD rule changes. The odds of detecting erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter spp. increased in cattle but decreased in chickens after the VFD rule changes. In conclusion, the implementation of VFD rule changes has been beneficial in reducing the odds of detecting tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli and erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter spp. in chickens, as well as tetracycline-resistant Salmonella spp. in cattle at US slaughterhouses.