ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2024 35 (a) therapy, or the administration of an antimicrobial to a clinically diseased animal; (b) control, or the administration of an antibiotic to infected animals which exceed the baseline of morbidity and/or mortality; (c) prevention, or the administration of an antibiotic to healthy animals which are thought to be at risk; and (d) growth promotion, or the administration of an antimicrobial over a period of time enhancing the growth by improving physiological performance. The current global annual consumption of antimicrobials per kilogram of animal product is estimated as 45 mg/kg for cattle, 148 mg/kg for poultry, and 172 mg/kg for swine. From this baseline, projections indicate that global antimicrobial consumption will increase by 67% between 2010 and 2030, from 63,151 ± 1,560 tons to 105,596 ± 3,605 tons (Ma et al., 2021). Pigs have the largest projected increase, contributing to 45% of the total increase between 2017 and 2030. Africa will have the highest expected increase by 2030 (37%). Asia is expected to increase its use of antimicrobials by 10.3% in the same period. Oceania (3.1%), North America (4.3%), and Europe (6.7%) are expected to have the smallest increase among the global regions (Tiseo et al., 2020). IMPACT OF ANTIMICROBIALS ON ANIMALS AND HUMANS Antibiotics are important for treatment of bacterial infections, pneumonia, urinary infections, arthritis, sepsis, and secondary infections. Their application is also valuable in protecting people more vulnerable to the harmful effects of infections: seniors over 75 years, neonates and babies with bacterial infections, patients with heart failure, diabetes, or a weakened immune system (NHS, 2023). Antibiotics are not only important for treating individuals, but also to avoid the spread of pathogens and diseases to the environment and the population. Recent reports have revealed that the use of large amounts of antimicrobial medication could result in antibiotics residues in animal products. Although good quality milk, meat, and other related products are a prime need for supporting public health, the presence of antimicrobial residues above the maximum residue level (MRL) in food items and their subsequent consumption by consumers may cause health problems. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) / World Health Organization (WHO) reported that antibiotic residues in foods of animal origin have increased beyond the permissible levels in developing countries.
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