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Symposium: Antibiotics in Animal Feeds: Are There Viable Alternatives?
SYMPOSIUM: ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMAL FEEDS: ARE THERE VIABLE ALTERNATIVES? Introduction F. T. Jones*,1 and S. C. Ricke† *Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701; and †Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2472 (Key words: antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, alternatives to antibiotics) 2005 Poultry Science 84:633 and concludes that such evidence remains elusive. The author suggests that well-designed surveillance programs are essential in assessing the qualitative and quantitative risks associated with individual AGP agents. Anderson et al. consider the use of experimental chlorate preparations as a preharvest intervention technology to prevent the colonization of food producing animals with pathogens. Huff and co-authors examine the bacteriophage administration for controlling foodborne pathogens and Escherichia coli infections. Berghman et al. discuss the use of passive immunization and antibody administration for prophylasis and treatment of infectious diseases. Ricke and co-workers assess the use of natural food and feed components that could act synergistically within the context of traditional intervention approaches. The strategy suggested by these authors is to place multiple chemical or physical hurdles that would reduce the likelihood of contamination in the preharvest and postharvest food production sectors.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The organizers of the symposium thank Encore Technologies, LLC, Plymouth, MN, and Phibro Animal Health for financial support of this symposium.
2005 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Received for publication November 29, 2004. Accepted for publication January 12, 2005. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected].
Abbreviation Key: AGP = antimicrobial growth promoters.
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Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms has become a significant problem worldwide. Although use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) remains controversial, the data for implicating a direct link to human health hazards from feeding AGP remain uncertain. Nonetheless, the public sector is building pressure to outlaw the practice. Thus, it seems inevitable that the use of AGP will decline in the future. In view of this situation, this symposium was organized to briefly review the history of the issue, assess the current status, and examine possible AGP alternatives. Dibner and Richards provide readers with a review of AGP use in the commercial animal industry over the years as an overview of the history of legislation in the United States and Europe. In addition, they examine the biological basis for antibiotic effects on animal growth efficiency. Finally, they discuss possible replacement compounds for AGP and conclude that it is “. . . unlikely that a single replacement will be found that will prove to be economically viable.” Bywater reviews evidence that antimicrobial use in animal production has resulted in harm to human health
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The organizers of the symposium thank Encore Technologies, LLC, Plymouth, MN, and Phibro Animal Health for financial support of this symposium.
2005 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Received for publication November 29, 2004. Accepted for publication January 12, 2005. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected].
Abbreviation Key: AGP = antimicrobial growth promoters.
633
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on August 11, 2015
Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms has become a significant problem worldwide. Although use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) remains controversial, the data for implicating a direct link to human health hazards from feeding AGP remain uncertain. Nonetheless, the public sector is building pressure to outlaw the practice. Thus, it seems inevitable that the use of AGP will decline in the future. In view of this situation, this symposium was organized to briefly review the history of the issue, assess the current status, and examine possible AGP alternatives. Dibner and Richards provide readers with a review of AGP use in the commercial animal industry over the years as an overview of the history of legislation in the United States and Europe. In addition, they examine the biological basis for antibiotic effects on animal growth efficiency. Finally, they discuss possible replacement compounds for AGP and conclude that it is “. . . unlikely that a single replacement will be found that will prove to be economically viable.” Bywater reviews evidence that antimicrobial use in animal production has resulted in harm to human health