Suwit Chotinun

Reduction of antimicrobial use and resistance needs sectoral-collaborations with a One Health approach: perspectives from Asia

The misuse of antimicrobials in human health and animal production, and concomitant increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is recognized as an emergent global problem, affecting human and animal health (Lancet 2015) and imposing social and economic burdens on society. It is estimated that globally, by 2050, 10 million people will die annually due to AMR. In Asia, the use of antimicrobials and resultant AMR is not well characterized, although some studies have attempted to estimate the amount of antibiotic use. Asia’s population represents a large portion of this global cohort, with intensive agriculture production systems, making it a large and significant consumer and user of antimicrobials. In Vietnam, it is estimated that over 2000 tonnes of antimicrobials are used for feed production for chicken and pig annually (Van Cuong et al. 2016). Three countries (Vietnam, Thailand and China) use onethird of antimicrobials worldwide in livestock production (Van Boeckel et al. 2015). It may therefore not be less surprising that colistin-resistant Escherichia coli were first isolated from food and described in China and a second report is from Vietnam (Malhotra-Kumar et al. 2016). In the absence of stringent policies, overuse of antibiotics in human medicine and livestock production and aquaculture (for disease prevention and treatment, and growth promotion), significant antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR issues arise (O’Neill 2016). Drivers of antibiotic This editorial is part of the supplement ‘‘Health and social determinants of health in Vietnam: local evidence and international implications’’.

An integrative approach to enhancing small-scale poultry slaughterhouses by addressing regulations and food safety in northern -Thailand

BackgroundIn Asian countries, small-scale rural poultry meat production can face challenges due to food safety policies that limit economic growth and hinder improvement of sanitation and disease prevention. In this study, an integrative, participatory research approach was used to elucidate the sanitation and disease prevention practices in small-scale poultry slaughterhouses in rural northern Thailand.MethodsInitial steps included the identification of key stakeholders associated with the meat production chain, development of a research framework, and design of a methodology based on stakeholder consultations. The framework and methodology combine issues in five major areas: (1) public health, (2) socioeconomics, (3) policy, (4) veterinary medicine, and (5) communities and the environment. Methods used include questionnaires, direct observation, focus groups, and in-depth interviews. In addition, a microbiological risk assessment approach was employed to detect Salmonella contamination in meat processing facilities. The microbial risk assessment was combined with stakeholder perceptions to provide an overview of the existing situation, as well as to identify opportunities for upgrading slaughterhouses in order to more effectively address matters of food safety, processing, and government licensing.ResultsThe conceptual framework developed elucidated the complex factors limiting small-scale slaughterhouse improvement including a lack of appropriate enabling policies and an apparent absence of feasible interventions for improvement. Unhygienic slaughterhouse management was reflected in the incidence of Salmonella contamination in both the meat and the surrounding environment.ConclusionThere is potential for the use of an integrative approach to address critical problems at the interface of rural development and public health. The findings of this study could serve as a model for transdisciplinary studies and interventions related to other similar complex challenges.

Differential gene expression in heterophils isolated from commercial hybrid and Thai indigenous broiler chickens under quercetin supplementation

ABSTRACT Chicken heterophils serve as the first-line defence in chicken innate immunity. The present study aimed to explore the effects of quercetin, a herbal phenolic substance known for its inflammatory modulation, on mRNA expression patterns in chicken heterophils. Isolated heterophils from two genetically distinct chicken lines, hybrid commercial and Thai indigenous chickens, Pradu Hang Dam, were in vitro co-cultured with live intestinal pathogenic Salmonella enteritidis under Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or quercetin supplementation. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed to investigate the effects of quercetin on mRNA transcripts of 12 genes. The results showed that heterophils from hybrid chickens treated with quercetin had higher relative expression levels of IL6, IL8L1, IL8L2, IL18, CCL4, LITAF, and MIF. Unlike hybrid chickens, Pradu Hang Dam chickens had down-regulation of cytokine genes, IL1B, IL6, IL8L1, IL8L2, IL12B, and IL18, and chemokines, CCL4 and MIF. In addition, NOS2, IL17A, and TGFB1 were up-regulated in this lineage. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the modulatory effects of quercetin to down-regulate most pro-inflammatory genes, whereas it up-regulates anti-inflammatory gene (TGFB1) in Pradu Hang Dam chickens.