Background and Goals
This global study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in livestock manure and assess the potential risks to human health. The goal was to provide a comprehensive overview of the global resistome in livestock waste and inform management strategies.
Materials and Methods
Over 4,000 manure samples from pigs, chickens, and cattle were collected across 26 countries. Advanced genomic techniques were employed to identify and quantify ARGs present in the samples, including qPCR and metagenomic sequencing.
Results for Antimicrobial Resistance in Livestock Manure
The study found that livestock manure is a significant reservoir for ARGs, with the highest levels detected in pig manure samples from China. These ARGs have the potential to transfer to human pathogens, posing a serious public health threat.
Conclusion for Antimicrobial Resistance in Livestock Manure
The research highlights the urgent need for global strategies to manage livestock waste, reduce antibiotic usage in animal husbandry, and implement effective waste treatment processes to mitigate the spread of AMR.
Keywords
Antimicrobial Resistance, Livestock Manure, Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Public Health, Global Perspective
References
- He, L., et al. (2021). Antibiotic resistance genes in livestock manure: A global perspective. Nature Sustainability, 4, 680-688.
- Aidara-Kane, A., et al. (2018). Antimicrobial resistance in livestock: Implications for human health. CIDRAP Report. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/livestock-manure-contains-antibiotic-resistance-genes-posing-health
Copyright
This case study is adapted from the articles “Antibiotic resistance genes in livestock manure: A global perspective” published in Nature Sustainability (2021) and Aidara-Kane et al., CIDRAP Report (2018). The original work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
Disclaimer
This lesson paraphrases and adapts content from the original research by He et al. (2021) and Aidara-Kane et al. (2018). All rights to the original publications remain with the authors and journals. This material is intended solely for educational and teaching purposes. Any commercial use or reproduction of the original work without permission is prohibited. You can view the full papers here: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/livestock-manure-contains-antibiotic-resistance-genes-posing-health
