Abstract:
Surveillance of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance is a critical component of
the “Global Action Plan” to tackle antimicrobial resistance. However, there is a paucity
of such surveillance in communal farming areas in South Africa. This study investigated
knowledge and antimicrobial use practices by cattle farmers and antimicrobial resistance
levels of indicator bacteria in cattle in a rural communal farming area in South Africa.
Seventy (70) farmers were interviewed at five cattle inspection sites using structured
questionnaires. Rectal swabs were collected from apparently healthy cattle (n = 100) for
culture of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus species, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing
using broth microdilution. The farmers indicated predominantly using tetracyclines.
Although 42% of the farmers indicated hearing about antimicrobial resistance, none of
them clearly understood what it involves. Seventy-nine (79) E. coli and 71 Enterococcus
species were isolated with E. faecium being the dominant species among the Enterococcus
isolates. E. coli isolates were resistant to colistin (16%; 13/79), chlortetracycline (8%; 6/79)
and amoxicillin (8%; 6/79). Enterococcus isolates were resistant to enrofloxacin (55%;
39/71) and amoxycillin (3%; 2/71). We observed knowledge gaps in prudent antimicrobial
use practices and antimicrobial resistance among the farmers. Farmer tailored education
programmes on primary animal health care and prudent antimicrobial use practices must
be developed and implemented to improve antimicrobial stewardship among farmers
with limited veterinary supervision. The level of colistin resistance detected among E. coli
isolates from rural communal cattle in this study was unexpected and warrants further
molecular investigation to check if the resistance is plasmid mediated.
