Alternatives of Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture: One Health Perspective

Veterinary / Animal Sciences | Review article | https://doi.org/10.47262/SL/12.3.132024310

Irba Zermeen, Aqsa Sarwar, Hassan Mushtaq*, Masood Rabbani

Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Syed Abdul Qadir Jillani (Out Fall) Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Due to the increasing trend of antimicrobial resistance bacteria and the increase of antimicrobial resistance genes, there is an urgent need to develop alternatives to antibiotics. This review evaluates the advances and perceptions of alternatives to antibiotics. The mode of action, application and perspective of alternatives such as clay minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, inhibitors such as quorum sensing inhibitors, biofilms inhibitors, bacterial virulence inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, phytogenic compounds like organic acids, essential oil and herbs, bacteriophages, nanoparticles, vaccines, fecal microbiota transplant, immunity modulating stimulants and bacteriocins are discussed in this review. If used with proper strategies, these alternatives can replace antibiotics in livestock. These alternatives not only better cope with antimicrobial resistance but also can help in efficient animal growth, production and disease control. However, till now, none of the alternatives has been proven to efficiently replace antibiotics on a large scale, though, they appeared to be a partial replacement to antibiotics. These natural alternatives are promising to improve the overall health of the environment, animals and humans. Lastly, the idea of one health was adopted in recognition of the fact that animals and people share many infectious diseases and are connected in addition to existing in the same environment. Using one health concept, the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) developed several action plans to tackle antibiotic resistance