TITLE:
Assessing Antibiotic Use in Selected Poultry Farms in N’Djamena, Republic of Chad
AUTHORS:
Lanan Wassy Soromou, Thierry Eynem, Ban-Bo Bebanto Antipas, Mama Agnès Tea, Mamadou Fodé Camara
KEYWORDS:
Livestock Farming, Antibiotics, Poultry Farms, N’Djamena, Chad
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.5,
May
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria undermines the efficacy of many commonly used antibiotics, rendering infections increasingly difficult to treat. This situation results in heightened morbidity and mortality rates, as well as escalating healthcare costs, thereby placing a considerable strain on public health systems globally. Consequently, urgent action is required to combat antibiotic resistance, the implementation of robust stewardship programmes, and the promotion of public awareness initiatives. The methodology employed was based on surveys conducted among various stakeholders in the veterinary sector (professionals, heads of veterinary drug outlets, veterinarians and para-veterinarians, poultry farmers), as well as on the analysis of records. The findings reveal that there is no quantitative data available on the use of veterinary antibiotics in Chad. Veterinary drug outlets supply these medicines to farmers without prescriptions. Furthermore, veterinarians are consulted in only 14% of cases, either upon the onset of symptoms or on a regular basis by certain poultry farmers for managing recurrent diseases. None of the veterinarians surveyed reported conducting laboratory tests for diagnostic purposes. Among the poultry farmers interviewed, 45.83% do not rely on a veterinarian or para-veterinarian for antibiotic prescriptions. Regarding drug administration, only 8% seek the assistance of a veterinarian or para-veterinarian for monitoring, while 92% prefer to consult pharmacists and administer the treatments themselves. The most commonly used antibiotic substances among poultry farmers are oxytetracycline (83.33%), enrofloxacin (54.16%), and tylosin (45.83%). Lastly, all broiler chickens in the finishing phase and eggs produced following antibiotic administration are sold without observing the prescribed withdrawal periods. The study highlights an unregulated and largely empirical use of antibiotics in semi-industrial poultry farming in Chad, with minimal recourse to veterinarians and diagnostic analysis. This situation promotes the development of antimicrobial resistance, exacerbated by the absence of veterinary supervision, the failure to observe withdrawal periods, and the free sale of veterinary medicines.