TITLE:
Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System in Zambian Poultry: Performance, Gaps, and One Health Policy Implications
AUTHORS:
Steward Mudenda, Mwendalubi Albert Hadunka, Patrick Katemangwe, Geoffrey Mainda, Chikwanda Chileshe, Webrod Mufwambi, Shafiq Mohamed, Victor Daka, Martha Mwaba, Sidney Malama, Musso Munyeme, John Bwalya Muma
KEYWORDS:
Antimicrobial Resistance, Layer Poultry Farms, Surveillance, Zambia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.16 No.3,
June
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical component of antimicrobial stewardship. Zambia recently developed and implemented AMR surveillance in layer and broiler poultry sectors. This study evaluated the AMR surveillance system used in poultry production in Zambia. Methods: This cross-sectional study employed qualitative methods and was conducted from September 2020 to April 2022. The evaluation was done using the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. All responses from participants were categorised into themes. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data that were collected from key informants. Results: This study found that the AMR surveillance used in poultry in Zambia is efficient and effective in monitoring the resistance profiles of specified microorganisms. The initial financing of surveillance activities was done by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the Flemming Fund, UK Programme and other key stakeholders. The study found that the AMR surveillance strategy was simple and partially flexible. However, it was not representative of the entire country as it was being conducted in five provinces out of the ten. Additionally, the data quality was affected by a lack of human and financial resources, using paper-based methods, data sharing challenges, and a lack of integration between epidemiological and laboratory data. Furthermore, AMR surveillance was not consistently implemented due to a lack of human resources and an inconsistent supply of reagents in most surveillance sites and laboratories. Conclusion: The AMR surveillance system used in poultry in Zambia faces challenges such as a lack of human and financial resources, inadequate data management and sharing software, and a lack of integration of the poultry surveillance system into the human health surveillance system. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the AMR surveillance system in the poultry sector in Zambia to mitigate antimicrobial-resistant infections.