Phenotypic and genotypic patterns of antimicrobial resistance in livestock and poultry in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global threat within the one-health framework. This study aimed to assess the aggregated prevalence of common pathogenic bacteria, and their AMR profiles including resistant genes in livestock and poultry across South Asia from 2014 to 2023.

Methods

For data analysis and visualization, metafor, metareg, and other related packages in R programming language were utilized. A random-effect model was applied for pooled prevalence to account for substantial heterogeneity. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess and address heterogeneity. Regional AMR patterns and a heat map displaying resistant genes were visualized, as well.

Results

The pooled prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. in South Asian livestock and poultry stood at 74%, 37%, and 48%, respectively. Noteworthy variations in antibiotic resistance were observed, with E. coli displaying the lowest resistance to azithromycin (6.7%) and Salmonella to ceftriaxone (5.89%). Erythromycin resistance reached its apex for both E. coli (89%) and Salmonella (94.04%). Staphylococcus showed a moderate range of resistance, with penicillin registering the lowest (20.37%) and gentamicin the highest (49.55%). Bangladesh exhibited the highest regional prevalence of both pathogens and AMR. The predominant resistant genes were tetA, blaTEM, blaCTX, mcr1, and sul1.

Conclusions

The findings reveal a concerning surge in AMR in South Asia, particularly within the livestock and poultry sector. Monitoring AMR patterns, devising effective antibiotic regimens, and enhancing food safety and public awareness in the One Health approach can mitigate both pathogen prevalence and AMR rate in this region.