Antimicrobial Use and Veterinary Care among Agro-Pastoralists in Northern Tanzania

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170328
• Publication Date: 2017-01-26T13:42:26Z
• Authors: Mark A. Caudell; Marsha B. Quinlan; Murugan Subbiah; Douglas R. Call; Casey J. Roulette; Jennifer W. Roulette; Adam Roth; Louise Matthews; Robert J. Quinlan
• Keywords: Pastoralism; Cattle Diseases

Frequent and unregulated use of antimicrobials (AM) in livestock requires public health attention as a likely selection pressure for resistant bacteria. Studies among small-holders, who own large percentage the world's livestock, are vital understanding how practices involving AM might influence resistance. We present cultural-ecological mixed-methods analysis to explore sectors veterinary care, loosely regulated use, human exposure AMs through meat milk consumption across three rural peri-urban Tanzanian ethnic groups (N = 415 households). Reported self-administered varied by group (Maasai: 74%, Arusha: 21%, Chagga: 1%) did consultation with professional veterinarians 36%, 45%, 96%) observation withdrawal from during following treatment 7%, 72%, 96%). The antibiotic oxytetracycline was far most common this sample. Within groups, herd composition differences, particularly size small-stock cattle herds, were strongly associated differences lay use. Among Arusha, proxies urbanization, including owning transportation reliance on "zero-grazing" herds had strongest positive associations veterinarian consultation, while distance urban centers negatively associated. For Maasai, traditional healers or drug-shops. Observation technology Maasai Arusha observance displayed seasonal differences. This "One-Health" suggests that livelihood cultural niche factors, their association smallholder populations, provide insight into pressures may contribute evolution dissemination antimicrobial