title: Antibiotic use and resistance in animals: Belgian initiatives.
abstract: The widespread use of antibiotics in animals is causing concerns about the growing risk for development and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic consumption is higher in animals than in humans as reported in a joint publication of EFSA (European Food Safety Agency), ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), and EMA (European Medicines Agency) using data from 2011 and 2012. Both in humans and animals, positive associations between the consumption of antibiotics and resistant bacteria are observed. Responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals should therefore be promoted. In this paper some general aspects of antibiotic resistance such as microbiological versus clinical resistance, intrinsic versus acquired resistance, resistance mechanisms, and transfer of resistance are briefly introduced. In 2012, the Belgian Center of Expertise on Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals (AMCRA) was founded. Its mission is to collect and analyze all data related to antibiotic use and resistance in animals in Belgium and to communicate these findings in a neutral and objective manner. One of AMCRA's 10 objectives is a 50% reduction in antibiotic consumption in veterinary medicine in Belgium by 2020. The aim of this paper is to report on the achievements of this national project. The Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO, Merelbeke-Melle), in collaboration with Ghent University, is currently working on three nationally funded projects on antibiotic resistance in animal husbandry. In the first project, an in vitro model is used to study the influence of low antibiotic concentrations due to carry-over after production and usage of medicated feed on the development of resistance in the pig gut. Part of that project is to develop a quantitative risk assessment model. A second project focuses on tracking excreted antibiotics used in pig rearing and their influence on the development of antibiotic resistance in pig manure and the environment. In the last project, the relation between the use of biocides in animal husbandry and antibiotic resistance development are being studied. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daeseleire
authors.affiliation: Center of Expertise on Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals (AMCRA), Eurostation II, Victor Hortaplein 40 bus 10, 1060, Brussels, Belgium.|Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Graef
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geertrui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rasschaert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Mulder
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.|Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van den Meersche
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Coillie
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090, Melle, Belgium.|Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heyndrickx
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001530:Belgium; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013552:Swine; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D005308:Fertilizers; D019155:Veterinary Drugs
keywords: antibiotic resistance; antibiotics; biocides; cross contamination; pig manure; resistance mechanisms