Harnessing abattoir waste and environment samples for AMR surveillance

We propose robust, low-cost surveillance for AMR of resistant pathogens utilizing critical points (abattoirs/slaughterhouses) as well as its surroundings (environment). By utilizing real-time data collection tools and available connecting frameworks, data will feed into national surveillance activities, providing integrated AMR data for the country.  

Dr Abubakar Bala Muhammed (CEO)

We propose an additional surveillance system to the existing one within the country. This proposal has the unique advantage of utilizing real-time data collected on-site (abattoir/slaughterhouses) to map AMR hot zones within the country. The initiative proposes the use of an internet-based application to collect and send information on samples to corresponding laboratories (such as the origin of animal and farm sources). Given the lack of good surveillance in many countries, Nigeria included, this project will provide a novel means of identifying AMR hotspots within the country as well as contributing to AMR data of the country. Currently, abattoir sites which can be critical for AMR surveillance are not been utilized for this purpose in country. With estimates showing over 263,000 deaths associated with AMR in the country and Nigeria ranking 185th highest age-standardized mortality rate per 100,000 associated with AMR, there is a critical need for surveillance and hotspot mapping of AMR incidence within the country. Nigeria is faced with high poverty levels and poor environmental conditions, both of which contribute to the spread of microbes and resistant organisms. Having robust data that also captures AMR hotspots will allow for critical intervention and focused AMR stewardship initiatives. 

AMR has been a global public health challenge that needs to be controlled to ensure the health and wellness of animals, humans, and their environment. The project is targeted to achieve the above through active surveillance of abattoirs and the environment. Specifically, the target audience of the project includes government agencies, farmers, abattoir workers, private and public veterinarians and allied professionals, meat processors, and the general public/consumers. The data derived will inform stewardship focus. 

The data will also be very helpful in government policy-making and implementation programmes as well as the national action plan on AMR and the Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS). Additionally, grassroots farmers especially in areas of identified hotspot zones will benefit from stewardship initiatives and focused infection control practices in collaboration with government institutions. Farmers and animal workers will also benefit from enlightenment campaigns on biosecurity measures and infection control practices to limit the use of antimicrobials which will improve economic benefit in the long run. With the identification of these hotspot areas to focus on, involved farms and local communities will be carried along each step of the way and undergo a form of "adoption" for improved stewardship and mentorship on responsible antimicrobial use. 

Our initiative will provide an alternate form of AMR data collection within the country which will serve to build robust AMR database that could be used to inform policy and decision making. Data generation and analysis derived from our initiative will go a long way in identifying areas and farms of focus which will benefit from further stewardship initiatives. This program will benefit government institutions and stakeholders in the livestock industry as well as the general public at large. Additionally, we believe that generated data will give room to further research on AMR in the country, which is currently lacking, thereby giving room for improved knowledge creation. 

The knowledge generated from this project will also be very helpful in providing good health for all actors in the livestock value chain including abattoir workers and the general public.

This project will function to improve knowledge on AMR by providing crucial data on AMR activities in the livestock sector of the country. The generation of data from environmental samples and slaughterhouses will provide a basis for understanding and tracing the crucial link of AMR transmission to the public from these sources which will provide positive impact to the public health. The information generated from the project would be of huge AMR stewardship importance and will be used to engender positive behavioural attitude of the people with reference responsible AM use and proper sanitation/waste management. Aside contributing to national database of the country, a benefit to the government, this innovation will serve to improve preventive measures and proffer solutions to reducing AMR infections for improved public health. 

The first year of the project will see the acquisition, familiarisation and learning the field application of identified mobile tools to be used in the data collection process. Also, it will involve the identification and profiling of sites where the pilot project is to be tested, inception and engagement meetings with relevant stakeholders as well as drafting of relevant documents. Identification of initial participating laboratories will be conducted. Thereafter, training and capacity building programme will be conducted for select laboratories and field sampling officers in collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions. In Year 2, robust sampling, sample transportation and data analysis will be carried out. By the 3rd Year, the project will be scaled up to cover other parts of the country with robust data generation and analysis. The development and planning activities for stewardship campaigns following analysis of generated data will commence in the early parts of the third year. This initiative will also seek to fund academic research based on generated data for improved knowledge as well as mentoring activities across select institutions scheduled to commence fully in the third year with initial pre-planning and set-up activities initiated and concluded in previous years. 

Project Proposal Development: Deadline/Submission - Thursday, February 29, 2024

Number of Inception & Stakeholders Meetings: One (1No)

Review Meeting: One (1No)

End-of Project Meeting: One (1No)

Planning Meeting: Twelve (12No)

No of Sites: Four (4No)

No of Field visits/year:

Quarterly Reports Submitted: 

Annual Reports submitted:

No of Mid-term Reports submitted:

No of End-of-Project Reports submitted:

No of trainings conducted/quarter:

No of field staff trained/quarter:

No of samples collected and shipped to the laboratory:

No of good quality samples received by the laboratories:

No of samples processed by the laboratories:

No of E.coli positive samples:

No of Klebsiella spp samples:

No of combined E.coli and Klebsiella samples:

Segregated positive samples site by site:

Generated data - Recorded data generated and inputted into the country's database. 

Research activities - Available ongoing research directly linked to the initiative's generated data.

Antimicrobial use metrics - Long term reduction of antimicrobial use across identified hotspots and improved knowledge on antimicrobial resistance as a result of targeted stewardship programs in and around identified hotspots.

Market/cultural barriers - The operators of meat processing facilities and other players in the meat value chain in Nigeria may pose a major threat in relation to sampling activities. Local meat vendors and abattoir operators are often uneducated, with varied cultural beliefs, viewing sampling procedures with skepticism. This will require robust engagement activities and knowledge sharing in collaboration to overcome. The project will robustly engage these critical groups to get their buy-in as this is a must for the achievement of the goals and targets of the project. 

Infrastructural and accessibility barriers - Nigeria, a large country both in terms of land mass and human population (923,768 sq km by land mass; and estimated 200 million persons). Access to most rural areas is difficult making very difficult to reach abattoirs in these remote areas. The utilization of local personnel on site and provision of facilities such as mobile devices for data collection and additional support like transport assistance will address this challenge. 

Technical barriers - Expectedly, with any technological devices, technical issues are anticipated are anticipated with the new technological device to be used for the project. The initiative will address this through adequate training of the field staff. 

The commonest cases presented for management in both Human and Animal Health facilities in Nigeria are of microbiological origin with antimicrobials being the drugs of choice in their treatment. Unfortunately, in most cases, the use of antimicrobials in animals and man is highly abused leading to the development of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in affected animal and human populations. For obvious reasons, the brunt of AMR is borne by the vulnerable (women and children), poor and uneducated populations in the society. 

Indiscriminate AMU in animals is closely related to lack of AMR awareness of the rural poor, unavailability and lack of access to functional health facilities, regulatory insufficiency, amongst others.  

Although the precise magnitude of AMR is grossly unknown, its negative impact and socioeconomic and livelihoods implications especially on the rural poor, cannot be over-emphasised.  

The development and sustenance of AMR in both animals and humans working or connected with the operations of abattoirs and surrounding environment, are inter-related.  Trinity Challenge project seeks to address AMR problem in Nigeria looking at the operations of the abattoir. To achieve this objective, the starting point will be field surveillance (active and passive) across livestock value chain followed by AMR stewardship.

1. Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security (FMAFS)
2. Agriculture Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration
3. Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
4. Federal Ministry of Environment
5. Veterinary Council of Nigeria
6. National Veterinary Reseach Institute (NVRI)
7. National Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria
8. National Butchers Association of Nigeria
9. Abuja Private Practicing Veterinarians Association (APPVA)
10. Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Abuja, Abuja
11. National Association of Animal Health & Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT)

These bodies have been playing active roles in the control and management of AMR through its stewardship, awareness creation and advocacy programme.