AMR genomic surveillance based on slaughterhouses in Burkina Faso

Obsolete slaughterhouses are hubs for animals (livestock, urban wildlife), humans and a source of environmental pollution. Active AMR surveillance based on slaughterhouses will enable the detection of rare resistance mechanisms, antibiotic and pesticide residues in food (meat, vegetables) and the environment (manure, wastewater). 

Dr SANOU Do M. Soufiane, pharmacist Biologist, PhD Bacteriology

Livestock production in Burkina Faso is predominantly extensive (87%). This means that livestock graze on grass contaminated by the pesticides used by the farmers. Between 2018 and 2021, Burkina Faso has officially imported 16,710,024 kg of pesticides.

The inappropriate use of these veterinary medicines in animal husbandry and the failure to observe withdrawal periods after treatment of animals are the causes of the presence of residues in food of animal origin in excess of maximum residue limits (MRLs).

Animals therefore concentrate pesticide residues in their fat. This helps to maintain selection pressure on bacteria. The level of contamination of meat with antibiotic and pesticide residues is very poorly documented in Burkina Faso.

Slaughterhouse infrastructure is not up to standard and staff do not follow good slaughter and meat handling practices.

Despite this clear animal-human and environment nexus, there is no active integrated genomic surveillance of AMR in Burkina Faso based on a One Health approach. Isolated molecular data are available on AMR in humans (healthcare and community settings), animals (livestock, insects) and the environment (wastewater, food). Bacterial strains producing ESBL (CTX-M) and carbapenemases (NDM, Oxa-48, VIM, GES) have been isolated from animals, environment (healthcare effluents, food) and humans.

Target groups: slaughterhouse staff, butchers, livestock farmers, farmers, The Consumers' League (civil society), decision-makers.

- livestock owner: Meet with livestock owners’ associations and discuss the issue of animal health monitoring. Raise awareness of the need to be accompanied by an animal health professional. 

- Slaughterhouse staff and butchers: discuss conditions and practices for slaughtering animals, preserving carcasses and cleaning up. Discuss their assessment of the health risks associated with slaughterhouse activities. Raise awareness of health risks associated with RAM and compliance with standards for animal slaughter, carcass preservation and hygiene.

- Farmers working in the slaughterhouse ecosystem: Meet with farmers' associations and discuss the safe use of pesticides and animal waste as fertiliser for crops (composting). Raise awareness of the health risks associated with AMR and the contribution of pesticides to the emergence and spread of AMR. 

 - Decision-makers: Discuss the need for new sources of reliable data to inform action. Raise awareness of the health risks of AMR

- The Consumers' League (civil society): The Consumers' League (civil society): will raise awareness among stakeholders in order to change behaviour, as well as lobbying decision-makers.  

This surveillance will enable measures to be taken to prevent the spread of Multi-Drugs Resistant Bacteria (MDRB) . In this way, MDRB will be confined to slaughterhouses and the general population will be spared. This objective will be achieved by

- Strengthening hygiene measures during slaughter, carcass handling and waste management.

- Regularly updating policies on the prescription and use of antibiotics in humans and animals.

- Establishing a waste water treatment and purification plant

- Developing a complete One Health platform focused on abattoirs.

Based on socio-anthropological investigations, the perceptions of MDRB-related health risks of stakeholders in the abattoir ecosystem will be known. Monitoring will provide evidence of the circulation of MDRB in the abattoir ecosystem. This will help to change the behaviour and practices of this specific group within abattoirs, who are key actors in the chain of AMR propagation. The data provided will be used to raise awareness among farmers and livestock keepers of the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides and antibiotics.

Reducing the contamination of meat, a widely consumed product, will help to reduce the exposure of the general population to AMR.

Slaughterhouses certainly contribute to the emergence and spread of AMR in Burkina Faso.

We will carry out a situation analysis during the first year. The second year, we will develop a participatory plan to address the shortcomings:

- Carry out repair and rehabilitation work in the two slaughterhouses (slaughter areas, storage areas and waste and effluent disposal areas).

- Raise awareness and train stakeholders (butchers, livestock associations, farmers, etc.) on the health risks associated with AMR and on good practices specific to each sector.

- Development of performance indicators

During the third and fourth years, we will evaluate the solution plan through performance indicators and the implementation of the project in two neighbouring countries

Indicators :

- Number of MDRB emergence alerts

- Percentage of meat samples not contaminated by MDRB and antibiotic and pesticide residues

- Percentage of actors with good practices and attitudes in the fight against AMR

- Rate of effluent sampling not contaminated by MDRB, antibiotics and pesticides residues

- Rate of manure sampling not contaminated by MDRB and antibiotic and pesticide residues

- Percentage of vegetables not contaminated by MDRB

- Number of pests (rodents, insects, reptiles) trapped 

There is a real risk that people will not comply with this monitoring system. Certain measures could reduce this risk:

*Explaining the study's rationale

*Identifying and addressing their concerns through socio-anthropological interviews

*Collecting samples for the study as part of a health examination

*Awareness raising and training in good slaughter and meat handling practices

*Providing personal protective equipment and hygiene products will help address these concerns.

* Renovation and rehabilitation of slaughterhouses to improve collective safety