The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health

Background and Aim: Since 2015, local newspapers reported that pig and poultry farmers in Uganda use antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to promote growth in animals and control diseases. This study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude and perceptions about the use of antiretroviral drugs as...

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Main Authors: Ndoboli, Dickson, Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M., Lukuyu, Ben A., Wieland, Barbara, Grace, Delia, Braun, A. von, Roesel, Kristina
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Veterinary World 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113276
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author Ndoboli, Dickson
Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Wieland, Barbara
Grace, Delia
Braun, A. von
Roesel, Kristina
author_browse Braun, A. von
Grace, Delia
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Ndoboli, Dickson
Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M.
Roesel, Kristina
Wieland, Barbara
author_facet Ndoboli, Dickson
Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Wieland, Barbara
Grace, Delia
Braun, A. von
Roesel, Kristina
author_sort Ndoboli, Dickson
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Background and Aim: Since 2015, local newspapers reported that pig and poultry farmers in Uganda use antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to promote growth in animals and control diseases. This study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude and perceptions about the use of antiretroviral drugs as boosters in pigs and poultry and the possibility of detecting the antiretroviral drugs in meat using available laboratory methods. Materials and Methods: In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in ten districts in Uganda. In 20 focus group discussions with 100 pig and poultry farmers and 70 animal health service providers, we assessed the use of ARV in livestock enterprises. Subsequently, samples of chicken, pigs, and animal feeds were collected from volunteer participants, and screened for residues of saquinavir, lopinavir, nevirapine, and efavirenz using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometer. Results: Participants in all ten districts were predominantly smallholder farmers supplying the local markets. All groups reported the use of ARVs in pigs and broiler birds but not in layer hens. In the absence of good quality feeds, the motivation for feeding ARVs was rapid animal weight gain, as well as the control of animal diseases, for which farmers have no alternative solutions. ARVs were obtained within the community for free, against cash, or in-kind payment. Residues of lopinavir were detected in four, and saquinavir in seven districts, and all three sample matrices. Conclusion: Our study findings confirm anecdotal news reports on ARV use in livestock. While our findings are not generalizable to the whole country, they call for a representative follow-up. As the drugs were detected in tissues destined for human consumption, the potential risk to human health warrants further investigation.
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spelling CGSpace1132762025-08-15T13:22:28Z The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health Ndoboli, Dickson Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M. Lukuyu, Ben A. Wieland, Barbara Grace, Delia Braun, A. von Roesel, Kristina swine poultry animal health health animal production Background and Aim: Since 2015, local newspapers reported that pig and poultry farmers in Uganda use antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to promote growth in animals and control diseases. This study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitude and perceptions about the use of antiretroviral drugs as boosters in pigs and poultry and the possibility of detecting the antiretroviral drugs in meat using available laboratory methods. Materials and Methods: In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in ten districts in Uganda. In 20 focus group discussions with 100 pig and poultry farmers and 70 animal health service providers, we assessed the use of ARV in livestock enterprises. Subsequently, samples of chicken, pigs, and animal feeds were collected from volunteer participants, and screened for residues of saquinavir, lopinavir, nevirapine, and efavirenz using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometer. Results: Participants in all ten districts were predominantly smallholder farmers supplying the local markets. All groups reported the use of ARVs in pigs and broiler birds but not in layer hens. In the absence of good quality feeds, the motivation for feeding ARVs was rapid animal weight gain, as well as the control of animal diseases, for which farmers have no alternative solutions. ARVs were obtained within the community for free, against cash, or in-kind payment. Residues of lopinavir were detected in four, and saquinavir in seven districts, and all three sample matrices. Conclusion: Our study findings confirm anecdotal news reports on ARV use in livestock. While our findings are not generalizable to the whole country, they call for a representative follow-up. As the drugs were detected in tissues destined for human consumption, the potential risk to human health warrants further investigation. 2021-04-07 2021-04-12T08:03:57Z 2021-04-12T08:03:57Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113276 en Open Access Veterinary World Ndoboli, D., Nganga, F., Lukuyu, B., Wieland, B., Grace, D., Braun, A. von and Roesel, K. 2021. The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health. International Journal of One Health 7(1): 88–95.
spellingShingle swine
poultry
animal health
health
animal production
Ndoboli, Dickson
Ng'ang'a, Fredrick M.
Lukuyu, Ben A.
Wieland, Barbara
Grace, Delia
Braun, A. von
Roesel, Kristina
The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title_full The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title_fullStr The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title_full_unstemmed The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title_short The misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in Uganda and potential implications for public health
title_sort misuse of antiretrovirals to boost pig and poultry productivity in uganda and potential implications for public health
topic swine
poultry
animal health
health
animal production
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113276
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