Barriers to effective antimicrobial resistance management in Nigerian livestock: the role of veterinary practices and client expectations

Resistance to antimicrobials is growing faster than the discovery of new drugs. This problem has raised the global concern of a possible pandemic, as the treatment of infections in both humans and animals is becoming more difficult. This study aimed to understand the opinions of practising veterinarians on the factors responsible for increasing antibiotic resistance among animals in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study of veterinarians from 36 states (including the Federal capital territory) was conducted using a paper-based structured questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was made available to the 1,117 veterinarians who attended 2023 Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA). A simple random selection was used to select 295 veterinarians as respondents. The data collected were coded and stored electronically in a Microsoft Excel database and anonymised for further analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using Excel and SPSS Statistics v24.0. Most veterinarians (89.8%) agreed that the antibiogram test (AST) is important before prescription; however, only a few (4.4%) request for an antibiogram before prescriptions to clients due to the unaffordability of the test by clients (x̄=3.21), the desire for rapid results (x̄=3.06), and the lack of diagnostic laboratories nearby (x̄=2.96). As a result, 61.5% reported that clients had complained that antibiotics prescribed did not work (curative). In addition, veterinarians opined that irrational antibiotic use among animal owners (x̄=4.34), an increased number of quackery (x̄=4.10) and ease of access of the public to antibiotics at veterinary pharmacies/shops (x̄=3.86) were the leading causes of increasing antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria. The significant factors responsible for veterinarians' opinions were education (β = 0.929) and the value of conducting an antibiogram before prescription (β = 1.618) at the p ≤ 0.05 level of significance. This study revealed that irrational antibiotic use among animal owners, an increasing number of quackery and ease of access of the public to antibiotics at veterinary pharmacies/shops were the leading causes of increasing animal antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria. Therefore, this study suggests the development and implementation of policies and frameworks that promote antimicrobial stewardship and the establishment of veterinary laboratories in various communities in the country. Continuous education for veterinarians and livestock workers, especially on AMR, is also critical.