Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) 2023: Key and Integrated Findings
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Report summary
The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) monitors and reports trends across Canada in 1) the quantity of antimicrobials sold and/or used in people, terrestrial and aquatic animals, and plants/crops, and 2) antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in select enteric and zoonotic bacteria from people, terrestrial animals, food and water sources. This report of predominantly 2023 data, emphasizes key and integrated findings. This report was based on information presented during the CIPARS World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week webinar. Additional data are available on our Data visualization web page and we are pleased to convey that more interactive data displays are in the queue for 2025.
Over the past few years and continuing into 2023, we saw a plateau in the quantity of medically important antimicrobials sold for use in animals. This observation in the quantity of antimicrobials sold for use in animals in Canada has changed our sales situation globally. Particularly, when other nations (mainly in the European Union – on average) were decreasing their annual veterinary antimicrobial sales. From our volunteer sentinel farm surveillance, between 2019 and 2023, we saw a decreasing trend in antimicrobial use (AMU) on broiler chicken, turkey, and grower-finisher pig farms and on beef cattle feedlots. For sentinel dairy cattle farms, AMU increased between 2019 and 2022, which may be partially attributed to improved reporting in 2021 and 2022. Data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada showed a decrease in AMU for aquaculture operations between 2019 and 2022, with an increase between 2021 and 2022. Less than 2% of reported AMU (defined daily doses per 1,000 animal-days at risk) on sentinel terrestrial farms were Category I antimicrobials (considered of very high importance in human medicine).
At the same time, we are seeing increases in concerning resistances. There are increases in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing non-typhoidal Salmonella across humans, animals and food. There are increases in the percentage of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter in animals and food, along with increases in the quantity of fluoroquinolones sold for use in animals. For people, the trend in percentages of ciprofloxacin resistance in Campylobacter was variable, however, the overall percentage was high (30% or more) or very high (60% or more) depending on the Campylobacter species and year. At the same time, the quantity of fluoroquinolones used in people has decreased. With respect to mobile colistin resistance, in 2023, we detected mcr genes in a human Salmonella isolate and an Aeromonas isolate from imported shrimp. Nalidixic acid resistance in Salmonella Enteritidis from poultry continued to increase, as well as gentamicin resistance in Campylobacter from feedlot cattle. The quantity of third generation cephalosporins sold for use in animals increased, however, ceftriaxone-resistant E. coli and non-typhoidal Salmonella from animals and food remained stable. For feedlot cattle, the frequency of streptogramin-resistant Enterococcus increased, mirrored by an increase in the reported use of streptogramins in-feed.
As CIPARS continues to work towards embracing a One Health approach, this report also contains new information on AMR in select bacteria from water, farm environments, feed ingredients and mixed feed intended for animals, and additional retail commodities. Resistance to Category I antimicrobials was found in isolates from both surface water and the environment of sick animals. Resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella from serovars that can cause disease in Canadians were found in feed ingredients and mixed feeds intended for animals. CIPARS has also partnered with AMRNet-Vet to look at AMR in animal pathogens from samples sent to veterinary diagnostic laboratories, starting with pathogens causing bovine respiratory disease. This complements our work with surveillance of healthy feedlot cattle for the same respiratory pathogens. Over the past five years, we have found that there is less resistance when cattle arrive at the feedlot, yet during the same time, resistance at the time of cattle re-handling has increased (including multi-class resistance). Other advancements in surveillance activities include antimicrobial sales data by province/region using a biomass denominator and the inclusion of data on dispensing of antimicrobials from community pharmacies for use in companion animals, which includes small amounts of carbapenems.
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Visit the Government of Canada Publications to obtain more information on this report.
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