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Home / Equine Research Bank / Braz J Vet Med / Knowledge levels regarding antibiotics and their use among h...
Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine2025; 47; e000425; doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000425

Knowledge levels regarding antibiotics and their use among horse owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the use of antimicrobials in horses, focusing on administration practices, adherence to veterinary prescriptions, and the impact on the development of antimicrobial resistance. The research was based on a questionnaire completed by 220 horse owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The data collected covered aspects including antibiotic use, prescription sources, the performance of culture and susceptibility tests, and the disposal of veterinary drug waste. The results indicated that 98.63% of horse owners administered antibiotics mainly to treat respiratory diseases. However, adherence to veterinary prescriptions was limited, with only 47.72% of horse owners correctly following the guidelines regarding dosage and treatment duration. Additionally, 68.18% of horse owners did not perform culture tests prior to antimicrobial treatment, and many obtained antibiotic recommendations from non-professional sources, such as friends or staff at veterinary product stores. These findings suggest that inappropriate antibiotic use practices, such as empirical and non-prescribed use, are contributing to the rise in antimicrobial resistance. The need for educational campaigns targeting horse owners is critical to raise awareness about the importance of rational antimicrobial use, risks of indiscriminate use, and necessity of performing laboratory tests to select appropriate treatment options. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o uso de antimicrobianos em equinos, com foco nas práticas de administração, adesão às prescrições veterinárias e o impacto no desenvolvimento de resistência antimicrobiana (AMR). A pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de uma análise de questionários aplicados a 220 proprietários de cavalos no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Os dados coletados abordaram aspectos como o uso de antibióticos, a origem das prescrições, a realização de exames de cultura e susceptibilidade, e o descarte de resíduos de medicamentos veterinários. Os resultados indicaram que 98,63% dos proprietários de cavalos utilizaram antibióticos, principalmente para doenças respiratórias, com uma adesão insuficiente às prescrições veterinárias: apenas 47,72% seguiram corretamente as orientações quanto à dosagem e duração do tratamento. Além disso, 68,18% dos entrevistados não realizaram exames de cultura antes do tratamento antimicrobiano, e muitos obtiveram recomendações de uso de antibióticos de fontes não profissionais, como amigos ou atendentes de lojas de produtos veterinários. Esses achados sugerem que práticas inadequadas de uso de antibióticos, como o uso empírico e sem prescrição, estão contribuindo para o aumento da resistência antimicrobiana. Destaca-se a necessidade de campanhas educativas direcionadas aos proprietários de equinos, visando conscientizá-los sobre a importância do uso racional de antimicrobianos, dos riscos do uso indiscriminado e da necessidade de realizar exames laboratoriais para seleção de tratamentos adequados.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-30 PubMed ID: 40453163PubMed Central: PMC12124762DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000425Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigated the use of antibiotics in horses in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, highlighting a disregard for prescriptions, improper usage, and the resulting build-up of antibiotic resistance.

Overview of the Research

  • This paper aimed to understand the practices surrounding antibiotic usage in horses in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. It sought to uncover adherence levels to veterinary prescriptions and to study the impact of these practices on the development of antimicrobial resistance.
  • The methodology involved the use of a questionnaire, which was filled out by 220 horse owners in the region. Information relating to antibiotic use, prescription sources, performance of culture and susceptibility tests, and the disposal of veterinary drug waste were collected from the responses.

Key Findings of the Study

  • The results show that a significant majority (98.63%) of horse owners administered antibiotics mainly to treat respiratory diseases in their horses.
  • Notably, adherence to veterinary prescriptions was quite poor. Only approximately half (47.72%) of the horse owners adhered to the guidelines regarding dosage and duration of treatment as prescribed by professionals.
  • A majority (68.18%) of horse owners did not perform culture tests before proceeding with the antimicrobial treatment. This approach doesn’t account for the specific microbes causing the illness and can lead to ineffective treatment strategies.
  • A significant number of horse owners chose antibiotic treatments based on recommendations from non-professional sources such as friends or staff at veterinary product stores. This non-expert advice can result in inappropriate medication usage.

Implications of the Study

  • These improper practices point towards a potential rise in antimicrobial resistance. This is due to the overuse of antibiotics and the administration of incorrect antibiotic types, which can reduce their effectiveness over time.
  • The research underscores the need for educational campaigns to inform horse owners about the correct usage of antibiotics, the dangers of indiscriminate use, and the importance of laboratory tests to determine the appropriate treatment course.

Cite This Article

APA
Araújo IRDS, de Brito EL, de Melo UP, Mariz ALB, Cavalheiro MT, Ferreira C, de Morais LF, de Souza RF. (2025). Knowledge levels regarding antibiotics and their use among horse owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Braz J Vet Med, 47, e000425. https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm000425

Publication

Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine
ISSN: 2527-2179
NlmUniqueID: 9918435088106676
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 47
Pages: e000425
PII: e000425

Researcher Affiliations

Araújo, Ingrid Raquel Dos Santos
  • Liga de Estudo em Medicina Interna Equina (Lamieq), Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
de Brito, Emilson Lima
  • Liga de Estudo em Medicina Interna Equina (Lamieq), Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
de Melo, Ubiratan Pereira
  • Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Mariz, Amanda Louíse Bittencourt
  • Liga de Estudo em Medicina Interna Equina (Lamieq), Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Cavalheiro, Mauricio Teixeira
  • Liga de Estudo em Medicina Interna Equina (Lamieq), Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Ferreira, Cintia
  • Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
de Morais, Leonardo Fiusa
  • Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.
de Souza, Renato Fernandes
  • Liga de Estudo em Medicina Interna Equina (Lamieq), Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Natal, RN, Brazil.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interests: IRSA, ELBF, UPM, ALBM, RFS, MTCJ, LFM, CF – No conflict of interest.

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