Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110265

Jeff B. Bender, DVM, MS, DACVPM, Veterinary Public Health, University of Minnesota, 136F Andrew Boss, 1354 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, 612-625-6203, bende002@umn.edu, Peter Davies, BVSc, PhD, Allen D. Leman Chair - Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, 385 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, and Elizabeth Wagstrom, DVM, MS, DACVPM, Science and Technology, National Pork Board, 1776 NW 114th Street, Des Moines, IA 50325.

Changes in regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine and the distribution of animal health products were initiated in Denmark in 1995. During 1998 a policy was initiated prohibiting the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in hogs heavier than 30 kg. That ban was extended to nursery pigs weighing less than 30 kg by December 1999. Denmark has a rigorous system of reporting and surveillance of antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine, animal health, and public health outcomes. During a study trip conducted in January, 2005, information was collected from public health agencies, animal health institutions, industry sources, and visits with pork producers and veterinarians to assess the impacts of the antimicrobial use restrictions. Information collected included changes in amounts and uses of antibiotics in agriculture, trends in prevalence and resistance in foodborne bacteria, and changes in animal productivity and husbandry. Total use of antibiotics in food animals has fallen since 1997, however the therapeutic use of antibiotics in food animals has increased during that same period. There has been little change in reports of foodborne illness or in resistance patterns in foodborne bacteria during that time.

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