Zoetis discusses antibiotic resistance

Dear Dr. Fox: We saw your column, “A Shameful Drug Company,” which ran in the Tulsa World on March 26 and other newspapers over the previous days.

We at Zoetis want you to know that we take the issue of antibiotic resistance very seriously, and support the responsible use of antibiotic medicines in animals and in people.

We recognize that animal and human health are interdependent and, therefore, advocate for taking a One Health approach to the responsible use of antibiotics across human and veterinary medicine.

We believe that veterinary professionals should be involved in decisions about the use of antibiotic medicines in animals to protect animal and human health, to assure the safety of the food supply and to help reduce the risk of resistance.

We recognize that there are substantial differences in livestock production systems and degrees of food security in countries throughout the world, and that an efficient food production system will be required to continue feeding a growing world population.

Each country enacts regulations appropriate for their market needs and standards, and we work with the national regulatory authorities in international countries, including India, to understand, respect and comply with local regulatory interpretation and oversight.

We are committed to working with regulatory authorities, veterinary professionals and livestock producers in developing countries such as India to help advance the understanding and implementation of sustainable production systems and practices with a goal of raising healthy animals.

We understand that the Indian authorities are in the process of reviewing the laws that regulate the use of antibiotics in medical feed additives to be given to animals.

In parallel, Zoetis is currently reviewing our company’s medicated feed additive product regulatory claims.

— Elinore White, senior director of corporate communications, Zoetis

Dear E.W.: Your response is appreciated. Having worked in India, I can attest to the difficulties that can arise due to corruption and disinformation, and sympathize to a degree with your company’s progress there.

You state that your company “advocates a One Health approach to the responsible use of antibiotic medicines across human and veterinary medicine.”

But in my professional opinion, you have failed to act responsibly because of the cross-species, farmedanimal-to-human risk of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, especially when the antibiotics are sold in high volume to put into farmed-animal feed to promote growth.

When I gave the keynote address in 1994 to the Indian Veterinary Academy, I was shown data at the Veterinary College in Hisar of increasing antibiotic resistance in calves because of the overuse of antibiotics.

That was 25 years ago! Enough.

To readers: I must add that India is the secondlargest exporter of beef in the world, and also exports many dairy products and other animal products for human consumption in the U.S., Europe and many other countries.

This increases the risk of widespread dissemination of “superbugs” — bacteria from farmed animals resistant to most, if not all, antibiotics — that cause food poisoning with fatal organ failure.

Write c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 or email animaldocfox@gmail.com. Visit Dr. Fox’s Web site at www. DrFoxVet.com.