Data collection on antibiotics for control of plant pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

There are neither guidance nor methodology proposed to systematically collect data on antibiotics used as plant protection products, antimicrobial resistance of plant pathogenic bacteria or alternative and innovative treatments for the control of phytopathogenic bacteria, at the worldwide scale level. This is the final report of the project on data collection on antibiotics for control of plant pathogenic bacteria, with the view of reducing risk assessment uncertainties. The project collected and reviewed scientific, grey and patent literature information. This analysis highlighted the lack of publicly easily accessible data on antibiotics as plant protection products. On a worldwide scale, up to 39 countries have been found using antibiotics such as kasugamycin, gentamicin, streptomycin, oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, validamycin or zhongshengmycin. This analysis also pointed out i) the change of use over time and scale, dependent on practice and legislation changes and ii) the question about the risk for animal and human health lying with antibiotics used in plant production and the possibility to select for complex antibiotic resistance gene vectors. Streptomycin is the antibiotic to which plant pathogenic bacteria are the most often reported as resistant, via several ways of counteracting the effect of this antibiotic. Streptomycin resistance in plant pathogenic bacteria was reported in 18 countries. Globally antibiotic resistance reports arose mainly from the USA, South America and Asia. The report also highlighted alternative control measures, with a few already commercially available and sometimes providing efficient control of the plant pathogenic bacteria, but mostly with a lot under research and development. Data gaps, uncertainties and research needs to improve antibiotic use and resistance risk assessment were also highlighted. Finally, the project stressed the need to raise awareness on the risk of improper use of antibiotics as plant protection products, with an emphasis on capacity building and communication.