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PREFACE A N T I B I O T I C S O R D I N A R I L Y A R E D E F I N E D as antibacterial or antiparasitic c o m p o u n d s derived f r o m m i c r o o r g a n i s m s . In this b o o k sulfonamides also are included because, while they are not derived f r o m microorganisms, they are used i n the same manner as antibiotics. Since the discovery of p e n i c i l l i n , a n e n o r m o u s n u m b e r of a n t i b i o t i c c o m p o u n d s have been isolated. They have f o u n d uses b o t h i n treatment of h u m a n disease a n d i n various aspects of agriculture, i n c l u d i n g treatment of a n i m a l a n d plant diseases, a n d as feed additives to p r o m o t e
growth
animals. S o m e antibiotics such as tylosin were developed specifically
of for
agricultural use. T h i s b o o k was developed to provide a current perspective o n a g r i c u l tural use of antibiotics. Topics include some major
uses of antibiotics,
problems associated w i t h their use f r o m a regulatory standpoint, residues i n f o o d i n c l u d i n g methods of detection, risks to h u m a n health f r o m use i n feeds, trends i n use, a n d overall risks and benefits. The scope, therefore, is m u c h broader t h a n i n several other recent s y m p o s i a that have
focused
mainly o n the controversy regarding the use of antibiotics as feed additives. M a n y of the topics included i n the present volume have not been discussed under one cover before. T h e practice of i n c o r p o r a t i n g low levels of antibiotics i n livestock feeds to promote growth has been particularly controversial. It is feared that this practice w i l l result i n development of resistant bacteria i n animals, w h i c h w i l l in t u r n be passed o n to h u m a n s , thus d i m i n i s h i n g the effectiveness antibiotics i n treatment
of h u m a n disease. A
of
petition f r o m the N a t u r a l
Resources Defense C o u n c i l to b a n such uses of penicillin a n d tetracyclines recently was denied by the Secretary of H e a l t h a n d H u m a n Services. T h e controversy therefore is likely to continue. O p i n i o n o n the subject is quite polarized, a n d several points of view are presented i n this b o o k . T h a n k s are due to participants i n the s y m p o s i u m for their support and diligence i n p r e p a r i n g the material for p u b l i c a t i o n a n d to the A C S B o o k s Department for their unfailing support and guidance. WILLIAM A. MOATS
Meat Science Research Laboratory Agricultural Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Beltsville, MD 20705
Moats; Agricultural Uses of Antibiotics ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1986.
