Abstract

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in companion animals in Nigeria is underreported, raising public health concerns due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The present study aimed to establish baseline data on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) among veterinarians treating small animals and, with a focus on prescription patterns and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HP-CIAS). A nationwide web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and November 2022, utilizing an online self-administered questionnaire among 96 companion animal veterinarians (CAVs) in Nigeria. Data collected included veterinarians' demographics, diseases treated, prescribed antimicrobial agents, utilization of laboratory diagnostic tests, and veterinarians' knowledge of AMS and MAR. The survey was conducted using KoBo Toolbox (Cambridge, MA, USA), and the variables were analyzed with Epi Info version 7.1.3.10. Among the 96 respondents, 62.5% were male. The most frequently reported conditions were infectious and parasitic diseases (80.6%), followed by abscesses, injuries, and bite wounds (68.8%), and digestive system diseases (65.6%). The most commonly prescribed first-line antibiotics were oxytetracycline (81.4%) and metronidazole (56.9%), while ciprofloxacin (39.8%) and gentamicin (33.7%) were often prescribed as second-line antibiotics for companion animals. Approximately 38.3% of respondents reported 100% efficacy of the first antibiotic prescribed, while 90.3% were aware of laboratory test results before using antimicrobial agents. The data collected provides essential baseline insights into AMU patterns among CAVs in Nigeria, which are critical for guiding AMR interventions focused on responsible antimicrobial use, including the development of AMS initiatives and educational programs for veterinary practices nationwide.