A global analysis on the systemic effects of antibiotics in cultured fish and their potential human health risk: a review

Abstract

The rearing of fish in intensive systems reduces their immunity leading to eruption of diseases, consequently prompting the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are currently used in cultured fish globally to treat/prevent diseases. On the one hand, antibiotics used in aquaculture help to improve fish health by killing or inhibiting pathogenic bacteria proliferation. However, on the other hand, they cause multiple side effects. To date, information on systemic effects of antibiotics in cultured fish is scattered and their potential human health risk remains elusive. This review critically analyses and discusses the available information in the literature on the positive and negative effects of antibiotics in cultured fish and their potential human health risk via fish consumption. The review found 44 different antibiotics dominated by oxytetracycline were studied in various fish species worldwide. Antibiotics used in global aquaculture either decrease or increase fish growth and survival rates. They induce oxidative stress, which affect antioxidant and detoxification responses and cause host–microbiota dysbiosis. These changes compromise the fish immunity system, which ultimately lead to cellular damage. The toxicities generated inhibit the fish aerobic glycolysis, suppress lipogenesis and fatty acid β‐oxidation while increase energy demand by initiating gluconeogenesis and anaerobic glycolysis. Consumption of fish treated with antibiotics causes human health risk. Future studies are required on agents to restore dysfunctions induced by antibiotics in cultured fish, while attempts to limit their utilisation in aquaculture production are underway. [Correction added on 21 November 2020, after first online publication: The abstract has been amended to clarify the scope of the review.]

Accumulation and clearance of tissue residues and health status of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) juveniles as influenced by the extended oral oxytetracycline-dosing

“…The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) is the most widely used chemotherapeutics to treat speci c and systemic bacterial infections of n sh (USFWS 2015;Julinta et al 2019a, b). Many reports are available on the application of OTC and its usefulness in controlling the bacterial diseases in aquaculture (Hernandez 2005;Watts et al 2017;Limbu et al 2020). However, the abuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry and aquaculture, as well as lack of awareness on the withdrawal time after treatment, have resulted in their release into the surrounding environments and emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria (Watts et al 2017;Limbu et al 2020).…”

“…Many reports are available on the application of OTC and its usefulness in controlling the bacterial diseases in aquaculture (Hernandez 2005;Watts et al 2017;Limbu et al 2020). However, the abuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry and aquaculture, as well as lack of awareness on the withdrawal time after treatment, have resulted in their release into the surrounding environments and emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria (Watts et al 2017;Limbu et al 2020). Furthermore, the presence of antibiotic residues in food sh might cause adverse reactions in some susceptible consumers (Romero et al 2012;Watts et al 2017;Limbu et al 2020).…”

“…Across the world, the apprehension on the consumption of food sh treated with antibiotics has been increasing due to the impact on the economy, public health and consumers' ethics (Chen et al 2020). However, the information on direct human health risk through consumption of antibiotics contaminated food sh are lacking (Limbu et al 2018(Limbu et al , 2020. To ensure the safety of food supply for consumers and simplify international trade, the maximum residue limit (MRL) for OTC residues in sh muscle has been established as 100 ng/g by European Union [EU] (Anonymous 2010a) and 200 ng/g by the Codex Alimentarius (Anonymous, 2006), Canada (Anonymous 2010b) and Japan (Anonymous 2011).…”

“…The aquaculture use of antibiotics is reportedly caused numerous effects on the developmental, cardiovascular and metabolic systems of sh than their primary purpose, which may vary with species and life stage, antibiotics types, mode of action, dose and dosages (Yang et al 2020). Besides, the antibiotics may affect growth performance of the cultured sh through enhanced oxidative stress, body damage, impaired nutrients metabolism, feed utilization e ciency and immunosuppression (Limbu et al 2020). In global aquaculture, at least eight different groups of antibiotics, dominated by tetracyclines, are used.…”

Effects of Microencapsulated Organic Acid and Their Salts on Growth Performance, Immunity, and Disease Resistance of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

“…The global farmed shrimp industry is frequently plagued with disease outbreaks starting from yellow head (YHV) and white spot syndrome (WSSV) virus in the 1990s to more recently, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) (Flegel 2019, Ng et al 2015. The frequent outbreaks led to an increased use of antibiotics as a metaphylactic or prophylactic to treat or prevent diseases, respectively or as antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) (Limbu et al 2020). Reducing antibiotic use in farmed animals for disease control and banning as AGP is a global trend driven mainly by the increasing risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria (WHO 2017, Zhao et al 2020.…”