Heavy use of prophylactic antibiotics in aquaculture: a growing problem for human and animal health and for the environment

Abstract

The accelerated growth of finfish aquaculture has resulted in a series of developments detrimental to the environment and human health. The latter is illustrated by the widespread and unrestricted use of prophylactic antibiotics in this industry, especially in developing countries, to forestall bacterial infections resulting from sanitary shortcomings in fish rearing. The use of a wide variety of antibiotics in large amounts, including non-biodegradable antibiotics useful in human medicine, ensures that they remain in the aquatic environment, exerting their selective pressure for long periods of time. This process has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquaculture environments, in the increase of antibiotic resistance in fish pathogens, in the transfer of these resistance determinants to bacteria of land animals and to human pathogens, and in alterations of the bacterial flora both in sediments and in the water column. The use of large amounts of antibiotics that have to be mixed with fish food also creates problems for industrial health and increases the opportunities for the presence of residual antibiotics in fish meat and fish products. Thus, it appears that global efforts are needed to promote more judicious use of prophylactic antibiotics in aquaculture as accumulating evidence indicates that unrestricted use is detrimental to fish, terrestrial animals, and human health and the environment.

Sensibilidade antimicrobiana de bactérias isoladas de Jundiá (Rhamdia quelen)

“…O uso abusivo destas drogas está associado a diversos problemas, como a presença de resí-duos ilegais na carne e transmissão de bactérias resistentes para o meio ambiente, animais e o próprio homem, num risco potencial à saúde pública (Schmidt et al 2000). Cabello (2006) afirma que a grande utilização de antimicrobianos na profilaxia de infecções em aqüicultura está aumentando a possibilidade da contaminação do meio ambiente, dos animais e do próprio homem com bactéri-as resistentes. Em nosso trabalho, a resistência a mais de um antimicrobiano foi observada, em bactérias dos gêneros Aeromonas spp.…”

“…Todavia, tem seu emprego limitado, pois se utilizados de uma forma indiscriminada e abusiva podem acarretar no desenvolvimento de uma microbiota resistente, através da troca de plasmídeos de resistência em infecções cruzadas e inativação dos agentes antimicrobianos pelo pH da água (Akinbowale et al 2006, Cabello 2006. A contaminação de fontes de água com resíduos de antibióticos, pode ser responsável por infecções de difícil tratamento e constituir um risco a saúde pública (Dixow & Issvoran 1993, Schmidt et al 2000, Saavedra et al 2004.…”

Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the Beibu Gulf, China: Impacts of river discharge and aquaculture activities

“…These systems are evolving to become a significant contributor to meet the demands for seafood (Sapkota et al, 2008). Moreover, hygienic shortcomings in raising methods, including increased stocking densities, the crowding of farming sites in coastal waters, a lack of sanitary barriers and a failure to isolate aquaculture base units with infected animals (Cabello, 2006;Reboucas et al, 2011;Taylor et al, 2011), have increased the possibility of rapid spreading of infection. This possibility also results in an augmented use of prophylactic antibiotics, often with the misguided goal of compensating for these sanitary shortcomings (Cabello, 2006).…”

“…Moreover, hygienic shortcomings in raising methods, including increased stocking densities, the crowding of farming sites in coastal waters, a lack of sanitary barriers and a failure to isolate aquaculture base units with infected animals (Cabello, 2006;Reboucas et al, 2011;Taylor et al, 2011), have increased the possibility of rapid spreading of infection. This possibility also results in an augmented use of prophylactic antibiotics, often with the misguided goal of compensating for these sanitary shortcomings (Cabello, 2006). Given the knowledge of resistance development, it is possible that similar problems may exist in connection with the use of antibiotics in aquaculture (Holmstrom et al, 2003).…”

Release of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Aquaculture Farms to Selangor River, Malaysia

“…The antibiotics have been used to cure the diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. However, the use of antibiotics would damage not only targeted bacterial pathogens, but also a number of non-pathogenic bacteria which may play significant roles in aquatic environments [4]. Since bacteria play a central role in microbial loop [5], the elemental and energy flow in aquatic ecosystems could be significantly altered by antibiotics, resulting in various negative impacts on natural ecosystems.…”