Complexities involved in source attribution of antimicrobial resistance genes found in aquaculture products

Karunasagar, Iddya and Karunasagar, Indrani and Bondad-Reantaso, Melba G. (2020) Complexities involved in source attribution of antimicrobial resistance genes found in aquaculture products. Asian Fisheries Science Journal (Malaysia), 33. pp. 16-21. ISSN 2073-3720

Aquaculture is contributing to nearly half of food fish production and the growth of the sector is the main contributor to the increase in fish production for the last three decades. Detection of antibiotic resistance in food-associated bacteria including those associated with products of aquaculture has been causing great concern. Often, this is directly linked to antimicrobial use in aquaculture. However, attributing the source of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria found in aquaculture products is complicated. In this study, we look at the origin, evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance documented in literature. The results indicate that antibiotic resistance observed in aquaculture environment has multiple sources. Antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon and existed in bacteria before the human use of antibiotics. Some bacteria have intrinsic resistance to certain antibiotics. Resistance to antibiotics is found in bacteria in the deep sea and in high seas, where it is unlikely to have any exposure to antibiotics. However, extensive use of antibiotics in different sectors has contributed to the enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital environments, animal farms, and the aquatic environment. Aquatic bodies receive effluents from hospitals and animal farms that carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria from these sectors. These bacteria may end up in aquaculture farms and in fish harvested from these farms. Distinguishing resistance that has been selected in different sectors is extremely difficult and caution is needed while trying to attribute the source of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the aquatic environment.

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Abstract

Aquaculture is contributing to nearly half of food fish production and the growth of the sector is the main contributor to the increase in fish production for the last three decades. Detection of antibiotic resistance in food-associated bacteria including those associated with products of aquaculture has been causing great concern. Often, this is directly linked to antimicrobial use in aquaculture. However, attributing the source of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria found in aquaculture products is complicated. In this study, we look at the origin, evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance documented in literature. The results indicate that antibiotic resistance observed in aquaculture environment has multiple sources. Antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon and existed in bacteria before the human use of antibiotics. Some bacteria have intrinsic resistance to certain antibiotics. Resistance to antibiotics is found in bacteria in the deep sea and in high seas, where it is unlikely to have any exposure to antibiotics. However, extensive use of antibiotics in different sectors has contributed to the enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital environments, animal farms, and the aquatic environment. Aquatic bodies receive effluents from hospitals and animal farms that carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria from these sectors. These bacteria may end up in aquaculture farms and in fish harvested from these farms. Distinguishing resistance that has been selected in different sectors is extremely difficult and caution is needed while trying to attribute the source of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the aquatic environment.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Aquaculture
AGROVOC Term:	fishery production
AGROVOC Term:	antimicrobial resistance
AGROVOC Term:	risk assessment
AGROVOC Term:	microbiologists
AGROVOC Term:	food safety
AGROVOC Term:	sustainable aquaculture
Geographical Term:	Italy
Depositing User:	Nor Hasnita Abdul Samat
Date Deposited:	27 Mar 2025 04:23
Last Modified:	27 Mar 2025 04:23
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/511

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