Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Fish Pathogens
Ron A Miller1, Heather Harbottle1
1U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Division of Human Food Safety, Rockville, MD 20855.
Microbiology Spectrum
|January 27, 2018
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance in fish farming is a growing concern. Mobile genetic elements like plasmids and integrons in fish pathogens facilitate the spread of resistance genes, posing risks to aquatic environments and potentially human health.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic microbiology
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Fish pathogens
Background:
- Antimicrobial use in aquaculture raises concerns about resistance development in fish and aquatic environments.
- Existing antimicrobials are becoming less effective against fish pathogens due to emerging resistant bacteria.
- Mass mortalities in shrimp larvae have been linked to antimicrobial-resistant *Vibrio harveyi*.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mobile genetic elements in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.
- To identify specific genetic determinants and mobile elements associated with antimicrobial resistance in fish pathogens.
- To assess the potential for gene transfer between aquatic and terrestrial bacterial pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Identification of genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture environments.
- Characterization of mobile genetic elements, including plasmids and integrons, carrying resistance genes.
- Comparative analysis of plasmid DNA between aquatic and terrestrial bacterial pathogens.
Main Results:
- Antimicrobial resistance genes are frequently located on mobile genetic elements, such as transferable plasmids and integrons.
- Class 1 integrons and IncA/C plasmids are prevalent in key fish pathogens (*Aeromonas*, *Yersinia*, *Photobacterium*, *Edwardsiella*, *Vibrio*).
- Plasmids in fish pathogens show significant homology to those in terrestrial pathogens, indicating high mobility and plasticity.
Conclusions:
- Mobile genetic elements, particularly plasmids and integrons, are critical drivers of antimicrobial resistance transmission in aquatic environments.
- The plasticity of plasmid profiles suggests a substantial reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes shared between aquatic and terrestrial pathogens.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for managing antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture and preventing its spread.
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