Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture: Risk Mitigation within the One Health Context.

Area of Science:

• Aquaculture
• Environmental Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial use in aquaculture can lead to zoonotic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and transmission to humans through food.
• The aquatic environment acts as a reservoir for ARB, fostering antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development.
• Interconnections between aquaculture, terrestrial environments, food processing, and human populations create pathways for resistant bacteria transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of effective risk mitigation strategies for tackling AMR in aquaculture.
• To emphasize the integration of the One Health (OH) concept in addressing AMR in aquaculture.
• To highlight the importance of environmental aspects in AMR control efforts.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on AMR mitigation strategies in aquaculture.
• Analysis of risk factors and transmission pathways for ARB.
• Evaluation of One Health (OH) approaches for integrated AMR control.

Main Results:

• Stringent antimicrobial use guidelines, enhanced biosecurity, vaccinations, and alternatives to antibiotics (prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils, peptides, phage therapy) are effective.
• Optimized feeding practices, genetics, water quality monitoring, and wastewater treatment are crucial.
• Integrating environmental aspects into OH efforts is vital for predicting, detecting, and preventing AMR risks, especially in low and middle-income countries.

Conclusions:

• Integrated AMR control in fisheries based on the OH approach significantly reduces resistance.
• Successful implementation in Asia demonstrated a decrease in antimicrobial resistance exceeding 50% from 52% to 22% in two decades.
• Prioritizing environmental components within OH frameworks is essential for comprehensive AMR management in aquaculture.