A Review on Antimicrobial Residues in Aqua culture, Public Health Importance and Control Measures

Abstract

AQUACULTURE is a promising sector in worldwide food production. The past 20 years have seen tremendous development in aquaculture production and per capita fish consumption. Aquaculture productivity has increased due to the switch from semi-intensive to intensive culture and the use of antibiotics to control disease outbreaks. Aquaculture systems often contains antibiotics below therapeutic levels in both water environments and fish tissue. This increases selective pressure on resistant bacteria and promotes resistance gene transmission in aquatic environments. There is strong evidence that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes can transfer from water to land. This transmission may hami humans and animals by causing treatment-resistant infections and contributing to the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Antibiotic usage and bacterial resistance data in aquaculture is scarce in most aquaculture-producing nations. There is little data on fish and shellfish antibiotic residues. Countries have set antibiotic maximum residue levels (MRLs) in fish muscle or skin. Other antibiotics lack MRLs. Therefore, a swift and comprehensive worldwide effort is required to track antibiotic levels and resistant bacteria, particularly those resistant to multiple antibiotics, in aquaculture and to evaluate the associated risks. This narrative literature review documented the presence of antimicrobials in aquaculture and wild fish species worldwide, particularly during the period between 2000 and to present. The major antimicrobial classes that were reported to be in use in the aquaculture are tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and quinolones Also the review highlighted the health hazards associated with the consumption offish with antibiotic residues.