Aquaculture Drugs: Sources, Active Ingredients, Pharmaceutic Preparations and Methods of Administration

Abstract

Aquaculture remains a growing, vibrant and important food production sector. However, disease outbreaks have disrupted aquaculture production, often with severe socio-economic and ecological consequences. Anti-microbial chemotherapy has been used in aquaculture for over past 60 years and discovery of new and effective anti-microbial agents have changed the microbial virulence and severity of disease, leading to a dramatic reduction in morbidity and mortality, and contributing to significant advances in the health of the general population. Anti-microbials are used both as prophylactic, at times of heightened risk of disease and as therapeutic, when an outbreak of disease occurs in the system. There are several anti-microbials drugs used for fish health management however, information on anti-microbial used in aquaculture and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of administration is very limited. In recent years, the issues relating to antibacterial use in animal food is under severe scientific and public scrutiny due to human health concern. Besides providing protection against microbial infection, chemotherapy may complicate health management by triggering toxicity, resistance, residues and occasionally public health and environmental consequences. Therefore, highly efficient and relatively safer drug is required to develop with the emphasis on prevention, which is likely to be more cost-effective than cure, which will reduce the possible problems associated with excessive use anti-microbials.