Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance
Ornamental fish represent a significant aquaculture sector with notable economic value, yet their contribution to antibiotic residues and resistance remains underrecognized. This review synthesizes evidence on widespread and often unregulated antibiotic use—including tetracyclines and fluoroquinolon...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/937 |
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| author | Chun Au-Yeung Yat-Lai Tsui Man-Hay Choi Ka-Wai Chan Sze-Nga Wong Yuk-Ki Ling Cheuk-Ming Lam Kit-Ling Lam Wing-Yin Mo |
| author_facet | Chun Au-Yeung Yat-Lai Tsui Man-Hay Choi Ka-Wai Chan Sze-Nga Wong Yuk-Ki Ling Cheuk-Ming Lam Kit-Ling Lam Wing-Yin Mo |
| author_sort | Chun Au-Yeung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ornamental fish represent a significant aquaculture sector with notable economic value, yet their contribution to antibiotic residues and resistance remains underrecognized. This review synthesizes evidence on widespread and often unregulated antibiotic use—including tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones—in ornamental fish production, transportation, and retail, primarily targeting bacterial diseases such as aeromonosis and vibriosis. Pathogenic microorganisms including <i>Edwardsiella</i>, <i>Flavobacterium</i>, and <i>Shewanella</i> spp. cause diseases like hemorrhagic septicemia, fin rot, skin ulcers, and exophthalmia, impairing fish health and marketability. Prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic applications elevate antibiotic residues in fish tissues and carriage water, thereby selecting for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). These resistant elements pose significant risks to fish health, human exposure via direct contact and bioaerosols, and environmental health through contamination pathways. We emphasize the urgent need for a holistic One Health approach, involving enhanced surveillance, stringent regulatory oversight, and adoption of alternative antimicrobial strategies, such as probiotics and advanced water treatments. Coordinated global actions are crucial to effectively mitigate antibiotic resistance within the ornamental fish industry, ensuring sustainable production, safeguarding public health, and protecting environmental integrity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82013c782fe4458c97d322e9dd15109f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-82013c782fe4458c97d322e9dd15109f2025-08-20T02:18:10ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-04-0113493710.3390/microorganisms13040937Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic ResistanceChun Au-Yeung0Yat-Lai Tsui1Man-Hay Choi2Ka-Wai Chan3Sze-Nga Wong4Yuk-Ki Ling5Cheuk-Ming Lam6Kit-Ling Lam7Wing-Yin Mo8Department of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Applied Science, School of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong KongOrnamental fish represent a significant aquaculture sector with notable economic value, yet their contribution to antibiotic residues and resistance remains underrecognized. This review synthesizes evidence on widespread and often unregulated antibiotic use—including tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones—in ornamental fish production, transportation, and retail, primarily targeting bacterial diseases such as aeromonosis and vibriosis. Pathogenic microorganisms including <i>Edwardsiella</i>, <i>Flavobacterium</i>, and <i>Shewanella</i> spp. cause diseases like hemorrhagic septicemia, fin rot, skin ulcers, and exophthalmia, impairing fish health and marketability. Prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic applications elevate antibiotic residues in fish tissues and carriage water, thereby selecting for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). These resistant elements pose significant risks to fish health, human exposure via direct contact and bioaerosols, and environmental health through contamination pathways. We emphasize the urgent need for a holistic One Health approach, involving enhanced surveillance, stringent regulatory oversight, and adoption of alternative antimicrobial strategies, such as probiotics and advanced water treatments. Coordinated global actions are crucial to effectively mitigate antibiotic resistance within the ornamental fish industry, ensuring sustainable production, safeguarding public health, and protecting environmental integrity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/937antibioticsantibiotic resistancezoonotic pathogensOne Healthgood aquaculture practices |
| spellingShingle | Chun Au-Yeung Yat-Lai Tsui Man-Hay Choi Ka-Wai Chan Sze-Nga Wong Yuk-Ki Ling Cheuk-Ming Lam Kit-Ling Lam Wing-Yin Mo Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance Microorganisms antibiotics antibiotic resistance zoonotic pathogens One Health good aquaculture practices |
| title | Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance |
| title_full | Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance |
| title_fullStr | Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance |
| title_short | Antibiotic Abuse in Ornamental Fish: An Overlooked Reservoir for Antibiotic Resistance |
| title_sort | antibiotic abuse in ornamental fish an overlooked reservoir for antibiotic resistance |
| topic | antibiotics antibiotic resistance zoonotic pathogens One Health good aquaculture practices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/4/937 |
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