Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Application of veterinary antibiotics in China’s aquaculture industry and their potential human health risks

  • Eco-aquaculture, sustainable development and public health
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

China contributes to more than 60 % of the global aquaculture production, and its aquaculture industry has become one of the main players in food security. A large amount of antibiotics is believed to be used in fish cultivation for ensuring adequate production. The use of antibiotics as disease control agents and growth promoter in aquaculture in China has raised significant concerns recently because of the potential threats to human health. The extensive use of antibiotics in aquaculture may result in water and sediment contamination and the development of antibiotic resistance genes. In this review, the role of aquaculture in antibiotic contamination of the environment as well as the emerging concern of antibiotic resistance genes in China is discussed. Based on this review, it has been concluded that more information regarding the types and quantities of antibiotics used by Chinese fish farmers is required. Studies about the contribution of antibiotic usage in aquaculture to environmental levels in surface water, their potential risks on environment and human health, and the existence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture are needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agarwal M, Walia S, Dhingra S, Khambay BPS (2001) Insect growth inhibition, antifeedant and antifungal activity of compounds isolated/derived from Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) rhizomes. Pest Manag Sci 57:289–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anthérieu S, Rogue A, Fromenty B, Guillouzo A, Robin MA (2011) Induction of vesicular steatosis by amiodarone and tetracycline is associated with up‐regulation of lipogenic genes in heparg cells. Hepatology 53:1895–1905

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ardó L, Yin G, Xu P, László Váradi L, Szigeti G, Jeney Z, Jeney G (2008) Chinese herbs (Astragalus membranaceus and Lonicera japonica) and boron enhance the non-specific immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila. Aquaculture 275:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong JL, Calomiris JJ, Seidler RJ (1982) Selection of antibiotic-resistant standard plate-count bacteria during water treatment. Appl Environ Microbiol 44:308–316

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Austin B, Austin DA (2007) Bacterial fish pathogens: disease of farmed and wild fish. Springer Science & Business Media

  • Balcazar JL, De Blas I, Ruiz-Zarzuela I, Cunningham D, Vendrell D, Muzquiz JL (2006) The role of probiotics in aquaculture. Vet Microbiol 114:173–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brummett RE, Alvial A, Kibenge F, Forster J, Burgos JM, Ibarra R, St-Hilaire S, Chamberlain GC, Lightner DV, Khoa LV, Hao NV, Tung H, Loc TH, Reantaso M, Wyk PMV, Chamberlain GW, Towner R, Villarreal M, Akazawa N, Omar I, Josue L, Ralaimarindaza, Baloi AP, Blanc P, Nikuli HL (2014) Reducing disease risk in aquaculture. Agriculture and environmental services discussion paper; no. 9. Washington, DC; World Bank Report Number 88257-GLB, World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/19916913/reducing-disease-risk-aquaculture. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Brunson MW, Stone N, Hargreaves J (1999) Fertilization of fish ponds. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center

  • Cabello FC (2006) Heavy use of prophylactic antibiotics in aquaculture: a growing problem for human and animal health and for the environment. Environ Microbiol 8:1137–1144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao L, Wang W, Yang Y, Yang C, Yuan Z, Xiong S, Diana J (2007) Environmental impact of aquaculture and countermeasures to aquaculture pollution in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 14:452–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Capone DG, Weston DP, Miller V, Shoemaker C (1996) Antibacterial residues in marine sediments and invertebrates following chemotherapy in aquaculture. Aquaculture 145:55–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CFS (2006a) Malachite green and nitrofurans residues found in turbot imported from the Mainland. Food Alert for 2006. Center for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

  • CFS (2006b) Eel products with malachite green seized. Press Release. Center for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

  • CFS (2006c) Malachite green and nitrofurans residues found in freshwater fish imported from the Mainland. Food Alert for 2006. Center for Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Hong Kong SAR Government

  • Chen L (2015) China’s antibiotic problem comes under the spotlight. Epoch Times. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1282368-chinas-antibiotic-problem-comes-under-the-spotlight/. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Chen Y, Zhang H, Luo Y, Song J (2012) Occurrence and assessment of veterinary antibiotics in swine manures: a case study in East China. Chin Sci Bull 57:606–614

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Liu S, Xu XR, Liu SS, Zhou GJ, Sun KF, Zhao JL, Ying GG (2015) Antibiotics in typical marine aquaculture farms surrounding Hailing Island, South China: occurrence, bioaccumulation and human dietary exposure. Mar Pollut Bull 90:181–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu A, Li L, Guo S, Bai J, Fedor C, Naylor RL (2013) Feed and fishmeal use in the production of carp and tilapia in China. Aquaculture 414:127–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi WM (2013) Culturing grass carp and grey mullet using food waste incorporated with traditional Chinese medicine, baker’s yeast and enzymes. PhD thesis, Hong Kong Baptist University

  • Choi WM, Mo WY, Wu SC, Mak NK, Bian ZX, Nie XP, Wong MH (2013) Effects of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on the immune response of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Aquacult Int 22:361–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Citarasu T (2010) Herbal biomedicines: a new opportunity for aquaculture industry. Aquacult Int 18:403–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cogliani C, Goossens H, Greko C (2011) Restricting antimicrobial use in food animals: lessons from Europe. Microbe 6:274

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie J, Lin W, Zhang W (2011) Patient knowledge and antibiotic abuse: evidence from an audit study in China. J Health Econ 30:933–949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalsgaard I, Bjerregaard J (1991) Enrofloxacin as an antibiotic in fish. Acta Vet Scand Suppl 87:300–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhawan A, Kaur S (2002) Pig dung as pond manure: effect on water quality, pond productivity and growth of carps in polyculture system. NAGA ICLARM Q 25:11–14

    Google Scholar 

  • EMA (European Medicines Agency) (2015) European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption. http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/regulation/document_listing/document_listing_000302.jsp. Accessed 21 Apr 2015

  • Emborg H, Ersboll AK, Heuer OE, Wegener HC (2001) The effect of discontinuing the use of antimicrobial growth promoters on the productivity in the Danish broiler production. Prev Vet Med 50:53–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engster H, Marvil D, Stewart-Brown B (2002) The effect of withdrawing growth-promoting antibiotics from broiler chickens: a long-term commercial industry study. J Appl Poultry Res 11:431–436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2002) EU Standing Veterinary Committee agrees on suspension of imports of products of animal origin from China. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-02-143_en.htm?locale=en. Accessed 24 Apr 2015

  • Ewing WN, Cole D JA (1994) The living gut: an introduction to microorganisms in nutrition. Context, Dungannon, Ireland

  • FAO (2014) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2014. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2015) FishStatJ: a tool for fishery statistics analysis, Version 2.12.2. http://www.fao.org/fishery/statistics/software/fishstatj/en. Accessed 28 Apr 2015

  • FDA (2013) Phasing out certain antibiotic use in farm animals. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm378100.htm. Accessed 28 Apr 2015

  • FDA (2015) Animal drug user fee act reports. http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/UserFees/AnimalDrugUserFeeActADUFA/ucm042896.htm. Accessed 28 Apr 2015

  • FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (2015) Import Alert 16–131. Detention without physical examination of aquacultured catfish, basa, shrimp, dace, and eel from China—presence of new animal drugs and/or unsafe food additives. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_33.html. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Fishery Bureau of Department of Agriculture (2009) Fishery yearbook in China in 2008. Chinese Agriculture Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster P (2010) China threatens world health by unleashing waves of superbugs. Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7168303/China-threatens-world-health-by-unleashing-waves-of-superbugs.html. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Gao P, Mao D, Luo Y, Wang L, Xu B, Xu L (2012) Occurrence of sulfonamide and tetracycline-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in aquaculture environment. Water Res 46:2355–2364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gulkowska A, He Y, So MK, Yeung LWY, Leung HW, Giesy JP, Lam KS, Martin M, Richardson BJ (2007) The occurrence of selected antibiotics in Hong Kong coastal waters. Mar Pollut Bull 54:1287–1293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gullberg E, Cao S, Berg OG, Ilback C, Sandegren L, Hughes D, Andersson DI (2011) Selection of resistant bacteria at very low antibiotic concentrations. PLoS Pathog 7:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He S, Zhou Z, Meng K, Zhao H, Yao B, Ringø E, Yoon I (2011) Effects of dietary antibiotic growth promoter and fermentation product on production, intestinal bacterial community, and nonspecific immunity of hybrid tilapia (female × male). J Anim Sci 89:84–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He XT, Wang ZH, Nie XP, Yang YF, Pan DB, Leung AOW, Cheng Z, Yang YT, Li KB, Chen KC (2012) Residues of fluoroquinolones in marine aquaculture environment of the Pearl River Delta, south China. Environ Geochem Health 34:323–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu JY, Shi JC, Chang H, Li D, Yang M, Kamagata Y (2008) Phenotyping and genotyping of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a natural river basin. Environ Sci Technol 42:3415–3420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu XG, Zhou QX, Luo Y (2010) Occurrence and source analysis of typical veterinary antibiotics in manure, soil, vegetables and groundwater from organic vegetable bases, northern China. Environ Pollut 158:2992–2998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang R, Ding P, Huang D, Yang F (2015) Antibiotic pollution threatens public health in China. Lancet 385:773–774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes P, Heritage J (2004) Antibiotic growth-promoters in food animals. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper, 129–152

  • Issaragrisil S, Kaufman DW, Anderson T, Chansung K, Leaverton PE, Shapiro S, Young NS (2005) The epidemiology of aplastic anemia in Thailand. Blood 107:1299–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen BB (1998) The impact of feed additives on the microbial ecology of the gut in young pigs. J Anim Feed Sci 7:45–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jian J, Wu Z (2003) Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea (Richardson). Aquaculture 218:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang C (2012 January 5) When penicillin pays: why China loves antibiotics a little too much. Time. http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2103733,00.html. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Jiang L, Hu XL, Yin DQ, Zhang HC, Yu ZY (2011) Occurrence, distribution and seasonal variation of antibiotics in the Huangpu River, Shanghai, China. Chemosphere 82:822–828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin ZC, Jia Y, Wang L, Li X (1995) Antibacterial effects of Lycium barbarum extract. Inner Mongolia J Med 15:203 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly AM (2013) Medicated feed for food fish. Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC) Publication No. 473

  • Kemper N (2008) Veterinary antibiotics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Ecol Indic 8:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Köllner B, Wasserrab B, Kotterba G, Fischer U (2002) Evaluation of immune functions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)—how can environmental influences be detected? Toxicol Lett 131:83–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Mukherjee SC, Prasad KP, Pal AK (2006) Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic to Indian major carp Labeo rohita (Ham.). Aquac Res 37:1215–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Mukherjee SC, Ranjan R, Nayak SK (2008) Enhanced innate immune parameters in Labeo rohita (Ham.) following oral administration of Bacillus subtilis. Fish Shellfish Immunol 24:168–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lai HT, Chien YH, Lin JS (2008) Long-term transformation of oxolinic acid in water from an eel pond. Aquaculture 275:96–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lan J, Zhang X-H, Wang Y, Chen J, Han Y (2008) Isolation of an unusual strain of Edwardsiella tarda from turbot and establish a PCR detection technique with the gyrB gene. J Appl Microbiol 105:644–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau M (2015) China consumes almost half the world’s antibiotics—and they’re coursing through its waterways. South China Morning Post. http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1825400/chinese-government-must-tackle-overuse-antibiotics. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Lewbart G, Vaden S, Deen J, Manaugh C, Whitt D, Doi A, Smith T, Flammer K (1997) Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) after intramuscular, oral and bath administration. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 20:124–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li CH, Huang HH, Lin Q, Cai WG, Gan JL (2004) Environmental carrying capacity of the pollutants from the prawn seawater culture ponds. J Agro-Environ Sci 23:545–550

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Li J, Wang Y, Fu L, Fu Y, Li B, Jiao B (2011) Aquaculture industry in China: current state, challenges, and outlook. Rev Fish Sci 19:187–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Shi Y, Gao L, Liu J, Cai Y (2012) Occurrence of antibiotics in water, sediments, aquatic plants, and animals from Baiyangdian Lake in north China. Chemosphere 89:1307–1315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang X, Chen B, Nie X, Shi Z, Huang X, Li X (2013) The distribution and partitioning of common antibiotics in water and sediment of the Pearl River Estuary, South China. Chemosphere 92:1410–1416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JL, Wong MH (2013) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs): a review on environmental contamination in China. Environ Int 59:208–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu XW, Dang Z, Yang C (2009) Preliminary investigation of chloramphenicol in fish, water and sediment from freshwater aquaculture pond. Int J Environ Sci Technol 6:597–604

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo I (2015, July 6) Are you eating tainted seafood from China? Epoch Times. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1418351-why-you-should-beware-of-seafood-from-china/. Accessed 10 Jul 2015

  • Luo Y, Mao D, Rysz M, Zhou Q, Zhang H, Xu L, Alvarez PJJ (2010) Trends in antibiotic resistance genes occurrence in the Haihe River, China. Environ Sci Technol 44:7220–7225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malkin D, Koren G, Saunders EF (1990) Drug-induced aplastic anemia: pathogenesis and clinical aspects. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 12:402–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marengo JR, O’Brian RA, Velagaleti RR, Stamm JM (1997) Aerobic biodegradation of (14C)-sarafloxacin hydrochloride in soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:462–471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meng Z, Jin J, Liu Y, Gao P (2003) The induction and elimination of bacteria’s resistance. Chin Pharmacol Bull 19:1051–1054 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • MEP (2008). Discharge standard of water pollutants for pharmaceutical industry—chemical synthesis products category. http://kjs.mep.gov.cn/hjbhbz/bzwb/shjbh/swrwpfbz/200807/t20080701_124700.htm Accessed 28 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • Minh TB, Leung HW, Loi IH, Chan WH, So MK, Mao JQ, Choi D, Lam CW, Zheng G, Martin M, Lee HW, Lam KS, Richardson BJ (2009) Antibiotics in the Hong Kong metropolitan area: ubiquitous distribution and fate in Victoria Harbour. Mar Pollut Bull 58:1052–1062

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda CD, Tello A, Keen PL (2013) Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in finfish aquaculture environments. Front Microbiol 4:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mo WY (2014) Food wastes as feeds incorporated with Chinese herbs and prebiotic fibers on growth and non-specific immunity of grass carp, bighead, mud carp and Nile tilapia. PhD thesis, Hong Kong Baptist University

  • MOA (2002a) List of banned veterinary drugs and other chemical compounds for food animals. http://www.moa.gov.cn/zwllm/tzgg/gg/201104/t20110422_1976324.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • MOA (2003) Administrative regulation of quality and safety for aquaculture. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2004/content_62952.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • MOA (2007) Requirement for water discharge from freshwater aquaculture pond. http://www.spsp.gov.cn/Page/QT/2007/SCT%209101-2007.shtml. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese).

  • MOA (The Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China) (2002b) Safety food – criterion for usage of fishery drugs. http://www.moa.gov.cn/zwllm/tzgg/gg/201104/t20110422_1976324.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • Montero D, Izquierdo MS, Tort L, Robaina L, Vergara JM (1999) High stocking density produces crowding stress altering some physiological and biochemical parameters in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, juveniles. Fish Physiol Biochem 20:53–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muziasari WI, Managaki S, Pärnänen K, Karkman A, Lyra C, Tamminen M, Suzuki S, Virta M (2014) Sulphonamide and trimethoprim resistance genes persist in sediments at Baltic Sea aquaculture farms but are not detected in the surrounding environment. PloS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092702

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor R, Burke M (2005) Aquaculture and ocean resources: raising tigers of the sea. Annu Rev Environ Resour 30:185–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor RL, Goldburg RJ, Primavera JH, Kautsky N, Beveridge MCM, Clay J, Folke C, Lubchenco J, Mooney H, Troell M (2000) Effect of aquaculture on world fish supplies. Nature 405:1017–1024

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newaj-Fyzul A, Adesiyun AA, Mutani A, Ramsubhag A, Brunt J, Austin B (2007) Bacillus subtilis AB1 controls Aeromonas infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum). J Appl Microbiol 103:1699–1706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ni HG, Zeng H (2009) Law enforcement is key to China’s food safety. Environ Pollut 157:1990–1992

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen ME, Høi L, Schmidt AS, Qian D, Shimada T, Shen JY, Larsen JL (2001) Is Aeromonas hydrophila the dominant motile Aeromonas species that causes disease outbreaks in aquaculture production in the Zhejiang Province of China? Dis Aquat Organ 46:23–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NPC (2002) Water Law. http://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2005-08/31/content_27875.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • NPC (2008) Law on the prevention and control of water pollution. http://www.gov.cn/flfg/2008-02/28/content_905050.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • NPC (2009) Food safety law. http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2009-07/24/content_1373609.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • NPC (2014) Environmental protection law. http://www.npc.gov.cn/huiyi/lfzt/hjbhfxzaca/2014-04/25/content_1861320.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • NPC (National People’s Congress) (1999) Marine protection law. http://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2005-08/05/content_20925.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • Pemberton JM, Kidd SP, Schmidt R (1997) Secreted enzymes of Aeromonas. FEMS Microbiol Lett 52:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prein M (2002) Integration of aquaculture into crop–animal systems in Asia. Agric Syst 71:127–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pruden A, Pei RT, Storteboom H, Carlson KH (2006) Antibiotic resistance genes as emerging contaminants: studies in Northern Colorado. Environ Sci Technol 40:7445–7450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pruden A, Larsson DJ, Amézquita A, Collignon P, Brandt KK, Graham DW, Lazorchak JM, Suzuki S, Silley P, Snape JR, Topp E, Zhang T, Zhu YG (2013) Management options for reducing the release of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes to the environment. Environ Health Perspect 121:878–885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Punitha SMJ, Babu MM, Sivaram V, Shankar VS, Dhas SA, Mahesh TC, Immanuel G, Citarasu T (2008) Immunostimulating influence of herbal biomedicines on nonspecific immunity in grouper Epinephelus tauvina juvenile against Vibrio harveyi infection. Aquacult Int 16:511–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray AK, Ghosh K, Ringø E (2012) Enzyme-producing bacteria isolated from fish gut: a review. Aquacult Nutr 18:465–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson BJ, Lam PK, Martin M (2005) Emerging chemicals of concern: pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in Asia, with particular reference to southern China. Mar Pollut Bull 50:913–920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarmah AK, Meyer MT, Boxall ABA (2006) A global perspective on the use, sales, exposure pathways, occurrence, fate and effects of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) in the environment. Chemosphere 65:725–759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato Y, Suzaki S, Nishikawa T, Kihara M, Shibata H, Higuti T (2000) Phytochemical flavones isolated from Scutellaria barbata and antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Ethnopharmacol 72:483–488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz T, Kohnen W, Jansen B, Obst U (2003) Detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in wastewater, surface water, and drinking water biofilms. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 43:325–335

  • Shane SM (2003) Benefit of virginiamycin defended. Feedstuffs 75:17

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi P, Jia S, Zhang XX, Zhang T, Cheng S, Li A (2013) Metagenomic insights into chlorination effects on microbial antibiotic resistance in drinking water. Water Res 47:111–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Son VM, Chang CC, Wu MC, Guu YK, Chiu CH, Cheng W (2009) Dietary administration of the probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum, enhanced the growth, innate immune responses, and disease resistance of the grouper Epinephelus coioides. Fish Shellfish Immunol 26:691–698

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • State Council of China (2001) Administrative regulation of feed and feed additives. http://www.nbzj.gov.cn/html/zhengwupian/redianlanmu/shipinzhilianganquanjianguan/shipinzhilianghongheibang/2013/0205/41870.html. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • State Council of China (2004) Regulations on the administration of veterinary drugs. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2004/content_62760.htm. Accessed 21 Apr 2015 (In Chinese)

  • Su HC, Ying GG, Tao R, Zhang RQ, Fogarty LR, Kolpin DW (2011) Occurrence of antibiotic resistance and characterization of resistance genes and integrons in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from integrated fish farms in south China. J Environ Monit 13:3229–3236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugita H, Yamada S, Konagaya Y, Deguchi Y (1999) Production of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase and chitinase by Aeromonas species isolated from river fish. Fisheries Sci 65:155–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tamminen M, Karkman A, Lõhmus A, Muziasari WI, Takasu H, Wada S, Suzuki S, Virta M (2010) Tetracycline resistance genes persist at aquaculture farms in the absence of selection pressure. Environ Sci Technol 45:386–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomke S, Elwinger K (1998) Growth promotants in feeding pigs and poultry ii; Mode of action of antibiotic growth promotants. Ann Zootech 47:153–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verschuere L, Rombaut G, Sorgeloos P, Verstraete W (2000) Probiotic bacteria as biological control agents in aquaculture. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 64:655–671

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YP, Ma Y (2008) Potential public hazard of using antibiotics in livestock industry. Chin J Antibiot 33:519–523 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Yu J, Li Y, Ji W, Xu H (2002a) Isolation and identification of pathogen (Vibrio harveyi) from sea perch, Lateolabrax japonicus. J Ocean Univ China 9:52–55 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Du Z, Chen G, Li Y, Ji W, Xu H (2002b) Application of probiotic A18 to larvae culture of bay scallop (Argopecten irradians). Chin High Tech Lett 8:86–90 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Lin H, Xue C, Khalid J (2004) Elimination of chloramphenicol, sulphamethoxazole and oxytetracycline in shrimp, Penaeus chinensis following medicated-feed treatment. Environ Int 30:367–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang A, Zheng G, Liao S, Huang H, Sun R (2007a) Diversity analysis of bacteria capable of removing nitrate/nitrite in a shrimp pond. Acta Ecol Sin 27:1937–1943 (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YY, Han Y, Li J, Chen JX, Zhang XH (2007b) Isolation of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida from diseased tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis Gunther) in China. Acta Microbiol Sin 47:763–768 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Sui Q, Zhao WT, Lu SD, Qiu ZF, Yu G (2014) Pharmaceutical and personal care products in the surface water of China: a review. Chin Sci Bull 59:743–751 (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Wang B, Zhao Q, Zhao Y, Fu C, Feng X, Wang N, Su M, Tang C, Jiang F, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Jiang Q (2015) Antibiotic body burden of Chinese school children: a multisite biomonitoring-based study. Environ Sci Technol 49:5070–5079

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei Q (2002) Social and economic impacts of aquatic animal health problems in aquaculture in China, pp. 55–61. In: Primary aquatic animal health care in rural, small-scale, aquaculture development (Arthur, J. R., M. J. Phillips, R. P. Subasinghe, M. B. Reantaso, and I. H. MacRae, Eds.). FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 406. Rome Italy: FAO

  • Wong MH, Cheung KC, Yediler A, Wong CKC (2004) The dike-pond systems in south China: past, present and future. In: Wong MH (ed) Wetlands ecosystems in Asia: function and management. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 47–68

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2012) Critically important antimicrobials for human medicine (3rd revision). WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Ye J, Lu Q, Wu H, Pan Q (1998) Studies on Gynostemma pentaphyllum used as fish feed additives. J Shanghai Fish Univ 7:367–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao H, Li Y, Wang XH, Ji WS, Xu HS (1999) Studies on pathogens of rotted gill and rotted caudal fins of seaperch (Laterolabrax japonicus) fry. J Ocean Uni Qingdao 29:87–93 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiong W, Sun Y, Zhang T, Ding X, Li Y, Wang M, Zeng Z (2015) Antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and bacterial community composition in fresh water aquaculture environment in China. Microbial Ecol 70:452–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu WH, Zhu XB, Wang XT, Deng LP, Zhang G (2006) Residues of enrofloxacin, furazolidone and their metabolites in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Aquaculture 254:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu WH, Zhang G, Zou SC, Li XD, Liu YC (2007) Determination of selected antibiotics in the Victoria Harbour and the Pearl River, South China using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Environ Pollut 145:672–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu WH, Zhang G, Zou SC, Ling ZH, Wang GL, Wen Y (2009) A preliminary investigation on the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the Yellow River and its Tributaries, China. Water Environ Res 81:3

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu W, Yan W, Li X, Zou Y, Chen X, Huang W, Miao L, Zhang R, Zhang G, Zou S (2013) Antibiotics in riverine runoff of the Pearl River Delta and Pearl River Estuary, China: concentrations, mass loading and ecological risks. Environ Pollut 182:402–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue B, Zhang R, Wang Y, Liu X, Li J, Zhang G (2013) Antibiotic contamination in a typical developing city in south China: occurrence and ecological risks in the Yongjiang River impacted by tributary discharge and anthropogenic activities. Ecotox Environ Safe 92:229–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan CX, Yang Y, Zhou JL, Liu M, Nie MH, Shi H, Gu LJ (2013) Antibiotics in the surface water of the Yangtze Estuary: occurrence, distribution and risk assessment. Environ Pollut 175:22–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye J, Zhou S, Zhang G, Xu W (2007) Characteristics of selected antibiotics in the aquatic environment of the Pearl River Delta, south China. Ecol Environ 16:384–388 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin G, Ardó L, Thompson KD, Adams A, Jeney Z, Jeney G (2009) Chinese herbs (Astragalus radix and Ganoderma lucidum) enhance immune response of carp, Cyprinus carpio, and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish Shellfish Immun 26:140–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Lei J, Yu H, Cai X, Zou G (2004) Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Scutellaria barbata. Phytochemistry 65:881–884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XX, Zhang T, Fang HHP (2009) Antibiotic resistance genes in water environment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 82:397–414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang RJ, Zhang G, Tang JH, Xu WH, Li J, Liu X, Zou YD, Chen XX, Li XD (2012) Levels, spatial distribution and sources of selected antibiotics in the East River (Dongjiang), South China. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 15:210–218

  • Zhang R, Tang J, Li J, Zheng Q, Liu D, Chen Y, Zou Y, Chen X, Luo C, Zhang G (2013) Antibiotics in the offshore water of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea in China: occurrence, distribution and ecological risks. Environ Pollut 174:71–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang QQ, Ying GG, Pan CG, Liu YS, Zhao JL (2015) A comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics emission and fate in the river basins of China: source analysis, multimedia modelling, and linkage to bacterial resistance. Environ Sci Technol 49:6772–6782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Dong YH, Wang H (2010) Residues of veterinary antibiotics in manures from feedlot livestock in eight provinces of China. Sci Total Environ 408:1069–1075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao JL, Liu YS, Liu WR, Jiang YX, Su HC, Zhang QQ, Chen XW, Yang YY, Chen J, Liu SS, Pan CG, Huang GY, Ying GG (2015) Tissue-specific bioaccumulation of human and veterinary antibiotics in bile, plasma, liver and muscle tissues of wild fish from a highly urbanized region. Environ Pollut 198:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Q, Zhang RJ, Wang YH, Pan XH, Tang JH, Zhang G (2012) Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the Beibu Gulf, China: impacts of river discharge and aquaculture activities. Mar Environ Res 78:26–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou SM, Xie MQ, Zhu XQ, Ma Y, Tan ZL, Li AX (2008) Identification and genetic characterization of Streptococcus iniae strains isolated from diseased fish in China. J Fish Dis 31:869–875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou S, Xu W, Zhang R, Tang J, Chen Y, Zhang G (2011) Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in coastal water of the Bohai Bay, China: impacts of river discharge and aquaculture activities. Environ Pollut 159:2913–2920

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Oi Wah Leung.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Roland Kallenborn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mo, W.Y., Chen, Z., Leung, H.M. et al. Application of veterinary antibiotics in China’s aquaculture industry and their potential human health risks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 8978–8989 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5607-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5607-z

Keywords

Navigation