Overview of use of antibiotics and emergence of AMR in aquaculture

Abstract

The presentation provides a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial use in global aquaculture and its role in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. It outlines patterns of antibiotic application, common pathogens such as Aeromonas, Vibrio, and Streptococcus, and historical examples of resistance spread through plasmids and gene transfer. Highlighting case studies from Asia, Africa, and Europe, it discusses unregulated antibiotic usage, limited vaccine access, and poor AMU monitoring in low- and middle-income countries. The presentation further describes WorldFish-led initiatives in Bangladesh, including AMU/AMR surveys, aquamedicine photobook development, wet-market sampling, and capacity-building workshops, emphasizing the need for harmonized surveillance, strengthened biosecurity, and policy-driven stewardship to mitigate AMR risks in aquaculture.