Very often fish keepers call on veterinarians because they are convinced that they need antibiotics for their sick fish…. after consulting doctor Google. What is the issue with this?
For one thing, antibiotics may not be indicated as the treatment for the condition. There are really very many reasons why fish get sick. Could it be water quality issues? Different parasitic conditions? Virus? Stress? Trauma? Cancer? Notice that GPs do not simply dish out antibiotics at every consultation?
Why not? This paper details a very pertinent reason. High levels of resistance have been reported to amoxicillin, penicillin, tetracycline and oxytetracycline. I concur with this from all the lab testing I have conducted. Where indicated, my first line antibiotic would not include these drugs.
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Zoonotic bacteria, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial
resistance in ornamental fish: a systematic review
of the existing research and survey of aquaculture-
allied professionals
Weir M, A Rajic, L Dutil, N Cernicchiaro, FC Uhland, B
Mercier & N Tusevljak (2012). Epidemiology & Infection,
140 (2): 192 – 206.
Abstract
Using systematic review methodology, global research
reporting the frequency of zoonotic bacterial
pathogens, antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) in ornamental fish, and human illness
due to exposure to ornamental fish, was examined. A
survey was performed to elicit opinions of aquacultureallied
personnel on the frequency of AMU and AMR in
ornamental fish.
The most commonly reported sporadic human infections
were associated with Mycobacterium marinum,
while Salmonella Paratyphi B var. Java was implicated
in all reported outbreaks. Aeromonas spp. were most
frequently investigated (n=10 studies) in 25 studies surveying
ornamental fish from various sources. High levels
of resistance were reported to amoxicillin, penicillin,
tetracycline and oxytetracycline, which was also in
agreement with the survey respondents’ views.
Studies on AMU were not found in our review. Survey
respondents reported frequent use of quinolones,
followed by tetracyclines, nitrofurans, and aminoglycosides.
Recommendations for future surveillance and
public education efforts are presented
