Tuesday, November 20, 2012

20/11/12: News stories on antibiotics, shrimp bans and Global GAP certification

Hello, 
  • The use of antibiotics in aquaculture is on the rise as farmers seek ways to improve the health of their fish. However, growing resistance to antibiotics is also on the increase. With this is mind, this article on phys.org is very relevant. The article focuses on Syed Qaswar Ali Shah's doctoral research project on the genetic foundation for resistance to antibiotics in bacteria isolated from salmon in Norway. Read more...
  • Vietnamese authorities are seeking clarification as why China has banned the import of fresh shrimp from the country. No state agency in Vietnam was aware of the ban until a seafood company told the Ministry of Industry and Trade that one of its shipment had been rejected. Chinese agencies have said that Vietnamese shrimp may contain viruses, the exports do not adhere to Chinese rules and Vietnam has failed to provide information on shrimp culture. Read more...
  • More good news for Huon Aquaculture.  The Tasmania-based fish farm has become the first salmon producer in Australia to receive Global GAP accreditation. The certification means the company has passed Global GAP's assessment of quality. The news comes on top of being awarded ‘Tasmanian Exporter of the Year’ award last month. Read more...




Since the antibiotics that are used in veterinary medicine and aquaculture belong to the same group of antibiotics as those used in medicines for humans, increased resistance to these medicines will be detrimental to public health. Syed Qaswar Ali Shah's doctoral research project has studied the genetic foundation for resistance to antibiotics in bacteria isolated from salmon fish in Norway. He collected quinolone-resistant isolates of the bacterium Flavobacterium psychrophilum from rainbow trout and equivalent isolates of Yersinia ruckeri from Atlantic salmon. These bacteria are the cause of bacterial coldwater disease in rainbow trout and redmouth disease in salmon respectively. Only a limited number of antibiotic agents are authorised for use in aquaculture. The development of resistance to quinolones must lead to restrictions in the use of this drug in the aquaculture industry, heightened focus on the prevention of infection and the development of a vaccine against Flavobacterium psychrophilum so that infection is avoided.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-11-antimicrobial-resistance-fish-pathogenic-bacteria.html#jCp
Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics Test plate
Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics Test plate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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