4 - Veterinary drug use in aquaculture

Abstract

Publisher Summary Like all other living species, fish are subject to a wide range of different diseases, some of which are of infectious aetiology. Infectious diseases are a consciously present challenge in aquaculture and might cause economic losses as well as problems associated with animal welfare. Fish in aquaculture might encounter infections by viruses, micro-organisms such as fungi and bacteria, or by internal and external parasites. Several viral diseases cause problems in aquaculture on a world-wide basis but since there is virtually no available treatment for such infections, they do not contribute to consumption of therapeutic agents in aquaculture. This chapter discusses the properties of and consumption patterns for antimicrobial agents, anti-parasitic agents, and anesthetics used in aquaculture. Furthermore, the seafood safety aspects and environmental considerations for such agents have also been discussed. The absence of harmful residues of drugs in farmed fish is one of several key issues in providing safe products. On a global basis, much is still to be done in providing a well-regulated and transparent system for drug application and residue control. Considerable success has been obtained with vaccination against bacterial diseases encountered in fish farming. The chapter highlights that to reduce the amount of anti-bacterial agents used, further research and development of vaccines should be undertaken.