Canadian Aquaculture: Supporting the need to develop sentinel surveillance programs for antimicrobial resistance among Canadian marine aquaculture facilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Marine aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry globally. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stemming from aquaculture is a public and occupational health concern but is poorly understood. Prescribed antibiotics are administered via fish-feed to treat infected fish, which also non-selectively exposes healthy stocks to the agents and increases antibiotic loads in surrounding environments. Consequential selection and amplification of AMR bacteria may create hotspots affecting aquaculture workers and their communities via consumption of contaminated fish and through direct or indirect occupational and environmental exposures to contaminants. Mitigative efforts have purportedly reduced antibiotic use but past and contemporary impacts on AMR exposures are unknown. This case study will identify regulatory and data gaps that currently hinder the implementation of sentinel surveillance strategies in Canada. METHODS: i) Profile antibiotic use by Canada’s marine aquaculture industry from 2016 to 2018 in comparison with other global industry leaders. ii) Comparative analysis of regulatory regime and surveillance differences across aquaculture-practicing leaders. RESULTS:Public reporting reveals Canadian marine aquaculture’s use of antibiotics was higher than reported in Norway, but lower than reported in Chile. There is no standardized monitoring for AMR via aquatic contaminants or identification of potential pathways from those contaminants to aquaculture workers and communities in Canada. This situation is somewhat different in other countries. Current data repositories are insufficient to elucidate the extent of human and environmental risk stemming from AMR emergence from within and around aquaculture sites. CONCLUSIONS:Canada should develop protective sentinel surveillance programs, but currently lacks the baseline studies required to stimulate evidence-based dialogue. Harmonization of data collection across jurisdictions can help define factors that increase selection pressure for the development of AMR in aquaculture settings. Furthermore, coordinated data management at the public health level can help flag health challenges potentially emerging from environmental exposures to AMR bacteria. KEYWORDS: Policy and practice, Pharmaceuticals, Occupational exposures