New research from the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, shows how genes associated with antibiotic resistance can spread and persist in the gut of farmed Atlantic salmon.
A study led by the University of Glasgow’s SalmoSim research group, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, highlights the risks of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture. Researchers found that a multi-drug resistant plasmid, originally from catfish bacteria, spread within an in vitro Atlantic salmon gut model during treatment with florfenicol, a common aquaculture antibiotic. Even after treatment stopped, resistance genes persisted, raising concerns about long-term environmental and health impacts. The findings emphasize the need for stronger stewardship measures to manage antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture and its potential spread to wild species and humans.