Contact Details

Lucy Brunton (lbrunton@rvc.ac.uk). Lecturer in Molecular Epidemiology. Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

Background

Aquaculture systems are complex and influenced by environmental changes, cultural, human behavioural and socio-economic factors. In low and middle-income countries the intensification of aquaculture production is likely to drive indiscriminate use antibiotics to treat or prevent diseases and or to increase productivity, often to compensate for deficiencies in management and husbandry.

Project Overview

A systems-thinking approach was undertaken to map components, interactions and flow of products in two commercially important aquaculture systems in Vietnam. The aim was to identify hotspots for the emergence and selection of antibiotic use and hotspots for human explore to antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes, as well as identify potential drivers of antibiotic use and interventions to reduce antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in striped catfish and white-leg shrimp production. 

Research Impact

The findings of this study have provided a platform to quantify risks at different time points, understand the interaction of the various components, identify key stakeholders who can lead and implement changes. Furthermore, the maps generated can be used to understand the flow of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance bacterial and antibiotic resistance genes in the system. 

This study has demonstrated that the application of integrated and inter-disciplinary approach to characterize antibiotic use in aquaculture by using systems thinking and mapping by stakeholders has been successful in providing a platform to quantify risks a

Researchers

Lucy Brunton^a, Andrew Desbois^b, Maria Garza^a, Barbara Wieland^c, Chadag Vishnumurthy Mohan^d, Barbara Häsler^a, Clarence Tam^e,f, Phug Nguyen Thien Le^g, Nguyen Phuong^h, Phan Thi Vanⁱ, Hung Nguyen Viet^j, Mohamoud Eltholth^b,k, Dang Kim Phan^l, Phuc Pham Duc^m, Nguyen Linh^g, Karl Rich^j, Ana Mateus^a, Md. Ahasanul Hoqueⁿ, Abdul Ahadⁿ, Mohamed Khanⁿ, Alexandra Adams^b, Javier Guitian^a.

Institutions Involved

1. Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
2. Institute of Aquaculture, Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
3. International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
4. WorldFish, Jalan Batu Maung, Batu Maung, 11960 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
5. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
6. National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Rd, Singapore
7. School of Biotechnology, International University - Vietnam National University HCMC, Đông Hoà, Thủ Đức, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
8. College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University, Campus 2, 3/2 street, Xuân Khánh, Ninh Kiều, Cần Thơ, Viet Nam
9. Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1, Đình Bảng, Từ Sơn, Bắc Ninh, Viet Nam
10. International Livestock Research Institute, 298 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
11. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, El Guish St., Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt
12. Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Trau Quy, Gia Lam, Hanoi, Viet Nam
13. Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Đức Thắng, Phường Đức Thắng, Đông Ngạc, Bắc Từ Liêm, Hà Nội, Viet Nam
14. Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Zakir Hossain Road, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Funding

UK Medical Research Council, CGIAR Research Program on FISH, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). 

More information 

1. Full publication available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.134
2. More available here