In finfish aquaculture, the most broadly useful antimicrobial is oxytetracycline (OTC). The aquaculture industry and the Subcommittee for Aquatic Animal Health have outlined that access to this product for non-salmonid finfish is a priority. Bacterial diseases are increasingly managed by eradication, maintenance of animals of specified health status, vaccination, and good hygiene, but antimicrobial therapy remains vital for treating bacterial diseases in finfish aquaculture. Appropriate use of antimicrobials cures sick animals and speeds recovery, improving welfare and reducing the spread of infection. Use of OTC is not intended for prophylactic treatment, but to manage disease outbreaks. Use in South Australia, for example, is sporadic (~1 to 2 times per year for a sector). The Aquaculture industry is committed to Australia’s antimicrobial strategy, and as required by APVMA this proposal includes an antimicrobial resistance risk assessment. Available data for OTC can satisfy the APVMA module requirements for efficacy, chemistry and manufacture, toxicology, trade and occupational health and safety. These are available in published literature, a range of industry studies of animals treated off-label and laboratory studies. There is a lack of data to satisfy the requirements mainly in the environment modules and the antimicrobial resistance risk assessment.
Project number:
2019-106
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$118,402.00
Principal Investigator:
Marty R. Deveney
Organisation:
University of Adelaide
Project start/end date:
30 Jun 2020
-
29 Jun 2021
Contact:
FRDC