Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/32581
Appears in Collections:Aquaculture Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Systems-thinking approach to identify and assess feasibility of potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use in tilapia farming in Egypt
Author(s): Desbois, Andrew P
Garza, Maria
Eltholth, Mahmoud
Hegazy, Yamen M
Mateus, Ana
Adams, Alexandra
Little, David C
Høg, Erling
Mohan, Chadag Vishnumurthy
Ali, Shimaa E
Brunton, Lucy A
Contact Email: andrew.desbois@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance
Antimicrobial resistance
One health
Aquaculture
Tilapia
Egypt
Issue Date: 15-Jul-2021
Date Deposited: 4-May-2021
Citation: Desbois AP, Garza M, Eltholth M, Hegazy YM, Mateus A, Adams A, Little DC, Høg E, Mohan CV, Ali SE & Brunton LA (2021) Systems-thinking approach to identify and assess feasibility of potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use in tilapia farming in Egypt. Aquaculture, 540, Art. No.: 736735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736735
Abstract: Antibiotics are used in aquaculture to maintain the health and welfare of stocks; however, the emergence and selection of antibiotic resistance in bacteria poses threats to humans, animals and the environment. Mitigation of antibiotic resistance relies on understanding the flow of antibiotics, residues, resistant bacteria and resistance genes through interconnecting systems, so that potential solutions can be identified and issues around their implementation evaluated. Participatory systems-thinking can capture the deep complexity of a system while integrating stakeholder perspectives. In this present study, such an approach was applied to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production in the Nile Delta of Egypt, where disease events caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens have been reported. A system map was co-produced with aquaculture stakeholders at a workshop in May 2018 and used to identify hotspots of antibiotic use, exposure and fate and to describe approaches that would promote fish health and thus reduce antibiotic use. Antibiotics are introduced into the aquaculture system via direct application for example in medicated feed, but residues may also be introduced into the system through agricultural drainage water, which is the primary source of water for most fish farms in Egypt. A follow-up survey of stakeholders assessed the perceived feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of potential interventions. Interventions that respondents felt could be implemented in the short-term to reduce antibiotic usage effectively included: more frequent water exchanges, regular monitoring of culture water quality parameters, improved storage conditions for feed, use of probiotics and greater access to farmer and service providers training programmes. Other potential interventions included greater access to suitable and rapid diagnostics, high quality feeds, improved biosecurity measures and genetically-improved fish, but these solutions were expected to be achieved as long-term goals, with cost being of one of the noted barriers to implementation. Identifying feasible and sustainable interventions that can be taken to reduce antibiotic use, and understanding implementation barriers, are important for addressing antibiotic resistance and ensuring the continued efficacy of antibiotics. This is vital to ensuring the productivity of the tilapia sector in Egypt. The approach taken in the present study provides a means to identify points in the system where the effectiveness of interventions can be evaluated and thus it may be applied to other food production systems to combat the problem of antibiotic resistance.
DOI Link: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736735
Rights: This item has been embargoed for a period. During the embargo please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author. You can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study. Accepted refereed manuscript of: Desbois AP, Garza M, Eltholth M, Hegazy YM, Mateus A, Adams A, Little DC, Høg E, Mohan CV, Ali SE & Brunton LA (2021) Systems-thinking approach to identify and assess feasibility of potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use in tilapia farming in Egypt. Aquaculture, 540, Art. No.: 736735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736735 © 2021, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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