The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have jointly published the surveillance data of the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) for the years 2019-2022. This marks a significant milestone as it’s the inaugural report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance trends in the fisheries and livestock sector in India.

Establishing INFAAR: A Collaborative Effort

INFAAR, a network of laboratories established under ICAR, with technical support from FAO and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), focuses on AMR surveillance in fisheries and livestock sectors. Presently, encompassing 20 laboratories, including various research institute laboratories and university facilities, INFAAR aims for further expansion in its scope and reach.

Antibiotic use in food animal production is a significant contributor to the emergence and spread of AMR. Therefore, data generated on AMR trends play a crucial role in informing policies and decisions aimed at containing AMR.

Insights into Fisheries Sector

The surveillance efforts covered three primary production systems within the fisheries sector: freshwater, brackish-water, and marine. These systems were defined according to FAO classifications based on salinity levels.

The panel of antibiotics tested included various commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture. Samples collected across the three aquaculture systems consisted of fish or shrimp samples and pond or seawater samples. A total of 3,087 farms spanning 42 districts in 12 states of India were included in the survey.

Resistance Profiles

Across all three systems, resistance profiles were analyzed for specific bacteria known to have implications for human health. Notable findings include:

• Staphylococcus aureus: Exhibited high resistance against penicillin across all systems — shrimp (94.3%), freshwater fish (91.4%), marine fish (79.2%).
• Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (CONS): Showed varied resistance patterns across different systems.
• Escherichia coli: Displayed moderate resistance, mainly against specific antibiotics, in shrimp and marine samples. Ampicillin resistance was observed in shrimp (39.2%) and cefotaxime resistance in marine samples (54.1%).
• Vibrio species: Notable resistance observed in shrimp and marine fish samples. Ampicillin resistance was noted in shrimp (56-59%), and cefotaxime resistance in marine samples (around 56%).
• Aeromonas species: Showed resistance mainly in freshwater fish samples, particularly against cefoxitin (42.7%).

Implications for Human Health

Several of the bacteria studied are known to cause infections in humans. The observed resistance patterns underscore the importance of monitoring and regulating antibiotic use in aquaculture to mitigate potential public health risks associated with AMR.