HOLISTIC

HOLISTIC

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global challenge affecting public health and food security. Aquaculture, in particular, is considered a “hotspot” for bacteria and AR genes. Experts have recently highlighted the lack of knowledge regarding AMR in aquaculture in Europe and are calling for monitoring of AMR in water.

Description project

The objective is to describe the dynamics of AMR in two complex aquaculture systems: open-system fish farming and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The main hypotheses are: 1) water and feed are sources of AMR, and 2) AMR persists in both systems. Four fish farms will be recruited, including two in recirculating systems and two in open systems, with one farm upstream and the other downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. We will collect water, sediment, and biofilms at key points on the farm, as well as feed. A combination of cultural and molecular methods will be used to obtain a comprehensive view of AMR. The results will contribute to the risk analysis of AMR dissemination in the aquatic environment and to the identification of critical control points.

Partners

  • Maykel Hernández Mesa, Universidad de Granada, Spain
  • Marta Pérez Sancho, laboratorio VISAVET, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
  • Thomas Brauge, ANSES, Boulogne-sur-Mer
  • Corinna Kehrenberg, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany

Staff from BIOEPAR

Nora Navarro-Gonzalez, Segolene Calvez, Lionel Pineau, Celine David, Houssem Ben Yahia (postdoc), Sarah Ochoa (doctorante), Anne Lehebel, Nadine Brisseau

Contact person

Nora Navarro-Gonzalez

Results

Three scientific manuscripts are currently being drafted.

Preliminary results have been presented at several international conferences, as well as at a national symposium:

Ochoa S, David C, Bachelet F, Pineau L, Perez-Sancho M, Ben Yahia H, Kehrenberg C, Calvez S, Navarro-Gonzalez N (2025) Tracking trouble: sources, persistence, and risk factors of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia spp in freshwater fish farms of north-west France. European Association of Fish Pathlogists, Heraklion (Greece). Oral communication

Navarro-Gonzalez N, Ochoa S (2025) Assessment of fecal pollution in the freshwater fish farm environment and first insight into antimicrobial resistance. Cell S Marin, Nantes (France). Oral communication

A. Narváez-Simón, S. Ochoa, A. M. García-Campaña, N. Navarro-González, M. Hernández-Mesa (2025) Quantification of antibiotics in aquaculture waters using SPLC-HRMS: Integrating One Health insights. Euroanalysis, Barcelona (Spain). Poster

Ben Yahia H, Ochoa S, David C, Bachelet F, Pineau L, Calvez S, Navarro-Gonzalez N (2024) Sources and persistence of fecal bacteria and antimicrobial resistance in freshwater fish farms from North-West France. Aqua 2024, Copenhaguen (Denmark). Oral communication

Links

Sarah Ochoa, doctorante BIOEPAR :

https://bioepar.angers-nantes.hub.inrae.fr/l-unite/annuaire2/membres-o/ochoa-sarah

Houssem Ben Yahia, postdoc à BIOEPAR:

https://bioepar.angers-nantes.hub.inrae.fr/l-unite/annuaire2/anciens-membres/anciens-2025

Participation du projet à la Fête de la Science :

https://bioepar.angers-nantes.hub.inrae.fr/communication/faits-marquants/faits-marquants-2024/l-antibioresistance-en-aquaculture

Others informations

Presentation at Pint of Science and DECLICS.

Lecture at the Nantes-Giessen exchange program’s scientific day in Giessen, Germany (audience: German and French veterinary students).

Scientific seminar at the VISAVET research center (Madrid, Spain), for an audience of scientists and technical staff.

Scientific seminar at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) for doctoral students in the “Animal Medicine and Health” program