A review on antibiotic use in tilapia farming: Pharmacokinetics, impacts, and potential health risks

The rapid expansion of global aquaculture has propelled tilapia to become the third most widely farmed freshwater fish species worldwide, valued for its rapid growth, remarkable adaptability and economic value. However, the improper use of antibiotics, including misuse, overuse, and prophylactic application has posted multi-scale risks to health and ecological security, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive evaluation. This review aims to: (1) clarify the current status of antibiotic use in tilapia farming, covering major categories, administration methods, practical dose ranges, and international regulatory disparities, with emphasis on overuse and irrational drug combinations; (2) elucidate the pharmacokinetic behavior of antibiotics in tilapia (e.g., absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), focusing on tissue-specific residue patterns and bioaccumulation; (3) systematically assess the direct toxicological impacts of antibiotics on tilapia, encompassing physiological disturbances, metabolic toxicity, immune suppression, gut microbiota dysbiosis and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance induction; (4) reveal the ecological perturbations caused by antibiotics in aquaculture environments, including disruptions to microbial communities, degradation of essential ecological functions and the emergence and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes; (5) investigate the potential human health risks associated with food-chain bioaccumulation, including dietary exposure, allergic responses, gut microbiome imbalance, and promotion of resistant pathogens in humans. Overall, this review provides evidence to support rational antibiotic-use guidelines, improved residue monitoring and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and the development of safer alternatives to promote sustainable aquaculture.