A systematic review on antibiotics misuse in livestock and aquaculture and regulation implications in China

Lonicera japonica protects Pelodiscus sinensis by inhibiting the biofilm formation of Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaculture has suffered significant financial losses as a result of the infection of zoonotic Aeromonas hydrophila, which has a high level of resistance to classic antibiotics. In this study, we isolated an A. hydrophila strain B3 from diseased soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), which is one of the most commercially significant freshwater farmed reptiles in East Asia, and found that A. hydrophila was its dominant pathogen. To better understand the inhibition effect and action mechanism of Chinese herbs on A. hydrophila, we conducted Chinese herbs screening and found that Lonicera japonica had a significant antibacterial effect on A. hydrophila B3. Experimental therapeutics of L. japonica on soft-shelled turtle showed that the supplement of 1% L. japonica to diet could significantly upregulate the immunity-related gene expression of soft-shelled turtle and protect soft-shelled turtle against A. hydrophila infection. Histopathological section results validated the protective effect of L. japonica. As the major effective component of L. japonica, chlorogenic acid demonstrated significant inhibitory effect on the growth of A. hydrophila with MIC at 6.4 mg/mL. The in vitro assay suggested that chlorogenic acid could inhibit the hemolysin/protease production and biofilm formation of A. hydrophila and significantly decrease the expression of quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and hemolysin-related genes in A. hydrophila. Our results showed that the Chinese herb L. japonica would be a promising candidate for the treatment of A. hydrophila infections in aquaculture, and it not only improves the immune response of aquatic animals but also inhibits the virulence factor (such as biofilm formation) expression of A. hydrophila. KEY POINTS: • A. hydrophila was the dominant pathogen of the diseased soft-shelled turtle. • L. japonica can protect soft-shelled turtle against A. hydrophila infection. • Chlorogenic acid inhibits the growth and biofilm formation of A. hydrophila.

Reduced graphene oxide promotes the biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole by white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium under cadmium stress

The biodegradation of antibiotics in aquatic environment is consistently impeded by the widespread presence of heavy metals, necessitating urgent measures to mitigate or eliminate this environmental stress. This work investigated the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium (WRF) under heavy metal cadmium ion (Cd2+) stress, with a focus on the protective effects of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The pseudo-first-order rate constant and removal efficiency of 5 mg/L SMX in 48 h by WRF decrease from 0.208 h-1 and 55.6% to 0.08 h-1 and 28.6% at 16 mg/L of Cd2+, while these values recover to 0.297 h-1 and 72.8% by supplementing RGO. The results demonstrate that RGO, possessing excellent biocompatibility, effectively safeguard the mycelial structure of WRF against Cd2+ stress and provide protection against oxidative damage to WRF. Simultaneously, the production of manganese peroxidase (MnP) by WRF decreases to 38.285 U/L in the presence of 24 mg/L Cd2+, whereas it recovers to 328.51 U/L upon the supplement of RGO. RGO can induce oxidative stress in WRF, thereby stimulating the secretion of laccase (Lac) and MnP to enhance the SMX degradation. The mechanism discovered in this study provides a new strategy to mitigate heavy metal stress encountered by WRF during antibiotic degradation.

Biogenic sulfur recovery from sulfate-laden antibiotic production wastewater using a single-chamber up-flow bioelectrochemical reactor

The high-concentration sulfate (SO42-) in the antibiotic production wastewater hinders the anerobic methanogenic process and also proposes possible environmental risk. In this study, a novel single-chamber up-flow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UBER) was designed to realize simultaneous SO42- removal and elemental sulfur (S0) recovery. With the carbon felt, the cathode was installed underneath and the anode above to meet the different biological niches for sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB). The bio-anode UBER (B-UBER) demonstrated a much higher average SO42- removal rate (SRR) of 113.2 ± 5.7 mg SO42--S L-1 d-1 coupled with a S0 production rate (SPR) of 54.4 ± 5.8 mg S0-S L-1 d-1 at the optimal voltage of 0.8 V than that in the abio-anode UBER (control reactor) (SRR = 86.6 ± 13.4 mg SO42--S L-1 d-1; SPR = 25.5 ± 9.7 mg S0-S L-1 d-1) under long-term operation. A large amount of biogenic S0 (about 72.2 mg g-1 VSS) was recovered in the B-UBER. The bio-anode, dominated by Thiovirga (SOB genus) and Acinetobacter (electrochemically active bacteria genus), exhibited a higher current density, lower overpotential, and lower internal resistance. C-type cytochromes mainly served as the crucial electron transfer mediator for both direct and indirect electron transfer, so that significantly increasing electron transfer capacity and biogenic S0 recovery. The reaction pathways of the sulfur transformation in the B-UBER were hypothesized that SRB utilized acetate as the main electron donor for SO42- reduction in the cathode zone and SOB transferred electrons to the anode or oxygen to produce biogenic S0 in the anode zone. This study proved a new pathway for biogenic S0 recovery and sulfate removal from sulfate-laden antibiotic production wastewater using a well-designed single-chamber bioelectrochemical reactor.

Trophic transfer of antibiotics in the benthic-pelagic coupling foodweb in a macrophyte-dominated shallow lake: The importance of pelagic-benthic coupling strength and baseline organism

In lake ecosystems, pelagic-benthic coupling strength (PBCS) is closely related to foodweb structure and pollutant transport. However, the trophic transfer of antibiotics in a benthic-pelagic coupling foodweb (BPCFW) and the manner in which PBCS influences the trophic magnification factor (TMFs) of antibiotics is still not well understood in the whole lake. Herein, the trophic transfer behavior of 12 quinolone antibiotics (QNs) in the BPCFW of Baiyangdian Lake were studied during the period of 2018-2019. It was revealed that 24 dominant species were contained in the BPCFW, and the trophic level was 0.42-2.94. Seven QNs were detected in organisms, the detection frequencies of ofloxacin (OFL), flumequine (FLU), norfloxacin (NOR), and enrofloxacin (ENR) were higher than other QNs. The ∑QN concentration in all species was 11.3-321 ng/g dw. The TMFs for ENR and NOR were trophic magnification, while for FLU/OFL it was trophic dilution. The PBCS showed spatial-temporal variation, with a range of 0.6977-0.7910. The TMFs of ENR, FLU, and OFL were significantly positively correlated with PBCS. Phytoplankton and macrophyte biomasses showed indirect impact on the TMFs of QNs by directly influencing the PBCS. Therefore, the PBCS was the direct influencing factor for the TMFs of chemicals.

Effect of microplastics on oxytetracycline trophic transfer: Immune, gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance gene responses

Microplastics and antibiotics are prevalent and emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, but their interactions in aquatic food chains remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the impact of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) on oxytetracycline (OTC) trophic transfer from the shrimp (Neocaridina denticulate) to crucian carp (Carassius auratus) by metagenomic sequencing. The carrier effects of PP-MPs promoted OTC bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, which exacerbated enterocyte vacuolation and hepatocyte eosinophilic necrosis. PP-MPs enhanced the inhibitory effect of OTC on intestinal lysozyme activities and complement C3 levels in shrimp and fish, and hepatic immunoglobulin M levels in fish (p < 0.05). Co-exposure of MPs and OTC markedly increased the abundance of Actinobacteria in shrimp and Firmicutes in fish, which caused disturbances in carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. Moreover, OTC exacerbated the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic animals, and PP-MPs significantly increased the diversity and abundance of ARGs and facilitated the trophic transfer of teta and tetm. Our findings disclosed the impacts of PP-MPs on the mechanism of antibiotic toxicity in aquatic food chains and emphasized the importance of gut microbiota for ARGs trophic transfer, which contributed to a deeper understanding of potential risks posed by complex pollutants on aquatic ecosystems.

Fe-Mn binary oxides improve the methanogenic performance and reduce the environmental health risks associated with antibiotic resistance genes during anaerobic digestion

Increasing evidence indicates that metal oxides can improve the methanogenic performance during anaerobic digestion (AD) of piggery wastewater. However, the impacts of composite metal oxides on the methanogenic performance and risk of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transmission during AD are not fully understood. In this study, different concentrations of Fe-Mn binary oxides (FMBO at 0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/L) were added to AD to explore the effects of FMBO on the process. The methane yield was 7825.1 mL under FMBO at 250 mg/L, 35.2% higher than that with FMBO at 0 mg/L. PICRUSt2 functional predictions showed that FMBO promoted the oxidation of acetate and propionate, and the production of methane from the substrate, as well as increasing the abundances of most methanogens and genes encoding related enzymes. Furthermore, under FMBO at 250 mg/L, the relative abundances of 14 ARGs (excluding tetC and sul2) and four mobile gene elements (MGEs) decreased by 24.7% and 55.8%, respectively. Most of the changes in the abundances of ARGs were explained by microorganisms, especially Bacteroidetes (51.20%), followed by MGEs (11.98%). Thus, the methanogenic performance of AD improved and the risk of horizontal ARG transfer decreased with FMBO, especially at 250 mg/L.

The effects of Bacillus subtilis on the immunity, mucosal tissue morphology, immune-related gene transcriptions, and intestinal microbiota in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) with two feeding methods: Continuous versus discontinuous feeding

Probiotics as dietary additives can improve weight gain, feed efficiency, and disease resistance in cultured fish. In this research, we evaluated and compared the effects of Bacillus subtilis on immunity, mucosal tissue morphology, immune-related gene transcriptions, and intestinal microbiota in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) by a 30-day feeding experiment based on a continuous feeding schedule (E1) and a discontinuous feeding schedule (E2). As a result, the use of B. subtilis exerted the best positive effects on survival rate, enzyme activity, mucosal tissue morphology, immune-related gene transcriptions, and intestinal microbiota in flounders. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lysozyme (LZM), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the liver of E2 were higher than those of E1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the villi length in the intestinal tract and the fold length in the stomach of E2 were also higher than in E1 (P < 0.05). The il-1 expression levels in the spleen were significantly increased in E2 (P < 0.05) compared to E1. We performed 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis to find that Bacillus in E1 (1.06%) and E2 (1.01%) had higher relative abundances than in E0 (0.053%) at the end of the experiments, indicating that short-term application of B. subtilis with the continuous or discontinuous feeding method can allow both the adaptation of the ecosystem to the presence of probiotics by the establishment of new species in the gut microbiota and the ability these new probiotic species to perform corresponding functions. No significant differences in the ability of probiotic establishment were observed between E1 and E2. Our findings provided a unique perspective to explore the mechanism of immune enhancement with probiotics and to screen the optimal administration strategy in aquaculture application for probiotic use. Together, these results point to some level of enhancement in immune status by continuous and discontinuous feeding after a short-term feeding period, which could be used as a prophylactic strategy for flounder health management.

Classification and Prediction of Food Safety Policy Tools in China Based on Machine Learning

Governments use policy interventions to mitigate food safety risks. Despite its crucial role, empirical studies evaluating the effectiveness of China's food safety policy tools are scarce. Drawing on a dataset encompassing 11,236 food safety policy texts from 2005 to 2021 and the incidence of problematic food products in the Eastern, Central, and Western regions of China, this study employs Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models to facilitate the classification of policy tools and forecast the effectiveness of policy combinations. The study reveals that (1) local governments have gradually become an important supplementary maker of food safety policies, and have issued an increasing number of policy tools year by year. (2) Mandatory policy tools are predominant in number and have the highest legal hierarchy and authority levels, followed successively by guiding policy and voluntary policy tools. (3) Mandatory policy tools demonstrated the most effective intervention results, followed successively by guiding policy and voluntary policy tools. (4) The forecast analysis reveals that combinations of policies within high-growth frameworks and those driven by mandatory regulations emerge as the most effective. Therefore, the balance of policy tools in terms of type, effectiveness, and quantity, as well as their applicability in different situations, should all be taken into account.

An account of the occurrence of residues from veterinary drugs and contaminants in animal-derived products: a case study on Brazilian supply chains

Brazil plays an important role in ensuring its position on the international market by assuring high food safety standards for its products, and all products should meet the requirements for residues from veterinary drugs and contaminants in animal products. Statutory monitoring provides insights into the compliance of the Brazilian industry regarding these legal requirements. The objective of this study was to provide insight into the safety of Brazilian animal products by reporting the occurrence of residues from veterinary drugs and contaminants according to an analysis of an 11-year report published by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA). Between 2010 and 2021, 166,647 samples from animal-derived products were analyzed in Brazil, and 624 of those samples were non-compliant (0.37%) exceeding maximum residue limits (>MRLs) or showed the presence of prohibited substances. The most common types of substances found in the non-compliant samples were heavy metals, parasiticides, and antimicrobials, accounting for 82% of all documents from the MAPA. Among Brazilian products, the challenge related to occurrence of substances varied across the food supply chain, with highest incidence rates observed in the fish chain, followed by eggs, milk, equids, sheep/goat, honey, bovine, swine, and broilers chains in decreasing order. Considering the type of substance, heavy metals were found to be more prevalent in fish products, mainly arsenic in wild fish. The prevalence of contaminants and heavy metals decreased, while that of veterinary drugs increased in Brazilian products from 2010 to 2021. From these results, it can be concluded that the number of accidental incidents including those associated with environmental contaminants decreased over the last decade, opposed to those involving human adversaries and deliberate illegal actions, such as the abuse of veterinary drugs, increased. Future monitoring plans need to take this paradigm shift into account.

Involvement of functional metabolism promotes the enrichment of antibiotic resistome in drinking water: Based on the PICRUSt2 functional prediction

Biofilters are the important source and sink of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) in the drinking water. Current studies generally ascribed the prevalence of BAR in biofilter from the perspective of gene behavior, i.e. horizontal gene transfer (HGT), little attentions have been paid on the ARGs carrier- ARB. In this study, we proposed the hypothesis that ARB participating in pollutant metabolism processes and becoming dominant is an important way for the enrichment of ARGs. To verify this, the antibiotic resistome and bacterial functional metabolic pathways of a sand filter was profiled using heterotrophic bacterial plate counting method (HPC), high-throughput qPCR, Illumina Hiseq sequencing and PICRUSt2 functional prediction. The results illustrated a significant leakage of ARB in the effluent of the sand filter with an average absolute abundance of approximately 102-103 CFU/mL. Further contribution analysis revealed that the dominant genera, such as Acinetobacter spp., Aeromonas spp., Elizabethkingia spp., and Bacillus spp., were primary ARGs hosts, conferring resistance to multiple antibiotics including sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and β-lactams. Notably, these ARGs hosts were involved in nitrogen metabolism, including extracellular nitrate/nitrite transport and nitrite reduction, which are crucial in nitrification and denitrification in biofilters. For example, Acinetobacter spp., the dominant bacteria in the filter (relative abundance 69.97 %), contributed the majority of ARGs and 53.79 % of nitrite reduction function. That is, ARB can predominate by participating in the nitrogen metabolism pathways, facilitating the enrichment of ARGs. These findings provide insights into the stable presence of ARGs in biofilters from a functional metabolism perspective, offering a significant supplementary to the mechanisms of the emergence, maintenance, and transmission of BARin drinking water.

Development of an Open Droplet Microchannel-Based Magnetosensor for Immunofluorometric Assay of Trimethoprim in Chicken and Pork Samples with a Wide Linear Range

Trimethoprim (TMP), functioning as a synergistic antibacterial agent, is utilized in diagnosing and treating diseases affecting livestock and poultry. Human consumption of the medication indirectly may lead to its drug accumulation in the body and increase drug resistance due to its prolonged metabolic duration in livestock and poultry, presenting significant health hazards. Most reported immunoassay techniques, such as ELISA and immunochromatographic assay (ICA), find it challenging to achieve the dual advantages of high sensitivity, simplicity of operation, and a wide detection range. Consequently, an open droplet microchannel-based magnetosensor for immunofluorometric assay (OMM-IFA) of trimethoprim was created, featuring a gel imager to provide a signal output derived from the highly specific antibody (Ab) targeting trimethoprim. The method exhibited high sensitivity in chicken and pork samples, with LODs of 0.300 and 0.017 ng/mL, respectively, and a wide linear range, covering trimethoprim's total maximum residue limits (MRLs). Additionally, the spiked recoveries in chicken and pork specimens varied between 81.6% and 107.9%, maintaining an acceptable variation coefficient below 15%, aligning well with the findings from the ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) technique. The developed method achieved a much wider linear range of about 5 orders of magnitude of 10-2-103 levels with grayscale signals as the output signal, which exhibited high sensitivity, excellent applicability and simple operability based on magnetic automation.

Physiological-biochemical responses and transcriptomic analysis reveal the effects and mechanisms of sulfamethoxazole on the carbon fixation function of Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The occurrence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is characterized by low concentration and pseudo-persistence. However, the toxic effects and mechanisms of SMX, especially for low concentration and long-term exposure, are still not clear. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of SMX on carbon fixation-related biological processes of Chlorella pyrenoidosa at population, physiological-biochemical, and transcriptional levels. Results showed that 1-1000 μg/L SMX significantly inhibited the dry weight and carbon fixation rate of C. pyrenoidosa during 21 d. The upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) demonstrated that SMX posed oxidative damage to C. pyrenoidosa. SMX inhibited the activity of carbonic anhydrase (CA), and consequently stimulated the activity of Rubisco. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that SMX concentration was positively correlated with Rubisco and CAT while exposure time was negatively correlated with CA. Transcriptional analysis showed that the synthesis of chlorophyll-a was stabilized by regulating the diversion of protoporphyrin IX and the chlorophyll cycle. Meanwhile, multiple CO2 compensation mechanisms, including photorespiratory, C4-like CO2 compensation and purine metabolism pathways were triggered in response to the CO2 requirements of Rubisco. This study provides a scientific basis for the comprehensive assessment of the ecological risk of SMX.

Predicting environmental risks of pharmaceutical residues by wastewater surveillance: An analysis based on pharmaceutical sales and their excretion data

Pharmaceutical residues are increasingly becoming a significant source of environmental water pollution and ecological risk. This study, leveraging official national pharmaceutical sales statistics, predicts the environmental concentrations of 33 typical pharmaceuticals in the Tianjin area. The results show that 52 % of the drugs have a PEC/MEC (Predicted Environmental Concentration/Measured Environmental Concentration) ratio within the acceptable range of 0.5-2, including atenolol (1.21), carbamazepine (1.22), and sulfamethoxazole (0.91). Among the selected drugs, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and acetaminophen had the highest predicted concentrations. The EPI (Estimation Programs Interface) biodegradation model, a tool from the US Environmental Protection Agency, is used to predict the removal efficiency of compounds in wastewater treatment plants. The results indicate that the EPI predictions are acceptable for macrolide antibiotics and β-blockers, with removal rates of roxithromycin, spiramycin, acetaminophen, and carbamazepine being 14.1 %, 61.2 %, 75.1 %, and 44.5 %, respectively. However, the model proved to be less effective for fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The ECOSAR (Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships) model was used to supplement the assessment of the potential impacts of drugs on aquatic ecosystems, further refining the analysis of pharmaceutical environmental risks. By combining the concentration and detection frequency of pharmaceutical wastewater, this study identified 9 drugs with significant toxicological risks and marked another 24 drugs as substances of potential concern. Additionally, this study provides data support for addressing pharmaceutical residues of priority concern in subsequent research.

Comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics pollution the Yangtze River basin, China: Emission, multimedia fate and risk assessment

Antibiotics have attracted global attention because of their potential ecological and health risks. The emission, multimedia fate and risk of 18 selected antibiotics in the entire Yangtze River basin were evaluated by using a level Ⅳ fugacity model. High antibiotic emissions were found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin. The total antibiotic emissions in the Yangtze River basin exceeded 1600 tons per year between 2013 and 2021. The spatial distribution of antibiotics concentration was the upper Yangtze River > middle Yangtze River > lower Yangtze River, which is positively correlated with animal husbandry size in the basin. Temperature and precipitation increases may decrease the antibiotic concentrations in the environment. Transfer fluxes showed that source emission inputs, advection processes, and degradation fluxes contributed more to the total input and output. High ecological risks in the water environment were found in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The comprehensive health risk assessment through drinking water and fish consumption routes showed that a small part of the Yangtze River basin is at medium risk, and children have a relatively high degree of health risk. This study provides a scientific basis for the pollution control of antibiotics at the basin scale.

Urban agglomerations as an environmental dimension of antibiotics transmission through the "One Health" lens

The spatiotemporal distributions of antibiotics in different media have been widely reported; however, their occurrence in the environmental dimension of the Chinese urban agglomerations has received less attention, especially in bioaccumulation and health risks of antibiotics through the "One Health" lens. The review presents the current knowledge on the environmental occurrence, bioaccumulation, as well as health exposure risks in urban agglomerations through the "One Health" lens, and identifies current information gaps. The reviewed studies suggested antibiotic concentrations in water and soil were more sensitive to social indicators of urban agglomerations than those in sediment. The ecological risk and resistance risk of antibiotics in water were much higher than those of sediments, and the high-risk phenomenon occurred at a higher frequency in urban agglomerations. Erythromycin-H2O (ETM-H2O), amoxicillin (AMOX) and norfloxacin (NFC) were priority-controlled antibiotics in urban waters. Tetracyclines (TCs) posed medium to high risks to soil organisms in the soil of urban agglomerations. Health risk evaluation based on dietary intake showed that children had the highest dietary intake of antibiotics in urban agglomerations. The health risk of antibiotics was higher in children than in other age groups. Our results also demonstrated that dietary structure might impact health risks associated with target antibiotics in urban agglomerations to some extent.

Asiatic Acid Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Myocardial Injury by Promoting Mitophagy and Regulating Mitochondrial Dynamics in Broilers

Acute myocardial injury (AMI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can cause cardiovascular dysfunction and lead to death in poultry. Traditional antibiotic therapy has been found to have many limitations and negative effects. Asiatic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid that is extracted from Centella asiatica and has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer pharmacological properties. Previously, we studied the effect of AA on LPS-induced liver and kidney injury; however, the impact of AA on LPS-induced AMI remained unclear. Sixty 1-day-old broilers were randomly divided into control group, LPS group, LPS + AA 15 mg/kg group, LPS + AA 30 mg/kg group, LPS + AA 60 mg/kg group, and control + AA 60 mg/kg group. The histopathology of cardiac tissues was detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The mRNA and protein expressions related to mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Disorganized myocardial cells and fractured myocardial fibers were found in the LPS group, and obvious red-blood-cell filling can be seen in the gaps between the myocardial fibers in the low-dose AA group. Nevertheless, the medium and high dose of AA obviously attenuated these changes. Our results showed that AA significantly restored the mRNA and protein expressions related to mitochondrial dynamic through further promoting mitophagy. This study revealed the effect of AA on LPS-induced AMI in broilers. Mechanically, AA regulated mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis and further promoted mitophagy. These novel findings indicate that AA may be a potential drug for LPS-induced AMI in broilers.

Dietary Supplementation of Astragalus membranaceus Extract Affects Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Response, and Energy Metabolism of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The present study investigated the effects of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) on growth performance, immune response, and energy metabolism of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Seven diets containing 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6% AME (Con, AME0.1, AME0.2, AME0.3, AME0.4, AME0.5, and AME0.6 groups) were formulated and fed to M. salmoides for 8 weeks. Final body weight (FBW), feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) were all significantly higher in AME0.4 group than in Con group (P < 0.05). Feed conversion rate (FCR) was significantly improved in AME0.5 group compared with Con group (P < 0.05). Whole-body crude protein contents were significantly increased in AME0.2 group (P < 0.05). Whole-body crude lipid contents were significantly lower in AME0.2 and AME0.3 groups, while muscle lipid was upregulated by dietary AME (P < 0.05). Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were significantly lowered in AME0.3 and AME0.4 groups, and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly increased in AME0.1 and AME0.2 groups (P < 0.05). Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was significantly lowered in AME0.5, and AME0.6 groups, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was lowered in AME0.5 groups (P < 0.05). Plasma triglyceride was declined in AME0.6 group, and glucose was decreased by 0.3%-0.5% AME (P < 0.05). Significantly higher hepatocyte diameter, lamina propria width, and submucosal layer thickness were recorded in AME0.6 groups, while the longest villi height was obtained in AME0.2 and AME0.3 groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf1) revealed the growth-promoting effect of AME. The anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of AME were demonstrated by transcription levels of interleukin 8 (il-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-a), caspase, B-cell lymphoma-xl (Bcl-xl), bcl-2 associated x (Bax), and bcl-2-associated death protein (Bad). The transcription levels of lipid metabolism and gluconeogenesis related genes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (acc1), fatty acid synthase (fasn), fatty acid binding protein 1 (fabp1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (pepck2), and glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 1a (g6pc), were reduced by AME treatment, while the levels of glycolysis-related genes, including glucokinase (gck) and pyruvate kinase (pk), were the highest in AME0.2 and AME0.3 groups (P < 0.05). According to polynomial regression analysis of SGR, WG, FCR, whole-body crude lipid, MDA, and ALT, the optimal AME supplementation level was estimated to be 0.320%-0.429% of the diet. These results provided insights into the roles of AME in regulating immunity and metabolism, which highly indicated its potential as immunostimulants and metabolic regulators in diverse aquatic animals.

Effects of varying levels of Cynara scolymus powder on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal microbiota, immune and haemato-biochemical parameters in female quails

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying levels of dietary Cynara scolymus (CS) powder on growth performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal microbiota, immune and haemato-biochemical parameters in female quails. A total of 120-day-old female quails used for the research were divided into 3 treatment groups: 0% CS, 0.75% CS and 1.50% CS having 4 replicates (n = 10). Blood samples collected were analyzed for differential leukocyte count, red blood cell count and its indices, uric acid, lipid profile, liver enzymes, calcium, phosphorous, creatinine, thyroid hormone, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and antibody titres. Quails were euthanized for evaluation of carcass and microbial bacteria and sensory characteristics of the breast and thigh meat. Supplementation of CS at 0.75% and 1.50% increased (P < 0.05) wing, drumstick, ileum, jejunum and spleen lengths, high-density lipoprotein, and decreased (P < 0.05) low-density lipoprotein: high-density lipoprotein ratio. Diets supplemented with 0.75% CS increased (P < 0.05) albumin while 1.50% decreased (P < 0.05) abdominal fat and increased (P < 0.05) corpuscular volume, red blood cell count, lactobacillus population, and color of thigh meat. Both CS levels (0.75% and 1.50%) may improve intestinal morphology, quality of meat, immunity, erythropoiesis, intestinal microbial population, and decrease bad cholesterol in quails.

A fluorescence and SERS dual-mode sensing on tetracycline antibiotics based on Ag@NH2-MIL-101(Al) nanoprobe

Antibiotic residues are becoming more and more concern due to the increasingly serious resistance from bacteria to organism. On-site and accurate evaluation on antibiotics is necessary and urgent to effectively solve such public issue. To provide point-of-care-test (POCT) ideas for antibiotic accurate evaluation, a fluorescence (FL)-surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode detection of tetracycline antibiotic (TCs) was realized for the first time. Based on the inner filter effect in Ag@NH2-MIL-101(Al) nanoprobe, the fluorescence quenching was induced and the SERS signal was swiftly turn on through π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding in the presence of TCs. This FL-SERS dual mode sensor displayed excellent detection limits (FL in ∼10-3 ppm, SERS in ∼10-5 ppm), and achieved a reliable detection of TCs in honey with a recovery rate of 84.45%-112.08%. This method combines the advantages of FL and SERS detection, meanwhile, two techniques verified against each other to achieve highly sensitive and specific FL-SERS dual-mode sensor for TCs. We believe that such antibody-or aptamer-independent FL and SERS complementary nanoprobe can be applied to fast, direct and multiple sensing in environment and food hazards.

Efficacy of new generation biosorbents for the sustainable treatment of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes from polluted waste effluent

Antimicrobials are frequently used in both humans and animals for the treatment of bacterially-generated illnesses. Antibiotic usage has increased for more than 40% from last 15 years globally per day in both human populations and farm animals leading to the large-scale discharge of antibiotic residues into wastewater. Most antibiotics end up in sewer systems, either directly from industry or healthcare systems, or indirectly from humans and animals after being partially metabolized or broken down following consumption. To prevent additional antibiotic compound pollution, which eventually impacts on the spread of antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to remove antibiotic residues from wastewater. Antibiotic accumulation and antibiotic resistance genes cannot be effectively and efficiently eliminated by conventional sewage treatment plants. Because of their high energy requirements and operating costs, many of the available technologies are not feasible. However, the biosorption method, which uses low-cost biomass as the biosorbent, is an alternative technique to potentially address these problems. An extensive literature survey focusing on developments in the field was conducted using English language electronic databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Pubag, Google books, and ResearchGate, to understand the relative value of the available antibiotic removal methods. The predominant techniques for eliminating antibiotic residues from wastewater were categorized and defined by example. The approaches were contrasted, and the benefits and drawbacks were highlighted. Additionally, we included a few antibiotics whose removal from aquatic environments has been the subject of extensive research. Lastly, a few representative publications were identified that provide specific information on the removal rates attained by each technique. This review provides evidence that biosorption of antibiotic residues from biological waste using natural biosorbent materials is an affordable and effective technique for eliminating antibiotic residues from wastewater.

The effects of temperature and sulfamethoxazole on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The misuse of antibiotics has brought potential ecological risks to marine ecosystems, especially under a changing climate. Laboratory experiments were conducted to understand the impact of rising temperatures and antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) abuse on marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Temperatures of 21 and 24 °C were optimal for the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of P. tricornutum. When exposed to higher temperatures (≥27 °C), the growth and photosynthesis were inhibited. High concentrations of SMX (≥100 mg/L) caused rapid and acute toxicological effects on the phytoplankton. In contrast, low concentrations of SMX (1 mg/L) exhibited hormesis. When P. tricornutum was exposed to SMX at high temperatures, the stress on the phytoplankton was even more pronounced. This suggests that the combination of rising temperatures and antibiotic pollution may have a more significant negative impact on marine phytoplankton than either stressor alone. Neglecting the interaction between these stressors may lead to underestimating their combined effects on marine ecosystems.

A comprehensive review on the fate and impact of antibiotic residues in the environment and public health: A special focus on the developing countries

The widespread application of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to the pervasive presence of antibiotic residues in the environment, posing a potential hazard to public health. This comprehensive review aims to scrutinize the fate and impact of antibiotic residues, with a particular focus on the context of developing nations. The investigation delves into the diverse pathways facilitating the entry of antibiotics into the environment and meticulously examines their effects on human health. The review delineates the current state of antibiotic residues, evaluates their exposure in developing nations, and elucidates existing removal methodologies. Additionally, it probes into the factors contributing to the endurance and ecotoxicity of antibiotic residues, correlating these aspects with usage rates and associated mortalities in these nations. The study also investigates removal techniques for antibiotic residues, assessing their efficiency in environmental compartments. The concurrent emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, engendered by antibiotic residues, and their adverse ecological threats underscore the necessity for enhanced regulations, vigilant surveillance programs, and the adoption of sustainable alternatives. The review underlines the pivotal role of public education and awareness campaigns in promoting responsible antibiotic use. The synthesis concludes with strategic recommendations, strengthening the imperative for further research encompassing comprehensive monitoring, ecotoxicological effects, alternative strategies, socio-economic considerations, and international collaborations, all aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of antibiotic residues on human health and the environment. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Antibiotic residues are widely distributed in different environmental compartments. Developing countries use more antibiotics than developed countries. Human and veterinary wastes are one of the most responsible sources of antibiotic pollution. Antibiotics interact with biological systems and trigger pharmacological reactions at low doses. Antibiotics can be removed using modern biological, chemical, and physical-chemical techniques.

Effects of dietary astaxanthin on growth performance, muscle composition, non-specific immunity, gene expression, and ammonia resistance of juvenile ivory shell (Babylonia areolate)

Astaxanthin is one of the important immunopotentators in aquaculture. However, little is known about the physiological changes and stress resistance effects of astaxanthin in marine gastropods. In this study, the effects of different astaxanthin concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg) on the growth, muscle composition, immune function, and resistance to ammonia stress in Babylonia areolata were investigated after three months of rearing. With the increase in astaxanthin content, the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) of B. areolata showed an increasing trend. The 75-100 mg/kg group was significantly higher than the control group (0 mg/kg). There was no significant difference in the flesh shell ratio (FSR), viscerosomatic index (VSI), and soft tissue index (STI) of the experimental groups. Astaxanthin (75 mg/kg) significantly increased muscle crude protein content and increased hepatopancreas alkaline phosphatase (AKP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity. Astaxanthin (75-100 mg/kg) significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and acid phosphatase (ACP) of the hepatopancreas and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of B. areolata. Astaxanthin significantly induced the expression levels of functional genes, such as SOD, Cu/ZnSOD, ferritin, ACP, and CYC in hepatopancreas and increased the survival rate of B. areolata under ammonia stress. The addition of 75-100 mg/kg astaxanthin to the feed improved the growth performance, muscle composition, immune function, and resistance to ammonia stress of B. areolata.

Effects of the aquatic pollutant sulfamethoxazole on the innate immunity and antioxidant capacity of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain

Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) is commonly used in aquaculture to treat bacterial infections, but its long-term residual properties in natural water can pose a direct threat to aquatic animals. This study is to investigate the effects of continuous exposure to SMZ on mud crabs (Scylla paramamosain) at four different concentrations (0, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/L) that reflect the range found in natural aquatic environments. The results confirmed that SMZ exposure reduced the expression levels of genes related to the innate immunity in mud crabs, including JAK, Astakine, TLR, and Crustin. It also stimulated oxidative stress, caused the production of reactive oxygen species and lower activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione. SMZ exposure damaged the DNA of crab hemocytes and hepatopancreas tissue, and reduced the phagocytosis, ultimately leading to a decreased survival rates of mud crabs infected with Vibrio alginolyticus. These findings demonstrate that SMZ exposure has immunotoxic effects on mud crabs' innate immunity and reduces the ability to resist pathogen infections.

New N-Terminal Fatty-Acid-Modified Melittin Analogs with Potent Biological Activity

Melittin, a natural antimicrobial peptide, has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This has resulted in it gaining increasing attention as a potential antibiotic alternative; however, its practical use has been limited by its weak antimicrobial activity, high hemolytic activity, and low proteolytic stability. In this study, N-terminal fatty acid conjugation was used to develop new melittin-derived lipopeptides (MDLs) to improve the characteristics of melittin. Our results showed that compared with native melittin, the antimicrobial activity of MDLs was increased by 2 to 16 times, and the stability of these MDLs against trypsin and pepsin degradation was increased by 50 to 80%. However, the hemolytic activity of the MDLs decreased when the length of the carbon chain of fatty acids exceeded 10. Among the MDLs, the newly designed analog Mel-C8 showed optimal antimicrobial activity and protease stability. The antimicrobial mechanism studied revealed that the MDLs showed a rapid bactericidal effect by interacting with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and penetrating the bacterial cell membrane. In conclusion, we designed and synthesized a new class of MDLs with potent antimicrobial activity, high proteolytic stability, and low hemolytic activity through N-terminal fatty acid conjugation.

Prioritized regional management for antibiotics and heavy metals in animal manure across China

High levels of antibiotics and heavy metals in animal manure pose a potential threat to both the ecological environment and public health. A regional knowledge of their distribution and risk assessment across China remains unclear. A dataset containing 4082 records covering a total of forty-two antibiotics and eight heavy metals was established for animal manure across China. The results showed that the residual concentration of antibiotics was in the order of tetracyclines > aminoglycosides > fluoroquinolones > macrolides > sulfonamides > β-lactams, and that of heavy metals is Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > As > Cd > Hg. The mean concentration of antibiotics and heavy metals was higher in pig manure compared to chicken and cow manure (Kruskal-Wallis test). The lowest level of antibiotics was observed in Northwest China based on geographic distribution characteristics. It was related to the high ratio of cow and sheep farming that less antibiotics were administered to. The pollution status of heavy metals was more severe in East China. Furthermore, high correlations were observed between antibiotics (tetracyclines) and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and As). Especially, tetracycline in North China and Cd in Northeast China exhibited a high risk in manure; thus, they were priority regions for antibiotics/heavy metals pollution control. This study identified risk assessment of typical antibiotics and heavy metals in animal manure and emphasized the necessity of regional management across China.

The Characterisation of Lactococcus garvieae Isolated in an Outbreak of Septicaemic Disease in Farmed Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaues 1758) in Italy

In aquaculture, Lactococcus garvieae is a common fish pathogen that can cause significant economic losses in several fresh and saltwater species. Despite the extensive range of hosts, L. garvieae infection in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) has rarely been reported. During the summer of 2023, an outbreak occurred in an inland farm in the Gulf of Follonica (Tuscany, Italy). Fish of various sizes were affected, showing apathy, inappetence, erratic swimming and eye lesions, while the mortality was low (2-3% per month). Anatomopathological examinations suggested a septicaemic infection characterised by melanosis, diffuse redness (skin and fins), paleness (gills and internal organs), haemorrhages and splenomegaly. Seventy swabs from the viscera of 14 subjects were collected and colonies similar to Streptococcus spp. grew from all the samples. Lactococcus garvieae was identified via the biochemical tests, API20STREP, MALDI-TOF, 16S rDNA and whole genome sequencing. Genetical characterisation revealed remarkable differences between this isolate and the strains previously isolated in Italian fish farms. Feed treatments with flumequine and erythromycin were ineffective. Considering the limited effects of antimicrobials, preventive measures, such as vaccination and biosecurity, should be implemented.

Antibiotic exposure associated with nighttime sleep duration and daytime sleepiness in newlyweds

Few studies have explored the relationship between antibiotic exposure and sleep in newlyweds. We applied the actor-partner interdependence moderation model to estimate the relationships of antibiotic exposure with nighttime sleep duration (weekday, weekend, and average sleep durations) and daytime sleepiness in newlyweds. We found that 99.0% of the 2698 enrolled individuals were exposed to at least one antibiotic. Among the newlyweds, exposure to florfenicol (β, - 0.077; 95% confidence interval [CI], - 0.143, - 0.011), exposure to chloramphenicols (- 0.086 [- 0.160, - 0.011]), and exposure to veterinary antibiotics (VAs) (- 0.106 [- 0.201, - 0.010]) were negatively associated with weekday sleep duration. Florfenicol, chloramphenicols, and VAs were also inversely related to average sleep duration in the newlyweds. Ciprofloxacin and cyadox exposure was significantly associated with an increase of 0.264 (0.030, 0.497) and (0.375 [0.088, 0.663]) Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores in the newlyweds, respectively. Gender moderated the actor-partner effects of erythromycin and tetracyclines on the newlyweds' weekday sleep duration and ESS scores. Overall, exposure to florfenicol, chloramphenicols, and VAs shortened weekday and average sleep durations of newlyweds. Exposure to ciprofloxacin and cyadox promoted daytime sleepiness. Gender moderated the actor-partner effects of specific antibiotics on the weekday sleep duration and ESS scores of the newlyweds.

Anti-oxidant effects of herbal residue from Shengxuebao mixture on heat-stressed New Zealand rabbits

Heat stress can lead to hormonal imbalances, weakened immune system, increased metabolic pressure on the liver, and ultimately higher animal mortality rates. This not only seriously impairs the welfare status of animals, but also causes significant economic losses to the livestock industry. Due to its rich residual bioactive components and good safety characteristics, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) residue is expected to become a high-quality feed additive with anti-oxidative stress alleviating function. This study focuses on the potential of Shengxuebao mixture herbal residue (SXBR) as an anti-heat stress feed additive. Through the UPLC (ultra performance liquid chromatography) technology, the average residue rate of main active ingredients from SXBR were found to be 25.39%. SXBR were then added into the basal diet of heat stressed New Zealand rabbits at the rates of 5% (SXBRl), 10% (SXBRm) and 20% (SXBRh). Heat stress significantly decreased the weight gain, as well as increased neck and ear temperature, drip loss in meat, inflammation and oxidative stress. Also, the hormone levels were disrupted, with a significant increase in serum levels of CA, COR and INS. After the consumption of SXBR in the basal diet for 3 weeks, the weight of New Zealand rabbits increased significantly, and the SXBRh group restored the redness value of the meat to a similar level as the control group. Furthermore, the serum levels T3 thyroid hormone in the SXBRh group and T4 thyroid hormone in the SXBRm group increased significantly, the SXBRh group showed a significant restoration in inflammation markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity, HSP-70, MDA, and ROS) levels. Moreover, the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis found that, the expression levels of antioxidant genes such as Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GPX1 were significantly upregulated in the SXBRh group, and the expression level of the Keap1 gene was significantly downregulated. Additionally, the SXBRm group showed significant upregulation in the expression levels of HO-1 and NQO1 genes. Western blot experiments further confirmed the up-regulation of Nrf2, Ho-1 and NQO1 proteins. This study provides a strategy for the utilization of SXBR and is of great significance for the green recycling of the TCM residues, improving the development of animal husbandry and animal welfare.

The emerging threat of fluroquinolone-, bedaquiline-, and linezolid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China: Observations on surveillance data

BACKGROUND

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), especially multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), constitutes a major obstacle to fulfill end TB strategy globally. Although fluoroquinolones (FQs), linezolid (LZD) and bedaquiline (BDQ) were classified as Group A drugs for MDR-TB treatment, our knowledge of the prevalence of TB which were resistant to Group A drugs in China is quite limited.

METHODS

In this study, we conducted a prospective multicenter surveillance study in China to determine the proportion of TB patients that were resistant to Group A drugs. A total of 1877 TB patients were enrolled from 2022 at four TB specialized hospitals. The drug susceptibility of isolated strains was conducted using the MGIT 960 system and the molecular mechanisms conferring drug resistance were investigated by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

12.9% of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin (LFX), 13.2% were resistant to moxifloxacin (MOX), 0.2% were resistant to bedaquiline (BDQ), and 0.8% were resistant to linezolid (LZD). Totally, 14.0% and 0.4% were classified as multidrug resistant- (MDR-) and extensively drug resistant- (XDR-) TB. The drug resistance was more common in retreated TB cases compared to new cases. In addition, 70.0% of fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant isolates harbored mutations in the gyrA and gyrB gene. By contrast, the common drug-resistant mutations were only found in 50% BDQ-resistant and 20% LZD-resistant isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that approximate half of MDR -TB patients are resistant to fluoroquinolones, with extremely low prevalence of initial BDQ and LZD resistance. Findings from this study provide important implications for the current management of MDR-TB patients.

A novel immobilized horseradish peroxidase platform driven by visible light for the complete mineralization of sulfadiazine in water

A novel immobilized enzyme driven by visible light was prepared and used for complete mineralization of antibiotics in water bodies. The immobilized enzyme was composed of carbon nitride modified by biochar (C/CN) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), establishing the photo-enzyme coupling system with synergistic effect. Among them, the introduction of biochar not only improves the stability and loading capacity of the enzyme, but also improves the light absorption capacity and carrier separation efficiency of the photocatalyst. After the optimization of immobilization process, the solid load of HRP could reach 251.03 mg/g, and 85.03 % enzyme activity was retained after 18 days of storage at 4 °C. In the sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation experiment, the degradation rate of HRP/C3/CN reached 71.21 % within 60 min, which was much higher than that of HRP (2.33 %), CN (49.78 %) and C3/CN (58.85 %). In addition, under the degradation of HRP/C/CN, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal rate of SDZ reached 53.14 %, which was 6.47 and 1.74 times that of CN and C3/CN, respectively. This study shows that the introduction of biochar is of great significance to the photo-enzyme cascade coupling system and provides a new strategy for the application of HRP&g-C3N4 system in wastewater treatment.

Health Risk Assessment of Antibiotic Pollutants in Large Yellow Croakers from Zhejiang Aquaculture Sites

Intensive aquaculture combatting the decline of large yellow croaker populations can trigger bacterial outbreaks, resulting in extensive antibiotic use. In this study, we screened 5 aquaculture sites in the coastal areas of Zhejiang and identified 17 antibiotics in large yellow croakers using UPLC-MS/MS. The distribution and occurrence of antibiotic pollutants were different in the different tissues of large yellow croakers, being primarily dominated by quinolones. Relatively higher average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were detected in the inedible parts, specifically the gills (37.29 μg/kg). Meanwhile, relatively high average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also found in the edible parts, particularly in the muscle (23.18 μg/kg). We observed that the residue levels detected in the swim bladder exceeded the prescribed limit for fish muscle, but there is currently no specific regulatory limit established for this particular tissue. Despite the HI values of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin being below 0.01, the health risks should not be disregarded. The findings of this research provide significant practical implications for assessing antibiotic contamination and enhancing the risk management of coastal regions.

Effects of dietary Chinese herbal mixtures on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, caecal and offspring meconial microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal mixtures (CHMs) on productive performance, egg quality, immune status, anti-apoptosis ability, caecal microbiota, and offspring meconial microbiota in hens. A total of 168 thirty-week-old Wenchang breeder hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group comprising six replicate pens of fourteen hens. The groups were fed a basal diet (CON group) and a basal diet with 1,000 mg/kg CHMs (CHMs group) for 10 weeks. Our results showed that dietary supplementation with CHMs increased the laying rate, average egg weight, hatch of fertile, and offspring chicks' weight while concurrently reducing the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and embryo mortality (p < 0.05). The addition of CHMs resulted in significant improvements in various egg quality parameters, including eggshell strength, albumen height, haugh unit, and the content of docosatetraenoic acid (C20:4n-6) in egg yolk (p < 0.05). The supplementation of CHMs had a greater concentration of IgA and IgG while decreasing the content of IL-6 in serum compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Addition of CHMs to the diet increased the expression of Bcl-2 and IL-4 in liver and ovary, decreased the expression of IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-8 in jejunum and ovary, and decreased the expression of NF-κB in liver, jejunum, and ovary (p < 0.05). Moreover, dietary CHMs reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio in caecal microbiota as well as decreased the abundance of Staphylococcaceae_Staphylococcus and Pseudomonadaceae_Pseudomonas in the offspring meconial microbiota (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the CHMs could improve productive parameters by enhancing immune status, anti-apoptosis capacity, and modulating the caecal microbiota of Wenchang breeder hens, as well as maintaining the intestinal health of the offspring chicks.

Mechanism of the toxic effects of tetracycline on blood meal digestion in Haemaphysalis longicornis

The extensive utilization of antibiotics in the field of animal husbandry gives rise to various concerns pertaining to the environment and human health. Here, we demonstrate that the administration of tetracycline impedes blood meal digestion in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Tissue sectioning, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and transcriptome sequencing of the midgut were employed to elucidate the mechanism underlying tetracycline toxicity. The treatment group consisted of engorged female ticks that were subjected to tetracycline microinjections (75 µg per tick), whereas the control group received sterile water injections. On days 2 and 4 following the injections, the tick body weight changes were assessed and the midguts were dissected and processed. Change in tick body weight in tetracycline-treated group was less than in the control group. In tetracycline-treated ticks, midgut epithelial cells were loosely connected and blood meal digestion was impaired compared to the control group. There was no significant change in midgut bacterial diversity after tetracycline treatment. On day 2 following treatment, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was significantly decreased, whereas the relative abundance of Allorhizobium was significantly increased compared to the control group. On day 4 following treatment, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Allorhizobium, Ochrobactrum, and Acidibacter decreased significantly, whereas the relative abundance of Paraburkholderia and Pelomonas increased significantly. Tetracycline treatment also affected midgut gene expression, producing a cumulative effect wherein the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mostly down-regulated. KEGG enrichment pathway analysis revealed that on day 2 the up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 21 pathways, including apoptosis and phagosome. Comparatively, the down-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 26 pathways, including N-glycan biosynthesis, lysosome, and autophagy. In contrast, on day 4 the up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 10 pathways including aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, ribosome biogenesis, RNA transport, and DNA replication, whereas the down-regulated differential genes were significantly enriched in 11 pathways including lysosome, peroxisome, N-glycan biosynthesis, and fatty acid synthesis. This indicates that tetracycline injection inhibited blood meal digestion by affecting midgut digestive cells, gut flora diversity, and gene expression. These findings could contribute to tick control by inhibiting blood meal digestion.

The effect of a One Health message intervention on willingness to pay for antibiotic-free animal foods: A randomized controlled trial among Chinese college students

Routine use of antibiotics in livestock for prophylactic purposes is a main driver of antimicrobial resistance, posing a significant threat to the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Ways to motivate farmers to voluntarily reduce antibiotics use need to be explored. Promoting antibiotic-free animal foods is one of the promising strategies. A three-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted online to explore the impact of a One Health message intervention on Chinese college students' willingness to pay for antibiotic-free animal foods. A total of 389 individuals participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of the One Health message group, the food nutrition and safety message group, and the no message group. Each participant read a message from the corresponding group and answered a self-report questionnaire. Participants' willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to buy (WTB) for antibiotic-free pork, eggs, and milk were measured before and after viewing the One Health message, and the results were compared to the other two groups using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and the Bonferroni correction. In the One Health message group, 30.2% (39/129) reported improved WTP for all three foods, compared to 6.2% (8/130) and 13.6% (17/125) in the food nutrition and safety message group and the no message group, respectively. The One Health message intervention had a significant effect on increasing participants' WTP (p < 0.001) and WTB (p < 0.05) for antibiotic-free pork, eggs, and milk. The One Health message intervention is effective in raising participants' WTP for antibiotic-free animal foods. It is hopeful to motivate farmers and producers to voluntarily reduce prophylactic antibiotic use through market demand and consumer choice, leading to a potential decrease in total antibiotics use in livestock. Additionally, integrated approaches based on One Health principles need to be found in the future.

Degradation of enrofloxacin by a novel Fe-N-C@ZnO material in freshwater and seawater: Performance and mechanism

In this study, we investigated the doping of Fe-N-C with ZnO (Fe-N-C@ZnO) to enhance its performance in the reduction of biological toxicity and degradation of enrofloxacin (ENR) in seawater. The steady-state/transient fluorescence analysis and free radical quenching test indicated an extremely low electron-hole recombination rate and the generation of reactive oxygen species in Fe-N-C@ZnO, leading to an improvement in the energy efficiency. We compared the ENR degradation efficiencies of Fe-N-C@ZnO and ZnO using both freshwater and seawater. In freshwater, Fe-N-C@ZnO exhibited a slightly higher degradation efficiency (95.00%) than ZnO (90.30%). However, the performance of Fe-N-C@ZnO was significantly improved in seawater compared to that of ZnO. The ENR degradation efficiency of Fe-N-C@ZnO (58.87%) in seawater was 68.39% higher than that of ZnO (34.96%). Furthermore, the reaction rate constant for ENR degradation by Fe-N-C@ZnO in seawater (7.31 × 10-3 min-1) was more than twice that of ZnO (3.58 × 10-3 min-1). Response surface analysis showed that the optimal reaction conditions were a pH of 7.42, a photocatalyst amount of 1.26 g L-1, and an initial ENR concentration of 6.56 mg L-1. Fe-N-C@ZnO prepared at a hydrothermal temperature of 128 °C and heating temperature of 300 °C exhibited the optimal performance for the photocatalytic degradation of ENR. Based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the degradation processes of ENR were proposed as three pathways: two piperazine routes and one quinolone route.

Feeding laying hens with lactobacilli improves internal egg quality and animal health

Feeding animals with lactobacilli strains is a biotechnological strategy to improve production, food quality, and animal health. Thus, this study aimed to select new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) able to improve laying hens health and egg production. Forty Bovans White layers (two days old) were randomly divided into four experimental groups that receive an oral gavage with saline solution (control group) or with one of the three lactobacilli selected (KEG3, TBB10, and KMG127) by their antagonistic activity against the foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus GGD_EGG01. 16 S rRNA sequencing identified KEG3 as Lentilactobacillus sp., and TBB10 and KMG127 as Lactiplantibacillus sp. The data showed that feeding birds with LAB increased weight uniformity and improved the internal quality of the eggs (high yolk index and Haugh unit) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Beta-diversity analysis showed that LAB supplementation modifies the cecal microbiota of laying hens. The prokaryotic families Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae were most important to the total dissimilarity of the cecal microbial community (calculated by SIMPER test). At end of in vivo experiments, it was possible to conclude that the feed of laying hens with Lentilactobacillus sp. TBB10 and Lentilactobacillus sp. KEG3 can be an important biotechnological tool for improving food quality and animal health.

Black soldier fly pulp in the diet of golden pompano: Effect on growth performance, liver antioxidant and intestinal health

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) has been widely researched as a protein source for fish meal replacement in aquaculture, but few studies have focused on its potential as a feed additive for growth and immune enhancement. We conducted a 56-day culture experiment to determine the impact of feed addition of black soldier fly pulp (BSFP, with 86.2% small peptides in dry basis) on growth performance, plasma biochemistry, liver antioxidant levels, intestinal immunity, digestion and microbiota of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus, 5.63 ± 0.02 g). BSFP was added to the basal diet at 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 9% (named Control, BSFP-1, BSFP-3, BSFP-5, BSFP-7, BSFP-9), respectively. BSFP increased the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and reduced the feed conversion rate of juvenile T. ovatus, the optimal growth performance was reached at BSFP-1, after which a negative feedback phenomenon was observed. Low levels of BSFP upregulated the expression of hepatic antioxidant, intestinal tight junctions, anti-inflammatory related genes and enhanced antioxidant, immune and intestinal digestive enzyme activities, which simultaneously reduced hepatic malondialdehyde and plasma aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations. However, at BSFP-7, catalase activity was significantly reduced, while NF-κB p65 and pro-inflammatory cytokines transcription was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). The results suggest that high doses of BSFP addition may damage fish health by inhibiting small peptide uptake, decreasing the activity of antioxidant enzyme and activating the canonical NF-κB pathway. Conversely, low doses of BSFP enhanced intestinal tight junction protein transcription, digestive enzyme activity and immune performance, inhibited pathogenic microbiota, while enhancing liver antioxidant capacity, which was associated with activated Nrf2-Keap1 pathway and suppressed NF-κB pathway, showing its potential as a feed additive to aquafeeds.

Influence of copper and aging on freely dissolved tetracycline concentration in soil

Copper (Cu) and tetracyclines (TCs) often coexist in agricultural soils because of the use of manures on farmland; however, the influence of Cu on the bioavailability of TCs is still unclear, especially for cases with aging Cu. The freely dissolved concentrations (FDCs) of TCs are believed to be directly related to their bioavailability. In the present study, the FDCs of TCs were determined using organic-diffusive gradients in thin films (o-DGT), and the influence of Cu on the FDCs of TCs in soils was evaluated. The results showed that the FDCs of tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) were 0.11-0.93, 0.28-1.02, and 0.24-0.53 μg/kg in the CK groups (no Cu added) and accounted for 0.09-0.58, 0.10-1.40, and 0.05-1.19‰ of their total concentrations which ranged from 0.2 to 10.0 mg/kg for TC, OTC, and CTC, respectively. The co-contamination of Cu reduced the FDCs of TCs in most cases, and aging increased the influence of Cu. The presence of Cu resulted in a decrease in the TC FDC by 35.48-95.04% in aged soils and 3.42-87.19% in newly prepared soils. FTIR analysis revealed that aging facilitated the bonding of Cu to soil particles via Cu-O, and Cu bonded to groups such as hydroxyl groups (-OH) in TCs. Our results suggested that the presence of Cu might reduce the bioavailability of TCs, and aging would enhance these effects. This is helpful for the bioavailability analysis of TCs under co-contamination of heavy metals.

Comprehensive discovery and migration evaluation of antimicrobial drugs and their transformation products in a swine farm by target, suspect, and nontarget screening

Swine farms contaminated the surrounding environment through manure application and biogas slurry irrigation, hence causing the wide residual of multiple antimicrobial drugs (ADs) and their transformation products (TPs). This study performed target, suspect, and nontarget screening methods to comprehensively investigate the pollution profiles of ADs in a typical swine farm, and characterize the potential transformed pathway of TPs and distinguish specific reactions of different catalog of ADs. Samples of fresh feces, compost, biogas slurry, topsoil, column soil, groundwater and plants were analyzed using the database containing 98 target analytes, 679 suspected parent ADs, and ∼ 107 TPs. In total, 29 ADs were quantitively detected, and tetracyclines (TCs) were mostly frequently detected ADs with the concentrations up to 4251 ng/g in topsoil. Soil column investigation revealed that doxycycline (DOX) and tetracycline (TC) in soil could migrate to depths of approximately 1 m in soil. Suspect screening identified 75 parent ADs, with 10 being reported for the first time in environmental media. Semi-quantification of ADs revealed that one of the less-concerned ADs, clinafloxacin, was detected to exceed 5000 ng/L in biogas slurry, suggesting that significant attentions should be paid to these less-concerned ADs. Moreover, 314 TPs was identified, and most of them were found to undergo microbial/enzymatic metabolism pathways. Overall, our study displays a comprehensive overview of ADs and their TPs in swine farming environments, and provides an inventory of crucial list that worthy of concern. The results emphasize the need to quantify the levels and distribution of previously overlooked ADs and their TPs in livestock farms.

g-C3N4/Ag@AgCl with Z-scheme heterojunction and Ag electron bridge for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline wastewater

Building Z-scheme heterojunctions with an electron bridge is a favored function for increasing photocatalytic activity. A facile approach for preparing g-C3N4/Ag@AgCl ternary heterojunctions by co-precipitation and photoreduction was established in this work. First, via co-precipitation, AgCl was modified on the surface of g-C3N4 to create a broad contact area between AgCl and g-C3N4. The AgCl is then reduced to Ag via an in-situ photoreduction technique, resulting in the formation of a ternary composite. The experimental results showed that when g-C3N4 modified 25% of the Ag@AgCl, that is, g-C3N4/Ag@AgCl-25 had the best photocatalytic performance, 94.9% of TC was degraded within 240 min, and the reaction rate to TC was 0.1214 min-1, which was 4.49 times and 8.12 times higher than that of g-C3N4 and Ag/AgCl, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4/Ag@AgCl is attributed to the LSPR effect of Ag NPs and O-doping g-C3N4, which broadens the absorbance performance of g-C3N4, the establishment of Z-type heterojunctions between AgCl NPs and g-C3N4 NSs and Ag NPs as an electron transport bridge accelerate the photogenerated electrons transfer between AgCl and g-C3N4.

Facile Synthesis of gC3N4-Exfoliated BiFeO3 Nanocomposite: A Versatile and Efficient S-Scheme Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Various Textile Dyes and Antibiotics in Water

Water pollution engendered from textile dyes and antibiotics is a globally identified precarious concern that is causing dreadful risks to human health as well as aquatic lives. This predicament is escalating the quest to develop competent photocatalysts that can degrade these water pollutants under solar light irradiation. Herein, we report an efficient photocatalyst comprising a hierarchical structure by integrating the layered graphitic carbon nitride (gC3N4) with nanoflakes of exfoliated BiFeO3. The coexistence of these two semiconducting nanomaterials leads to the formation of an S-scheme heterojunction. This nanocomposite demonstrated its excellent photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of several textile dyes (Yel CL2R, Levasol Yellow-CE, Levasol Red-GN, Navy Sol-R, Terq-CL5B) and various antibiotics (such as tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), ciprofloxacin (CPX), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and amoxicillin (AMX)) under the simulated solar light irradiation. As this photocatalyst exhibits its versatile activity toward the degradation of several commercial dyes as well as antibiotics, this work paves the path to develop a reasonable, eco-benign, and highly efficient photocatalyst that can be used in the practical approach to remediate environmental pollution.

Novel assessment tools for inland aquaculture in the western Godavari delta region of Andhra Pradesh

The production of fisheries and shrimp has been twice every 10 years for the previous five decades, making it the most rapidly expanding food industry. This growth is due to intensive farming and the conversion of agriculture into aquaculture in many parts of South Asia. Furthermore, intensive aquaculture generates positive economic growth but leads to environmental degradation without proper monitoring. Unfortunately, technical innovation is less in aquaculture than agricultural and manufacturing industries. The advent of remote sensing and soft computing has expanded various opportunities for utilizing and integrating technological advances in civil and environmental disciplines. This paper presents the aquaculture scenario in the western Godavari delta region of Andhra Pradesh and proposes various novel assessment tools to monitor the aquaculture environment. An experimental investigation was carried out on the physicochemical characteristics of the inland aquaculture ponds to evaluate water quality in the aquaculture ponds. Furthermore, to assess the intensity of inland aquaculture, the current work concentrates on the potential application of remote sensing and soft computing approaches. Geospatial models of kriging and inverse distance weighing (IDW) show higher performance in estimating ammonia levels in the intensive aquaculture groundwaters with coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.947 and 0.901, respectively. Teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) and adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO), two of the five soft computing techniques utilized in the study, perform better than the others. Additionally, it was found that remote sensing-based assessment tools and soft computing prediction models were both trustworthy, accurate, and easy to use. Furthermore, these methods could assist in the real-time evaluation of inland aquaculture waters by stakeholders and policymakers.

Sonolytic degradation kinetics and mechanisms of antibiotics in water and cow milk

Antibiotics (ABX) residues frequently occurred in water and cow milk. This work aims to understand the kinetics and mechanisms of sonolytic degradation of four ABX, i.e. ceftiofur hydrochloride (CEF), sulfamonomethoxine sodium (SMM), marbofloxacin (MAR), and oxytetracycline (OTC) in water and milk. In both water and milk, the sonolytic degradation of ABX follows pseudo-first order (PFO) kinetics well (R2: 0.951-0.999), with significantly faster ABX degradation in water (PFO kinetics constants (k1): 1.5 × 10-3-1.2 × 10-1 min-1) than in milk (k1: 3.5 × 10-4-5.6 × 10-2 min-1). The k1 values for SMM degradation in water increased by 118% with ultrasonic frequency (40-120 kHz), 174% with ultrasonic frequency (80-500 kHz), 649% with ultrasonic power (73-259 W), 22% with bulk temperature (12-40℃), and by 68% with reaction volume (50-250 mL), respectively, in other things being equal. The relevant k1 values in milk increased by 326%, 231%, 122%, 10% as well as 82% with the above same effective factors, respectively. The oxidation by free radicals generated in situ dominates ABX degradation, and the hydrophobic CEF (54.0-971.7 nM min-1) and SMM (39.2-798.4 nM min-1) underwent faster degradation than the hydrophilic MAR (33.9-751.9 nM min-1) and OTC (33.8-545.3 nM min-1) in both water and milk. Adding an extra 0.5 mM H2O2 accelerated SMM degradation by 19% in water and 33% in milk. After 130-150 min sonication of 100 mL of 2.0 mg L-1 (6.62 μM) SMM in various milk with 500 kHz and 259 W, the residue concentrations (52.9-96.3 μg L-1) can meet the relevant maximum residue limit (100 μg L-1).

Effects of Red Yeast (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) on Growth, Innate Immunity, Expression of Immune-related Genes and Disease Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of red yeast (Sporidiobolus pararoseus) produced from crude glycerol, as a by-product of the biodiesel production process, on the growth, innate immunity, expression of immune-related gene, and resistance of Nile tilapia against challenge with Streptococcus agalactiae. Fish were fed diets supplied with different concentrations of S. pararoseus dried cells at 0.0 (control; T1), 5.0 (T2), 10.0 (T3), and 20.0 (T4) g kg-1 diets for 90 days. The results showed that final body weight, weight gain, and average daily gain were significantly higher in fish fed T3 and T4 compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Likewise, significant (p < 0.05) increases in total carotenoid content, liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and serum lysozyme and albumin were observed in Nile tilapia fed S. pararoseus, with the highest (p < 0.05) values displayed in fish fed the T4 diet. Moreover, up-regulation of IL-1β transcription in Nile tilapia spleen and liver was observed in fish feeding group T4. In a challenge test against S. agalactiae, the fish survival rate was significantly higher in fish fed red yeast compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The highest bactericidal activity found in the T4 group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in hematology, blood chemical, malondialdehyde (MDA), body chemical composition, organosomatic indices, and myeloperoxidase (p > 0.05) in all treatments. The present results suggested that red yeast S. pararoseus (20.0 g kg-1) can be used as a potential supplementation on growth, immune response, and disease resistance of Nile tilapia.

Overview of Direct and Indirect Effects of Antibiotics on Terrestrial Organisms

Antibiotics (ABs) have made it possible to treat bacterial infections, which were in the past untreatable and consequently fatal. Regrettably, their use and abuse among humans and livestock led to antibiotic resistance, which has made them ineffective in many cases. The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacteria is not limited to nosocomial environments, but also involves water and soil ecosystems. The environmental presence of ABs and ARGs is a hot topic, and their direct and indirect effects, are still not well known or clarified. A particular concern is the presence of antibiotics in agroecosystems due to the application of agro-zootechnical waste (e.g., manure and biosolids), which can introduce antibiotic residues and ARGs to soils. This review provides an insight of recent findings of AB direct and indirect effects on terrestrial organisms, focusing on plant and invertebrates. Possible changing in viability and organism growth, AB bioaccumulation, and shifts in associated microbiome composition are reported. Oxidative stress responses of plants (such as reactive oxygen species production) to antibiotics are also described.

Phenylalanine Plays Important Roles in Regulating the Capacity of Intestinal Immunity, Antioxidants and Apoptosis in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This experiment was planned to explore the role of dietary phenylalanine levels in intestinal immunity, antioxidant activity and apoptosis in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Six iso-nitrogen and iso-energy diets with phenylalanine levels of 1.45% (DPHE1), 1.69% (DPHE2), 1.98% (DPHE3), 2.21% (DPHE4), 2.48% (DPHE5) and 2.76% (DPHE6) were designed. Juvenile largemouth bass were fed the experimental diet for 8 weeks. In this study, the DPHE5 group increased the expression of intestinal antioxidant genes in largemouth bass (p < 0.05), and the increase of antioxidant enzyme activities and content of related substances was most concentrated in the DPHE3 and DPHE4 groups (p < 0.05). The results of plasma biochemistry were similar to that of enzyme activity. The expression of genes related to the TOR signalling pathway mainly increased significantly in the DPHE5 group (p < 0.05). Similarly, the expression of inflammatory factors, as well as apoptotic factors, also showed significant increases in the DPHE5 group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, unbalanced phenylalanine in the diet could lead to a decrease in intestinal immune and antioxidant capacity and also cause a decline in the aggravation of intestinal cell apoptosis.

Ultrasensitive and Green Bubbling Extraction Strategies: An Extensible Solvent-Free Re-Enrichment Approach for Ultratrace Pollutants in Aqueous Samples

Ultratrace organic pollutants in the environment pose severe threats to human health; hence, their accurate detection is essential. In this study, we develop a secondary solvent-free enrichment strategy based on bubbling extraction (BE). Especially, we used BE solid-phase microextraction and BE carbon nanotube paper absorption to capture aerosols from a liquid water surface, desorb analytes, and analyze the analytes using mass spectrometry. The application of a solvent-free enrichment strategy helps overcome technical challenges in implementing BE technology, including reproducibility, quantification, and sensitivity. This approach objectively demonstrates the enrichment efficiency of BE, resulting in improved mass spectrometry response and quantification. It effectively tackles the difficulties in detecting and quantifying ultratrace environmental pollutants in mass spectrometric analysis. The present study successfully conducted a quantitative analysis of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 7 antibiotics in 48 environmental water samples. This strategy proved effective in detecting the presence and distribution of polar and nonpolar environmental pollutants in rivers and lakes. Moreover, this strategy has several advantages, such as ultrahigh sensitivity at the femtograms per liter level, good greenness, multiplexed quantitation, low sample consumption, and ease of operation. Overall, the utilization of the ultrasensitive and environmentally friendly BE approach presents a reliable and adaptable method for the identification of ultratrace environmental pollutants in water specimens, thereby enabling early monitoring of pollutant levels.

Comprehensive Investigation of Fluoroquinolone Residues in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana Honey and Potential Risks to Consumers: A Five-Year Study (2014-2018) in Zhejiang Province, China

As a group of antibiotics largely used in China's animal husbandry, fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues in honey may pose potential threats to human health. This study performed a five-year investigation on the occurrence of FQ residues in honey in 521 Apis mellifera and 160 Apis cerana honey samples collected from Zhejiang Province, China and compared FQ residue profiles in honey with a subgroup of various factors. Deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments of exposure to FQ residues in honey were further conducted. Overall, four FQs were detected in 6.9% (47/681) of analyzed samples; banned norfloxacin with the highest level (7890 μg·kg-1) and detection frequency (4.9%) was the primary safety risk factor associated with honeybees raised in China. FQ detection frequency and concentration of rape honey was highest among four of the largest and most stable honeys (rape, acacia, chaste, and linden) in China. Processed honey from commercial sale channels had a significantly higher detection frequency of FQ residues than raw honey from apiaries. Deterministic assessment showed that the noncarcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) value of the dietary intake of FQs by the local population was between 4.75 × 10-6 and 1.18 × 10-3, less than 1.0, indicating that FQ residues in honey posed a low risk for consumers. The order of the HQ value was ciprofloxacin > norfloxacin > enrofloxacin > ofloxacin. Probabilistic assessment showed that at P95, the HQ of FQs for the age groups of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults over 65 years ranged from 2.39 × 10-5 to 0.217, less than 1, and the exposure risk for adults was higher than for children and adolescents. Sensitivity analysis showed that FQ concentrations were the major contributors to health risks. Although a low risk was found, a strict hive management is needed for beekeepers regarding troubles of food safety, international trade, and human bacterial resistance.