Antibiotic feeding in shrimp farming is an optional practice conducted with the aim of preventing and controlling bacterial diseases. However, the administration of antibiotics can disrupt the microbiota of both shrimp and surrounding environment, potentially compromising host health. Given the limited effective antibiotic options in aquaculture, it is crucial to evaluate the effects of florfenicol (FF) on the intestinal health of shrimp and the associated microbial communities. This study first investigated the impact of FF on the intestinal structure of Penaeus vannamei over two feeding durations (5 and 10 days), each followed by a 10-day basal diet recovery period. Simultaneously, variations in microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in both the intestine and rearing water were explored. The results showed that intestinal damage was aggravated with the extension of FF duration and gradually recovered after FF withdrawal. Significant changes in microbial composition and β-diversity were observed in both the rearing water and intestine following FF feeding. Extending the FF treatment to 10 days led to a reduced abundance of Rhodobacteraceae and an increased abundance of Flavobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae in the intestine after 10 days of feeding the basic diet, which may pose a potential risk to shrimp health. Based on correlation analysis of ARGs, microbial communities and pathogenic bacteria, we speculated that rearing water may serve as a reservoir for ARGs dissemination compared to the shrimp intestine. These findings are of great importance for assessing the impact of administration duration under the FF therapeutic dose and highlight the potential risks associated with its overuse in shrimp farming.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.