The overuse of antibiotics in intensive aquaculture has led to the continuous enrichment and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments, posing risks to public health. In recent years, the extensive application of disinfectants – including chlorine-based compounds, hydrogen peroxide, guanidines, and metal-based nanomaterials – and their subsequent environmental residues have raised concern. However, their impact on ARG propagation remains poorly understood. This review systematically examines the effects of typical disinfectants on horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs, changes in ARG abundance, and microbial community structure in aquaculture settings. Key findings indicate that environmentally relevant concentrations of disinfectants significantly enhance conjugative transfer frequency (by 1.30- to 10.00-fold) through oxidative stress, SOS response, and increased membrane permeability. Disinfectant exposure elevates the abundance of tetracycline, sulfonamide, and β‑lactam ARGs, accompanied by enrichment of mobile genetic elements, thus enhancing ARG mobility. Moreover, disinfectants reduce microbial diversity and selectively enrich potential pathogenic host bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), exacerbating the risk of resistance transfer to high-risk pathogens. Collectively, disinfectant residues act synergistically with antibiotic selection pressure to drive a positive feedback loop of “selection‑dispersion”, turning aquaculture systems into reservoirs of multidrug resistance. Incorporation of disinfectants into environmental risk assessment frameworks and development of green alternatives that do not induce horizontal gene transfer are urgently needed.
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Zhong, Z. (2026) Comprehensive Analysis of the Impacts and Potential Risks of Disinfectant Use on the Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Aquaculture. Scientific Research Bulletin, 3(2), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.71052/srb2024/TLGB3655