Assessment of antimicrobial drugs use and their residue in the farmed fish of Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed antimicrobial drug use, pattern, and the occurrence of residues in farmed fish, as well as the level of awareness of drug residues amongst fish farmers in Kaduna State. A total of 300 fish samples from 30 farms in the three senatorial districts of Kaduna State were screened for the presence of antimicrobial drug residues. One hundred questionnaires were administered to fish farmers. Out of the 300 fish samples screened, antimicrobial drug residues were detected in 73.70%. An overall prevalence of 73.70% was obtained, while the prevalence of 63, 74, and 84% was obtained from Kaduna North, Central, and South senatorial districts respectively. From the questionnaire responses, the use of antimicrobial drugs in fish ponds was common (91.86%); with tetracycline (63.41%) being the most frequently used. Self-prescription and administration of drugs by farmers (67.86%) were more in number than those who consult veterinarians for prescription and drug administration. The level of awareness on antimicrobial drug residues in fish and dangers associated with the use and consumption of these residues were very low. Furthermore, the majority of the farmers did not observe antibiotic withdrawal periods before sales of fish to consumers. This study has established a high prevalence of antimicrobial drug residues in farmed fish in the study area. In addition, awareness of the dangers and public health implications of antimicrobial drug residues in fish amongst farmers in Kaduna is low. Therefore, the use of the antimicrobial drug in aquaculture should be regulated and farmers should be encouraged to use immunostimulators or probiotics for disease control and prevention, to safeguard the general populace from the hazards associated with drug residues in fish.

Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility profile of clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates from Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria

“…The high prevalence of MDR might be due to a combination of microbial characteristics, increased consumption of antibiotics and the attendant resistance, and transmission of resistant isolates within the hospital environment as a result of insufficient enforcement of hospital hygiene protocols and infection control measures [ 45 ]. Although data on antibiotic consumption in the study area are limited, some studies have established a high level of use in agricultural practice within the study area [ 46 ]. Furthermore, overcrowding of immuno-compromised patients in the hospitals may facilitate nosocomial transmission of resistant bacteria among the patients [ 47 ].…”

Recent Advances in the Determination of Veterinary Drug Residues in Food

“…In aquaculture, it is common to utilize chemical compounds, including pharmaceuticals, in animal feeds to prevent and treat fish diseases. Therefore, it is important to detect chemical contaminants to analyze food safety to minimize human exposure to unwanted veterinary drugs [ 65 , 66 ]. For instance, the detection of robenidine hydrochloride in fish was conducted using the HPLC-HESI-MS/MS method, which was deemed simple, reproducible and accurate, yielding a concentration of 4.65 μg/kg with an additional concentration of 5 μg/kg.…”

“…However, it is essential to note that the dilution of drugs in water can pollute the water and soil environment, leading to exposure for aquatic animals. This exposure can occur through the trophic chain, resulting in public health problems such as increased risk of allergies, heightened carcinogen levels and antibiotic drug resistance [ 65 ].…”