TETRACYCLINE LEVELS IN FARMED CATFISH (CLARIS GARIEPENUS)

ABSTRACT

Antibiotics have been used in fish farms for the treatment of bacterial infections. The indiscriminate use of these antibiotics has however led to the issue of antibiotic residue in food animals, which has emerged globally as a public health risk. Lack of information on antibiotic residue in catfish (C. gariepinus) in developing countries such as Nigeria is however a major problem. This study was carried out to evaluate the concentration of tetracycline residues in catfish (C. gariepinus) from selected ponds in Edo Central, Edo State, Nigeria. Adult Catfish (C. gariepinus) samples were obtained from three ponds in Edo Central and analysed for tetracycline residue using the QuEChERS sample method for residue analysis. Questionnaires were also administered to catfish farmers to evaluate their antibiotic use and knowledge of antibiotic administration. The tetracycline residue present in catfish from the sampled ponds were above the maximum residue limits (MRL). Pond 1 had the highest mean tetracycline residue (1.87 ± 0.03 mg/kg) while Pond 2 had the lowest mean tetracycline residue of the sampled ponds (1.84 ± 0.05 mg/kg). All fish pond owners that were administered questionnaires had some level of education. 33.33% had post-secondary education while 66.67% had other forms of education. All respondents to the questionnaire administered tetracycline to catfish. 100% of the correspondent got the antibiotic from veterinary medicine stores and they were all aware of the risk associated with indiscriminate administration of tetracycline to catfish. All the correspondents had also witnessed the outbreak of diseases in their ponds. Human health risk assessment showed the hazard quotient calculated from both ponds lower than 1 which is an indication that consumption of catfish (C. gariepinus) from the sampled ponds might not be harmful due to the concentration of tetracycline residue being low in the fish.