ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESIDUES, USE, PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN FISH FARMS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

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Date
2014-03
Authors
ALIYU, LADAN ADAMU
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Abstract
This study was undertaken for the assessment of antimicrobial drug use and occurrence of residues in farmed fish 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 using Premi(R)Test. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using convenience sampling technique for fish collection. Ten fish each weighing 500g to 1kg were collected from earthen ponds, concrete ponds and plastic tanks in fish farms from the three senatorial districts. One hundred questionnaires were administered to fish farmers. Out of the 300 fish samples screened, an overall prevalence of 73.70% of antimicrobial drug residues was obtained, while prevalence's of 63%, 74% and 84% were obtained from Kaduna North, Central and South senatorial districts respectively. There was a significant association (χ2 = 11.38, df = 2, p < 0.05) between senatorial district and detection of antibiotic residue in the fish. 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 antimicrobial agent. Self prescription and administration of drugs by farmers (67.86%) were more in number than those who consult veterinarians for prescription and drug administration. Level of awareness, dangers associated with consumption of antimicrobial drug residues in fish were very low. Furthermore, most fish farmers did not observe antimicrobial withdrawal periods. This study has established a high prevalence of antimicrobial drug residues in farmed fish in the study area. Awareness on the dangers and public health implications of antimicrobial drug residues in fish in Kaduna is low. Therefore, use of antimicrobial drug in aquaculture should be regulated, farmers should be encouraged to use immunostimulators or probiotics for disease control and prevention, in order to safeguard the general populace from the hazards associated with drug residues in fish.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS DEGREE IN VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA MARCH, 2014
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, ANTIMICROBIAL,, RESIDUES,, PUBLIC,, HEALTH,, AWARENESS,, MANAGEMENT,, PRACTICES,, FISH,, FARMS,, KADUNA STATE., NIGERIAN.
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