Tetracycline and sulphonamide residues in farmed fish in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and human health risk implications

ABSTRACT

In Africa, antibiotic residue investigations in animal food have primarily been focused on meat, neglecting farmed fish. This cross-sectional study conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed to assess sulphonamide and tetracycline residues in farmed fish, comparing levels with Codex Alimentarius Commission’s acceptable daily intake (ADI) and maximum residue limits (MRLs). A total of 84 farmed fish were sampled and analysed in the presence of tetracycline and sulphonamide residues. All samples were positive for sulphonamide residues (100%; n = 84), and 2.4% (n = 2) were positive for tetracycline and consequently also positive for both compounds. Tetracycline levels were below ADI and MRL, 28.5% (n = 24) surpassed the ADI, and 6% (n = 5) of the samples exceeded the MRL for sulphonamide. Regular monitoring of antibiotic residues in aquaculture products is crucial to mitigate health risks and expanding assessments to include other commonly used compounds is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Aquaculture
• residues
• tetracycline
• sulphonamides
• Dar es Salaam

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge, with gratitude, the cooperation received from the Dar es Salaam Regional and District Fisheries Officers, staff of the Departments of i) Microbiology and Immunology and ii) Environmental and Occupational Health of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Science of the Lilongwe University of Aquaculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Study design and conceptualisation (ZHK, MIM, DK, WN, ZIK) laboratory work (ZHK, WU, FXM), statistical analysis (PPK, ZHK). This manuscript is the contribution of inputs from all authors, who have agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Data availability statement

The datasets of this study can be made available from the corresponding author.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Medical Research Coordinating Committee of the National Institute for Medical Research of Tanzania (Reference No. NIMR/HQ/R.8a/Vol. 1X/4225) and the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (Reference No. TAFIRI/HQ/RES.CLEARANCE/108) approved this study. Verbal consent was obtained from each participant after being briefed about the study’s objectives. Participants were allowed to withdraw from the study at any time.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the World Bank through the African Centre of Excellence (AquaFish), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe Malawi [P151847-58020 MW].