Microbial quality and antibiotic residues of fish sold in the Gaza strip, Palestine

Other Title(s)

الجودة الميكرويية و متبقيات المضادات الحيوية للأسماك المباعة في قطاع غزة، فلسطين

Dissertant

al-Sayqali, Asma Shawqi Ali

Thesis advisor

al-Nabris, Kamal Jad Allah
al-Manamah, Abd al-Rauf Ali

University

Islamic University

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Department

Department of Biological Science

University Country

Palestine (Gaza Strip)

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2017

English Abstract

Introduction: Fish diseases caused by pathogens (e.g.

bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) affect the survival and growth rates of fish, and consequently lead to major economic losses.

Furthermore, the microorganisms responsible for these infections belong to bacterial families that also produce infections in humans.

Therefore, their transmission to human is highly probable.

Several antibiotics including; oxytetracycline, sulfamerazine and ormetoprim, are used for treating bacterial infections in farmed fish.

The use of antibiotics in aquaculture systems is usually associated with serious health hazard not encountered in wild captured species.

The main concern is antibiotic residues and development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that may be transferred to consumers.

Several types of fish are consumed daily by inhabitants of Gaza strip as source of protein.

Objectives: In this study, the microbial quality for locally farmed, caught and imported (frozen) fish was evaluated and the presence of antibiotic residues was investigated.

Methodology: The study examined 100 fish specimens that were purchased from local markets (60 farmed and 30 frozen and 10 caught fish).

Total coliform, total viable count, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Vibrio spp.

were tested using standard methods.

To investigate the presence of antibiotic residues, four classes of antibiotics were determined in fish samples using a bioassay method recommended by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Results: The most detected antibiotic residues were aminoglycosides 52 (52%) in sea bream, red tilapia and Nile tilapia.

followed by tetracyclines 1 (1%) in sutchi catfish fillet and negative results for β-lactams and macrolides.

Microbiological quality tests showed that 39% of fish samples failed to comply with the Palestinian standards, the percentage of failure due to Total Plate Count (4%), Total Coliform bacteria (39%), S.

aureus 13%, and Salmonella spp.

(1%).

Conclusions: Results confirmed the presence of antibiotic residues in fish samples collected from Gaza strip.

A confirmatory method such as gas chromatography (GC) is recommended to be used to determine residues compliance with the maximum residue limits.

It is also recommended that measures should be implemented to ensure observing proper withdrawal periods before marketing and drug control in veterinary use.

In addition, a monitoring policy should be implemented to ensure the conformity of fish sold in Gaza strip with international standards.

The results emphasizes the need to promote awareness about possible health hazards that could result from poor handling of farmed fish.

Main Subjects

Biology

No. of Pages

91

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-900704