A cross-sectional study was conducted to characterize fish farmers in Ogun State with respect to their use of veterinary drugs and awareness of adverse effects these drugs have on human. A semi structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant data from 80 fish farmers in Abeokuta. The findings indicated that fish farmers in the study area were mostly males, married and well educated. Most of them obtain primary source of income from fish farming. Despite the fact that both skilled (41.25%) and unskilled (58.75%) labourers were employed on the farms, family members were also involved in the production. 21.25% used pelmendazole, 10.0% used melbendazole, while 26.0% used ivermectin as their anthelminthics. 78.75% used oxytetracycline, 37.5% used penicillin, while 40% used sulfadimidine as their antibiotics. 67.5% used ovaprim®&nbsp; while 42.5% used ovatide® as hormones to boost their fish production. 76.25% of the fish farmers do not involve veterinarians in the production, whilst 48.75% of the farmers are not aware of adverse effect of veterinary drug residue in human. The results are discussed in view of the need for more involvement of veterinarians in fish production to ensure the adoption of global standards, thus guaranteeing improved food safety and sustainability in fish production.
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ADEBOWALE, O. O.

AWOYOMI, O. J.

KEHINDE, O. O.

MOBOLAJI, A. O.

English

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta: FUNAAB Journal

counts for about 500,000 metric tons by the artisan fisher folk (85%); despite over fishing in many water bodies across the country (Adekoya, 2004). The fish industry therefore, remains the most virgin investment in Nige-ria compared with the importation of frozen fish in the domestic market (Ndu, 2006).  The gap created by the shortage of supply creates unrestricted entrance into fish pro-duction by anyone. In ensuring market de-mands are regularly met and to boost the production, majority of fish farmers adopt the use of various veterinary drugs. Some of these drugs include hormone (gonadorelin), ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study was conducted to characterize fish farmers in Ogun State with respect to their use of veterinary drugs and awareness of adverse effects these drugs have on human. A semi struc-tured questionnaire was used to gather relevant data from 80 fish farmers in Abeokuta. The findings indicated that fish farmers in the study area were mostly males, married and well educated. Most of them obtain primary source of income from fish farming. Despite the fact that both skilled (41.25%) and unskilled (58.75%) labourers were employed on the farms, family members were also involved in the production. 21.25% used pelmendazole, 10.0% used melbendazole, while 26.0% used ivermectin as their anthelminthics. 78.75% used oxytetracycline, 37.5% used penicillin, while 40% used sulfadimi-dine as their antibiotics. 67.5% used ovaprim®  while 42.5% used ovatide® as hormones to boost their fish production. 76.25% of the fish farmers do not involve veterinarians in the production, whilst 48.75% of the farmers are not aware of adverse effect of veterinary drug residue in human. The re-sults are discussed in view of the need for more involvement of veterinarians in fish production to en-sure the adoption of global standards, thus guaranteeing improved food safety and sustainability in fish production.   Keywords: anthelminthics, hormones, antibiotics, fish farms, drug residue INTRODUCTION Nigerians are large consumers of fish with the demand estimated to be over 1.5 million metric tons annually (Omotoyin, 2007).  Out of this estimated figure, 50% percent is currently being met by the local suppliers. The demand for fish is very high because fish is a good source of protein and, unlike fatty meat products; it is not high in saturat-ed fat. Fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy peo-ple, and those at risk of-or who have-cardiovascular disease.  (Green and Teichert-coddington, 2000). On the supply side of the market, domestic fish production ac-A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN FISH FARMS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA     O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. O. ADEBOWALE  Department of Veterinary Public Health and Reproduction, College of Veterinary  Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Postcode 110001. Nigeria.  *Corresponding author: jojuawoyomi@yahoo.com     Tel: +2348034000451 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 53 Journal of Natural  Science, Engineering and Technology  ISSN: Print    -  2277 - 0593 Online -  2315 - 7461 © FUNAAB 2012 antibiotic, (oxytetracycline and penicillin) and antihelminthic (ivermectin and melbendazole).   While there is need to support every effort to boost fish production, misuse of these drugs has adverse effect on the consumers. In fact, indiscriminate use of antibiotics for veterinary purposes has increasingly be-come a matter of public concern. In the fish farming sector, the widespread use of anti-biotics for treating bacterial diseases has been associated with development of antibi-otic resistance (De Paola et al., 1995). This study is aimed at characterizing the fish farmers in Ogun state with respect to their use of veterinary drugs and awareness of adverse effects of these drugs on human. This is vital since a large number of people are shifting to fish farming because of eco-nomic benefits and the outcomes would be of importance to policy makers, farmers and veterinary extension with mandates or interest in fish production and related activ-ities.   METHODOLOGY  A cross-sectional study was carried out to characterize the fish farmers in Abeokuta and its environs. One hundred Fish farmers were selected to participate in the study. A semi structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant information most especially on the basic characteristics of the fish farm-ers, involvement of veterinarian in prescrip-tion of drug being used, awareness of drug residue with the public health implications and problems associated with fish farming in Abeokuta.  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of eighty respondents returned the questionnaires, which were coded and ana-lyzed. Data presented in Table 1 shows the result on basic characteristics of the fish farmers; 71.25% were males while 28.75% were females; 12.5% of the respondents were below the age of 25years while 76.3% of the farmers were between 25 and 44years, only 11.3% are above 45years old; 2.5% of the respondent did not have any formal edu-cation, 2.5% had only primary education, 13.8% had secondary education, while the remaining 81.2% had tertiary education; ma-jority (66.25%) are married, 33.75% are sin-gle while only 1.3% are divorced. These basic characteristics show that most people involved in fish farming are within produc-tive age and can easily adopt new innovation (Odoemenem and Obinne 2010).    Data presented in table 2 shows the results of characteristic of the fish farms involved in the study. About 78.75% of the fish farmers have their primary income from the fish farm, while 21.25% has other major source of income. Kudi and others (2008), reaffirm that there is high level of profitability in fish farming, emphasis needs to be laid on the economic empowerment ability of fish farm-ing which if sustained with proper regulation can increase rural development, lead to an improved food security and reduce rural poverty (Olawumi et al., 2010,).                           O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. ADEBOWALE 54 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN……..  55 Table 1: Personal characteristics of the fish farmers in Abeokuta, Ogun state Personal Characteristics Frequency Percentage A Sex   Female Male Total 23 57 80 28.75 71.25 100 B Age   15-24 25-34 35-44 45 & Above Total 10 42 19 9 100 12.5 52.5 23.8 11.3 100.0 C Marital Status   Married Single Divorced Total 53 26 1 80 66.25 33.75 1.3 100.0 D Highest Educational Qualification   None Primary O Level/GCE OND HND/B.Sc. M.Sc./Ph.D. Total 2 2 11 14 43 8 80 2.5 2.5 13.8 17.5 53.8 10.0 100.0 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. ADEBOWALE 56 Table 2: Information about the fish farms Fish Farm Parameter Frequency Percentage A Primary Source of Income   Fish Farm Others Total 63 17 80 78.75 21.25 100.0 B No. of Labour   Less than 5 6-9 10-14 Above 15 Total 60 13 4 3 80 75.1 16.3 5.0 3.8 100.0 C Farmland Ownership   Lease Rent Inherited Purchased Total 27 16 16 21 80 33.8 20.0 20.0 26.3 100.0 D Sources of Farm Labour   Family Members Non-Family Members Both Total 37 32 11 80 46.3 40.0 13.8 100.0 E Type of Labour   Skilled Labour Unskilled Labour Total   33 47 80 41.25 58.75 100.0   J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN……..  57 Table 3: Information about the fish farms (contd.). Fish Farm Parameter Frequency Percentage A Type of Farming   Mixed Fishery Only Total 34 46 80 42.5 57.5 100.0 B Principal Enterprise on the Farm   Poultry Fishery Piggery Food Crop Production Others Total 11 59 2 4 4 80 13.75 73.75 2.5 5.0 5.0 100.0 C Size of Farm   Less than 1 Acre 1-2 Acres 3-4 Acres Above 5 Acres Total 61 11 2 6 80 76.3 13.8 2.5 7.5 100.0 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 Furthermore, 75.1% of the farmers make use of less than five labourers on the farm, 16.3% make use of between six and four-teen, however only 3.3% of the farmer em-ploy above 15 labourers. This shows that fish farming is not labour intensive as 46.2% of the farmers involve family mem-bers in farm labour, 40.0% involve only hired labour while 13.8% make use of both family members and hired labour to work on the farm. Of the farm labour 41.25% are skilled while 58.75% are unskilled labour; 42.5% of the fish farmers practice integrat-ed farming, while the remaining 57.5% have only fish on their farm. Integrated fish farm has been advocated because of the benefits that can be accrued from its such as in-creased yield, improved water management with multiple use of water, increased reve-nues and finally poverty reduction. (Othman, 2006).  Principal enterprise on the sampled farms is fishery with 73.75%, 3.75% had poultry, 2.5% had piggery, and 5.0% had other en-terprises on the farm.   Among the fish farmers, 33.8% of land is on lease, 20.0% rented the land, and 20.0% inherited it while 26.3% purchased the land. Majority of the fish farms utilize less than one acres of land, 16.3% use between one and four acres while 7.5% use above five acres of land for production.   Table 4 shows the various challenges the fish farmers encountered. 16.25% of the farmers had problem of land acquisition, 21.25% had problem of finance, 23.75% had problem of how to market their product, 11.25% encountered the problem of flood-ing, 13.75% had problem of how to source for fingerlings, while 13.75% had problem of water source for fish production. Land is one of the most important resources readily available for production in developing coun-try such as Nigeria. From this study it is ob-vious that land acquisition for fish farm in the study area is mostly by lease, closely fol-lowed by purchase. The farmers identified lack of good market for product (23.75%) lack of finance (21.25%), Problem of land acquisition (16.25%) as most important problem in fish production. This is in agree-ment with the findings of Kudi and others (2008) in Kaduna state, where the fish farm-ers identified lack of finance and lack of good market as the major constraint to fish production.  O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. ADEBOWALE 58 Table 4: Challenges in fish farming.  Respondent Frequency Percentage Land acquisition 13 16.25 Finance 17 21.25 Marketing of product 19 23.75 Flooding 9 11.25 Source of fingerlings 11 13.75 Source of water 11 13.75 Total 80 100.0 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 It was observed that 21.25% used pel-mendazole, 10.0% used melbendazole, while 26.0% used ivermectin as their anthel-minthics. 78.75% used oxytetracycline, 37.5% used penicillin, while 40% used sul-fadimidine as their antibiotics. 67.5% used ovaprim while 42.5% used ovatide as hor-mones to boost fish production (fig.1-3). These data showed that fish farmers make use of veterinary drugs without prescription and supervision. Due to low level of drug residue awareness and involvement of veteri-narians on fish farms veterinary dug misuse and abuse cannot be farfetched from these farms.  A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN……..  59 Figure I. Bar chart showing percentage of farmers using antihelminthics Figure II. Bar chart showing percentage of farmers using antibiotics  J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 Table 5 showed the awareness of fish farm-ers to the possibility of drug residue in fish and it adverse effect on man. After the ad-ministration of the drugs, 17.5% sell the fish at one week after, 30.0% sell between 2-3 weeks after, while 52.5% sell above 4 weeks.  48.75% of the farmers are not aware of the fact that drug residue can have adverse effects on man, while 51.25% are aware. 76.25 of these farmers do not engage the services of   veterinarians on their farms while only 23.75% of them do. Furthermore 75.0% of the farmers administer veterinary drugs for their fish(es) by themselves; some (15%) even allow farm attendants to apply veterinary drugs, while only 10.0% of the farmers involve veterinarians in drug admin-istration.  O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. ADEBOWALE 60 Figure III: Bar chart showing percentage of people using hormones  Table 5:   Awareness of the drug residue in fish and its adverse effect in human Respondent Frequency Percentage       A Time of Sale After Administration      1 Week 2-3  Weeks Above 4 Weeks Total 14 24 42 80   17.5   30.0    52.5   100.0 B Awareness of Adverse Effects of Drug residue in human   No Yes Total           39           41           80  48.75  51.25 100.0 C Veterinary Consultant on Farm   No Yes Total   61  19  80      76.25        23.75     100.0 D Application of Drugs   Veterinary Doctor Attendant Self Total     8 12 60 80     10.0     15.0     75.0    100.0  J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 Veterinary drugs administration in fish farming could be indicated for treatment and prevention of diseases, control of para-sites, tranquilizer and growth promoters. Due to the fact that few drugs are approved for aquaculture farmers tend to use non- approved drugs, or use the approved one in a manner that deviates from the labeled in-structions (Price and Tom, 1997). The use of antibiotic has significantly improved fish health, and production efficiency in aqua-culture operation. However, the extensive use of antibiotics for chemoprophylaxis or growth promoters can result in antibiotic residues in fish for human consumption, which could cause allergic reaction and in-crease the probability of developing antimi-crobial resistance in resident microbiologi-cal flora. Ogbondeminu and Olayemi (1993) observed that the indiscriminate use of anti-microbial drugs and other synthetic chemo-therapies to treat fish has resulted in an in-crease in population of antibiotic resistant bacteria as well as resistance R-plasmid in food producing animals. Apart from drug residue problem, misuse of veterinary drug has the potential for causing environmental pollution since the use of fish feed as deliv-ery vehicles for antimicrobial may inevitably lead to a certain amount of leach into the surrounding water.  Drug residue in fish could result first from improper usage due to lack of knowledge of withdrawal period or actual disobedience to manufacturers instruction on withdrawal period. Secondly it could be due to proper drug use but wrong managerial practices like improper husbandry of live fish, live fish harvested being held in a tank with medication, improper monitoring and final-ly lack of record keeping. From the findings of this work, it is expedient to balance in-creased fish production with the safety of the consumers. To reduce the risk associated with increased usage of veterinary drugs in fish production, the following recommenda-tions are therefore put forward:  1. Registration and monitoring of all fish farms. 2. Involvement and interest of veterinarians in fish production.  3. Overhauling of the curriculum of veteri-nary medicine at undergraduate level to include  comprehensive fish medicine  Finally, systematic and continuous extension services for fish farmers which will not only be based on improving production but also on effects of various practices on the farm on public health.   REFERENCES Adekoya B.B., Miller J.W. 2004. Fish cage culture potential in Nigeria- An overview. National Cultures. Agriculture Focus. 1(5): 10.  De Paola, A., Peeler, J.T.,  Rodrick, G. 1995. Effect of oxytetracycline-medicated feed on antibiotic resistance of Gram-negative bacteria in catfish ponds. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 61: 2335–2340.  Green, W., Teichert-coddington, D. R. 2000. Human food safety and environmental assessment of the use of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone to produce male Tilapia in the United States. J. World Aqua. Soc., 31: 337.  Kudi, T. M., Bako, F. P. Atala, T. K. 2008. Economics of Fish Production In Ka-duna State Nigeria. ARPN Journal of Agricul-tural and Biological Science, 3: 5-6.  Ndu N. R. 2006. Fish Farm Layout, Pond Construction, Management and MaintenanceA SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN……..  61 J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 - Techniques. A paper presented at the Na-tional Workshop on the Principles and    Techniques of Fish Farming organized by Nigerian Agricultural, Cooperative and Ru-ral Development Bank Kaduna with collab-oration of Life Riches Consulting.   Odoemenem, I.U., Obinne, C.P.O. 2010. Assessing the factors influencing the utilization of improved cereal crop produc-tion technologies by small scale farmers in Nigeria. Indian Journal of Science and Technology 3 (1): 180-183  Ogbondeminu F.S., Olayemi A. B. 1993. Antibiotic resistance in enteric bacterial from fish and water media. J. Aqua. Trop. 8: 207-212.  Olawumi, A.T., Dipeolu, A. O.,  Bamiro, O. M. 2010. Economic Analysis of Home-stead Fish Production in Ogun State Nigeria. J Hum Ecol, 31(1): 13-17  Omotoyin, B.O. 2007: Introduction to fish farming in Nigeria. University of Ibadan Press. P. 90.  Othman, K. 2006. Integrated farming sys-tem and multifunctionality of agriculture in Malaysia. Acta Hortic., 655: 291-296.  Price, R.J., Tom, P.D. 1997. Compendium of Fish and Fishery Product Processes, Haz-ards and Controls. Sea Grant Extension Pro-gram, Food Science and Technology, Uni-versity of California, Davis. UCSGEP 97-1W O. J. AWOYOMI, O.O. KEHINDE, A. O. MOBOLAJI, O. ADEBOWALE 62 (Manuscript received: 9th January, 2013; accepted: 28th June, 2013). J. Nat. Sci. Engr. Tech. 2012, 11(2): 53-62 

A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN FISH FARMS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

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A SURVEY OF VETERINARY DRUGS IN USE IN FISH FARMS IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

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Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta: FUNAAB Journal