Resíduos de antimicrobianos em pescado

Abstract

Aquaculture production has been constantly increasing, going from 36.8 million tons produced in 2002 to 73.8 million tons in 2014, demonstrating the economic and social importance of this activity as a source of good quality protein for the population. The intensification of production systems makes fish more vulnerable to infectious diseases, due to the high breeding densities and the stress conditions to which they are submitted, resulting in a greater need for the use of antimicrobials. Obtaining safe aquaculture products for the consumer depends on technical knowledge and the proper use of antimicrobials, respecting, mainly, the recommended dosages and the withdrawal period for each drug, according to the species. With this in mind, this article presents a bibliographical review about the use of antimicrobials, regulations on the presence of antimicrobial residues in products of animal origin, analytical methods for researching antimicrobial residues and the evaluation of antimicrobial depletion time in fish. It is concluded that the use of antimicrobials is an important tool in aquaculture production, however the presence of residues of these drugs in products of animal origin can endanger the health of consumers. Therefore, antimicrobials must be used responsibly in aquaculture to ensure productivity and safe consumption of aquaculture products.