Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is one of the most important species produced in aquaculture worldwide. Brazil has a strong tilapia sector. In the last decade, tilapia production increased from 150.000 to over 400. 000 tonnes, making Brazil the fourth major Nile tilapia producer in the world, behind China, Indonesia, and Egypt. Intensified production has increased health concerns, resulting in a higher occurrence of bacterial infections and greater use of antimicrobials. The indiscriminate use of these drugs accelerates bacterial resistance, generates environmental contamination, and poses public health risks, compromising the sustainability of the sector.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of antimicrobial by Brazilian tilapia farming professionals. A survey of fifteen professionals in the sector was conducted between April and May 2023. A structured questionnaire was used via Google Forms. The questions addressed the frequency and reasons for drug use, the products used, the number of treatments per cycle, and perceptions of correct dosage calculations.
Prophylactic use of antimicrobials, before and after classification and/or vaccination, occurs in 56.7% of productions. The average number of curative treatments per cycle is 2.2. The survey results revealed that the use of unregistered drugs for aquaculture (off-label) in prophylactic and curative treatments is frequent. The professionals surveyed reported a lack of technical knowledge regarding antimicrobial use. Furthermore, they stated that only 22.7% of producers and 52% of technicians calculate antimicrobial doses correctly. The use of antimicrobials in Brazilian tilapia farming is common practice.
The high frequency of use, the use of products registered for other animal species, and dosage errors are serious problems facing the sector. These factors reinforce the urgency of technical training programs, as this training will promote the rational use of veterinary drugs in aquaculture, contributing to the sector’s sustainability, in line with fish health, food safety, and environmental concerns.