HAZARDS RESULTED FROM ADDITION OF POULTRY DROPPINGS TO THE EGYPTIAN SEMI- NTENSIVE AQUACULTURED TILAPIA NILOTICA FISH FEEDS

Abstract

A total of 125 samples were assessed in the following study: samples of fish Oreochromis niloticus collected 3 h before (n=25) and 3 h after (n=25) the addition of poultry droppings to the feed; water samples collected before (n=25) and after (n=25) the addition of poultry droppings; and poultry dropping samples (n=25). The specimens were examined for APC at 35 and 5°C, as well as enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas and/or Aeromonas spp. counts. For all counts involving fish muscle tissue and water samples, there were significant increases (P0.05) after the addition of poultry droppings. Salmonellae (28%), Yersinia enterocolitica (36%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40%), Aeromonas hydrophila (16%), and Campylobacter jejuni (28%) could be isolated from fish after the addition of poultry droppings. The public health risks of the isolated organisms are discussed.