Assessment of biosecurity implementation and use of aqua drugs in fish farming in Cameroon

The production and intensification of fish is among the fastest growing sectors worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries, fish farming plays major roles in the self-sufficiency and socioeconomic livelihood of many households, with fish being the most consumed source of protein. However, outbreaks of diseases caused by various factors, such as a lack of appropriate hygiene and sanitary measures, pose a serious threat to the production of fish and hence disastrous economic consequences. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess biosecurity measures and drug use in fish farms in Cameroon. Surveys using semistructured questionnaires and on-farm observations were used to obtain information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the farmers, the biosecurity and preventive measures and the aqua drugs used on the fish farms in five regions (Adamawa, Centre, Littoral, South and West) of Cameroon. A total of 364 (94.79 %) fish farmers out of the 384 randomly selected from a list of farmers in the study regions were included in the final analysis. A majority of the surveyed farms (62.91 %) were in an enclosed environment, and 77.47 % had a footbath at the entrance of the farms. Nearly a quarter of the farmers used sanitary evacuation, and the quarantine of new fish was seen in 26.37 % of the farms. In addition, the study revealed a mean biosecurity score of 0.41 ± 0.16, with better scores recorded in intensive systems (0.50 ± 0.19) than in extensive systems. Age, level of education and farmer training in fish farming significantly influenced the implementation of biosecurity measures in the study area. Sodium hypochlorite (25.69 %) and tetracycline (63.74 %) are mostly used in fish farms as disinfectants and antibiotics, respectively, for the prevention and control of disease. Overall, farms with high and medium biosecurity scores frequently used aqua drugs (OR=13.93 and OR=7.36, respectively) more than farms with low biosecurity scores did. This study highlights the importance of biosecurity educational and awareness programs for improving fish productivity among fish farmers. Hence, this study suggests the use of alternative drugs, other than antimicrobials, to avoid the potential emergence and distribution of resistant bacteria with possible public health risks.