Sanitary and hygienic quality of fish feed used in aquaculture

Abstract

Nowadays the quality of products used for feeding farmed fish has become a limiting factor for this activity, and the evaluation of this characteristic should be one of the priorities to avoid economic losses. This study assessed the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the feed used in fish farming located in the city of Teresina, Piauí. Thirty six samples of fish feed based on two protein compositions (growth/juvenile), and two forms of use (sealed/open) were analyzed. The following analyses were carried out: heterotrophic bacteria counting, enumeration of coliforms at 35 ºC and 45 °C, and identification of Salmonella spp. Mesophilic bacteria counting ranged from 1.69 to 4.69 CFU.g-1 log10. Coliforms at 35 °C and 45 °C were identified in nine (25.0 %) and eight (22.2 %) samples, respectively, and coliforms at 35 oC ranged from <3 to 23 MPN.g-1 and from <3 to 9 MPN.g-1 for coliforms at 45 ºC. No Salmonella spp was detected. The feeds used by fish farmers in Teresina showed satisfactory sanitary and hygienic qualities.