Benessere animale e sicurezza delle produzioni: monitoraggio della presenza dei farmaci in uso nella terapia ittica nelle carni di trota iridea (Oncorynchus mykiss)

As a part of the identification of all aspects that ensure the production process of farmed fish, this research provided to assess the possible presence of drug residues in edible tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss) along the productive chain, from the fattening phase to the marketing. For this purpose, analytical methods were developed to ensure detection of any residual molecules allowed in aquaculture, such as amoxicillin, oxytetracycline, flumequine, sulfadiazine and trimethoprim, up to values of at least the half of the MRL (maximum residual maximum) permitted by the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 37/2010. All samples processed were found to have concentrations below the lower limit of quantification (LOQ) for all the tested molecules, suggesting the healthiness of food fish for human consumption. The unwanted presence of drug residues in edible tissues of animals has been documented not only following pharmacological treatments, but also from “cross contamination” of feed due to a dragging effect or from environmental contamination due to prior drug therapy performed in the farm. The lack of detection of drug residues throughout the trout chain established in the course of this research, allows us to affirm the correctness in the management of farming.