Current status of using antibiotic in freshwater aquaculture in Northern provinces, Vietnam

Abstract

Current status of antibiotic use in freshwater aquaculture was investigated using the KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) survey in Hai Duong province. The surveyed result showed that 55 out of 60 (91.7%) households used antibiotics in raising freshwater fish. Of which, 67.3% for purpose of disease treatment; 29.1% for purpose of disease prevention and treatment, and 3.6% for only purpose of disease prevention. The rate of household bought antibiotics from veterinary drug shops was 85.5%, from both medical drug and veterinary drug shops was 12.7% and from only medical drug shops was 1.8%. Introduction of using antibiotics was from the drug sellers (41.8%), from manufacturer’s prescription (36.4%), from the drug sellers combining with manufacturer’s prescription (3.6%), and from manufacturer’s prescription and their own experience (10.9%). The survey on knowledge and viewpoint of the households regarding the use of antibiotics showed that 76.7% of households believed that antibiotics could be used for bacterial disease treatment, 13.3% for viral disease treatment, 16.7% for growth promotion and 3.3% for others, not for treatment of bacterial disease. 76.7% of households said that antibiotics were used too much in their aquaculture areas and 78.3% of households indicated that antibiotics had no effect in curing disease as their expectation.