Effect of antibiotic residues on some health parameters of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. collected from Shatt Al-Arab

The presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment poses great concerns due to their impact on water quality, aquatic organisms, and human health. The current study aims to detect the antibiotic residues (Amoxicillin (AMO), Ciprofloxacin (CIP), and Levofloxacin (LEV)) seasonally in the muscles and liver of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, collected from Shatt Al-Arab and to know their effect on some health aspects of fish during November 2020 to August 2021 by selecting two stations in the river. The samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for measuring antibiotics. The study revealed high concentrations of antibiotics in the muscles and liver of fish, and the concentrations were higher in the second station. CIP had the highest concentration (7.4 mg/kg) in muscles in the spring, and the AMO showed the highest concentration (4.1 mg/kg) in the liver during the spring. The study also showed that the accumulation of antibiotics in the liver and muscles of fish had negative effects on the health standards of fish. The presence of antibiotic residues in fish samples in high concentrations is a source of great concern as it is a major source of human food.