HPLC Separation of Common Antibiotics in Fish Farming

Fish antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture to treat bacterial infections. In many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, it is common practice to use large quantities of antibiotics as a preventive measure. These antibiotics are often non-biodegradable and can persist in the environment, leading to contamination of soil and groundwater.

In fish farming, antibiotics are typically mixed with feed, and residual amounts of these drugs can accumulate in fish and poultry products. This results in indirect human consumption of antibiotics and their metabolites.

A method utilizing the Zodiac HST C mixed-mode HPLC column has been developed to separate five commonly used antibiotics under LC/MS-compatible conditions. This method enables the quantitative determination of nitrofurantoin, nitrofurazone, furazolidone, furaltadone, and chloramphenicol in fish products and environmental samples. It provides a reliable approach for monitoring antibiotic residues in the food chain and aquatic environments.