This study reports the outcomes of a survey on the use of additives in 120 Egyptian grow-out farms carried out between 2018 and 2019. The survey focused on farms rearing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the biggest tilapia farming region in Egypt (Kafr El-Sheikh). Results were analysed to explore whether any type of additive was used, whether they were feed- or water-based and the frequency of use. A range of farm characteristics and farm management practices were used as independent variables to explain observed additive use patterns reported by farmers. The survey also gathered production data to explore a potential relationship between the use of additives and total marketable yield or mortality. The results of this survey display very low use of any sort of additive in this tilapia farming region (<33% of respondents) which is likely representative of practices in other production regions throughout the country. The most commonly reported additive classes were antibiotics, disinfectants and probiotics with the former two primarily used for treating disease after detecting mortalities in the ponds. Feed-based additives were used more frequently than water-based ones amongst which antibiotics were the most prevalent. There was no association between the use of additives and reported fish survival or total farm production. However, this is likely constrained by the small number of farms found to be using additives relative to the overall number of surveyed farms. Given the increasing trend in the use of additives in small-scale aquaculture, further efforts are needed to establish their cost-benefit and to promote their correct use where appropriate. Moreover, clear regulations are needed to prevent misuse of antimicrobials and minimise potential food safety concerns.

中文翻译：

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埃及罗非鱼养殖中饲料和水添加剂的使用趋势

本研究报告了 2018 年至 2019 年间在 120 个埃及养成养殖场进行的添加剂使用调查的结果。该调查的重点是养殖尼罗罗非鱼 ( Oreochromis niloticus ) 的农场) 在埃及最大的罗非鱼养殖区 (Kafr El-Sheikh)。分析结果以探索是否使用了任何类型的添加剂，它们是饲料还是水基以及使用频率。一系列农场特征和农场管理实践被用作自变量来解释农民报告的观察到的添加剂使用模式。该调查还收集了生产数据，以探索添加剂的使用与可销售的总产量或死亡率之间的潜在关系。本次调查结果显示，该罗非鱼养殖区任何种类的添加剂使用率都非常低（<33% 的受访者），这可能代表了全国其他生产区的做法。最常见的添加剂类别是抗生素，消毒剂和益生菌，前两者主要用于在检测池塘死亡后治疗疾病。饲料添加剂的使用频率高于水基添加剂，其中抗生素最为普遍。添加剂的使用与报告的鱼类存活率或农场总产量之间没有关联。然而，这可能受到与被调查农场总数相比发现使用添加剂的农场数量较少的限制。鉴于小规模水产养殖中添加剂使用的增加趋势，需要进一步努力确定其成本效益并在适当情况下促进其正确使用。此外，需要制定明确的法规来防止滥用抗菌剂并尽量减少潜在的食品安全问题。