Oxytetracycline residues in cultured gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L. 1758) tissues

This research was carried out in order to determine residue depletion of oxytetracycline HCl in the muscle, skin, liver and spleen of healthy sea bream (Sparus aurata) which were stocked in floating net cage in Aegean Sea after oxytetracycline treatments (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th, 37th and 44th day). Oxytetracycline was given to fish once a day (75 mg/kg living weight) for 10 days by oxytetracycline supplemented pellet. A great variation was recorded in tissue residue of oxytetracycline depending on variation of feed intake. Oxytetracycline concentrations in muscle, skin, liver and spleen of healthy sea bream reduced under maximum residue limit, 24 days after treatment ceased. This is equal to 547.2 degree/days.