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The study revealed the status of formalin used in four commercially important fishes namely Rohu (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus) and Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) from Sylhet and Moulvibazar district for a period of four months from April to July 2016. A total of 100 fish samples from different town and village markets were collected and analyzed instantly on the market to detect the presence of formalin by using a kit developed by Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). Among the analyzed fishes 46.7, 26.7, 20.0 and 13.3% of Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa, respectively were found treated with formalin from Sylhet district. Similarly, formalin was also detected in 40, 20, 20 and 20% of investigated Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa from Moulvibazar district, individually. There was no significant difference in formalin used between town and village market, whereas a significant difference in application of formalin in domestic and imported fishes except Catla has been identified. Two-third of imported Rohu (66.7%) was found formalin positive followed by Hilsa (44.4%), Mrigal (40%) and Catla (35.7%). Amongst the domestic fishes, presence of formalin was detected in 27.8, 18.8, 10.0 and 4.8% in Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and Hilsa, separately. This devastating use of formalin in food fishes should be banned through proper enactment of the existing laws of the country, as well as timely and appropriate implementation of government monitoring is mandatory to combat the unethical formalin use.

Several antiviral peptides (AVPs) from aquatic organisms have been effective in interfering with the actions of infectious viruses, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and 2. AVPs are able to block viral attachment or entry into host cells, inhibit internal fusion or replication events by suppressing viral gene transcription, and prevent viral infections by modulating host immunity. Therefore, as promising therapeutics, the potential of aquatic AVPs for use against the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is considered. At present no therapeutic drugs are yet available. A total of 32 AVPs derived from fish and shellfish species are discussed in this review paper with notes on their properties and mechanisms of action in the inhibition of viral diseases both in humans and animals, emphasizing on SARS-CoV-2. The molecular structure of novel SARS-CoV-2 with its entry mechanisms, clinical signs and symptoms are also discussed. In spite of only a few study of these AVPs against SARS-CoV-2, aquatic AVPs properties and infection pathways (entry, replication and particle release) into coronaviruses are linked in this paper to postulate an analysis of their potential but unconfirmed actions to impair SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans.

The present study was carried out at the north-eastern part of Bangladesh to investigate organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues and microbiological quality of dried barb (Puntius sophore). Samples were collected from both producers and retailers from December 2016 to April 2017. A control sample was also prepared with the same raw fish used by the producers in the laboratory to compare the result. Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) was used to detect and quantify OCP residues. Around 22 % (6) samples out of 27 were found contaminated with OCP residues. Among these six adulterated samples, four were from retailers and two from producers. Only Aldrin was detected in four samples and rest two samples were detected with both Aldrin + Dieldrin and Aldrin + Endrin. Aldrin was found between 0.332 to 0.967 ppm, Dieldrin 0.762 ppm, and Endrin 0.828 ppm. All these values were much higher than the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) 0.1 ppm. Aerobic Plate Count (APC) of producer samples were ranged between log5.3 ± 0.02 to log5.4 ± 0.03, log6.2 ± 0.02 to log6.4 ± 0.02 for retailer samples and log5.0 ± 0.03 to log5.2 ± 0.04 for control samples. While fungal count was ranged between log3.2 ± 0.04 to log3.5 ± 0.04, log3.4 ± 0.04 to log3.6 ± 0.03 and log2.2 ± 0.05 to log2.5 ± 0.03 for producer, retailer and control samples respectively. All the producer and retailer samples and one-third of the control samples were found contaminated with Escherichia coli. Whereas, Salmonella sp. was detected as 13.3% in producer samples, 20% in retailer samples except for the control. In case of Vibrio sp., maximum count was found for retailer samples (13.3%), whereas, producer and control samples showed no detection. The finding of the present study revealed the presence of pesticides and poor microbiological quality of dried barb are alarming for the consumers of Bangladesh and which may cause chronic disease and potential long-term risk for human health.

The present study was carried out in the northeastern part of Bangladesh to investigate organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in and microbiological quality of dried barb (Puntius sophore). Samples were collected from both producers and retailers from December 2016 to April 2017. A control sample was also prepared in the laboratory with the same raw fish used by the producers to compare the results. Gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was used to detect and quantify OCP residues. Six samples out of 27 (about 22%) were found to be contaminated with OCP residues. Among these six adulterated samples, four were from retailers and two from producers. Only aldrin was detected in four samples, and in the other two samples both aldrin + dieldrin and aldrin + endrin were detected. Aldrin was found in quantities between 0.332 and 0.967 ppm, dieldrin 0.762 ppm, and endrin 0.828 ppm. All these values were much higher than the maximum residual limit (MRL) of 0.1 ppm. Total plate count (TPC) of producer samples ranged from 5.3 &plusmn, 0.02 log cfu g&minus, 1 to 5.4 &plusmn, 0.03 log cfu g&minus, 1 and 6.2 &plusmn, 1 to 6.4 &plusmn, 1 for retailer samples and 5.0 &plusmn, 1 to 5.2 &plusmn, 0.04 log cfu g&minus, 1 for control samples. Fungal count ranged from 3.2 &plusmn, 1 to 3.5 &plusmn, 1, 3.4 &plusmn, 1 to 3.6 &plusmn, 1, and 2.2 &plusmn, 0.05 log cfu g&minus, 1 to 2.5 &plusmn, 1 for producer, retailer, and control samples, respectively. All the producer and retailer samples and one-third of the control samples were found to be contaminated with Escherichia coli, whereas Salmonella spp. were detected in amounts of 13.3% in producer samples and 20% in retailer samples and none in the control. In case of Vibrio spp., maximum count was found in retailer samples (13.3%), whereas producer and control samples showed none. The findings of the present study show that the presence of pesticides and poor microbiological quality of dried barb are alarming for consumers in Bangladesh and might cause prolonged disease and impending longstanding risk to human health.