Appendices 2a, 3a and 4c from thesis:Microbial safety of commercial probiotics in aquaculture: A mixed methods approach applied to Bangladesh

Abstract

This research dataset was generated as part of a PhD study investigating the microbial safety of commercial aquaculture probiotics in Bangladesh. It comprises three appendices:

Appendix 2a contains probiotic product label information collected from aquaculture markets in Bangladesh. Where possible, the dataset was used to compare overall declared and detected product characteristics, with a primary focus on bacterial species. This comparison formed part of a safety verification process. While the appendix is primarily cited in Chapter 2 of the thesis, titled 'Relative importance of label information in consumer decisions to purchase aquaculture probiotics in Bangladesh', it also contributes to the broader findings and conclusions of the thesis. Appendix 3a contains the publication lists of expert participants involved in an e-Delphi study. This information was collected to establish the expertise and credibility of the panel, which was used to assess and prioritise potential hazards associated with aquaculture probiotics. These results are presented in Chapter 3, titled 'Assessing the relative importance of hazards associated with probiotics in aquaculture using an e-Delphi method.' Appendix 4c contains bacterial species composition and relative abundance data for probiotic products analysed in the study. The dataset is based on laboratory detection using 16S full-length amplicon metagenomic sequencing, providing detailed taxonomic profiles for each product.