Antibiotic Residues in Milk Supplies in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Raw milk samples from 73 individual milk producers were obtained at the three main Dairy Marketing Board (DMB) collection centers in Zimbabwe during the period of January to February, 1988. The samples were examined for the presence of antibiotics using the Delvotest-P (Gist-Brocades) ampoule test method with a sensitivity of 0.002 I.U. of penicillin per ml of milk. Four samples (5.5%) contained more than 0.005 I.U. of penicillin per ml or equivalent. Two (2.8%) samples contained antibiotics other than penicillin. An antibiotic depletion study using 23 cows treated with a multiple antibiotic intramammary infusion product, streptomycin - penicillin mixture (Dispolac RX4 B®; Coopers, South Africa), indicated a withholding period of 7–8 d was necessary to obtain milk free of detectable residues. The sensitivity of the Delvotest-P for streptomycin was determined by the manufacturers and found to be 4–6 μg/ml.

Prevalence of Antimicrobial Residues in Preprocessed and Processed Cows' Milk in Trinidad

“…The detected prevalence (10%) of antimicrobial residues in raw milk compares favorably with published reports by others (Chagonda and Ndikuwera 1989;Larocque el al. 1990;Waltner-Toews and McEwen 1994) but it is considerably lower than prevalences ranging from 63% to 85% reported by other investigators (Brady and Katz 1988;Collins-Thompson ef al.…”

“…Variable prevalences of residues in milk have been reported for different countries (Allen 1985;Kaneene and Ah1 1987;Brady and Katz 1988;Chagonda and Ndikuwera 1989;Seymour et al 1990;Larocque et al 1990;Dayan 1993). However, the use of many different detection systems with different sensitivities has influenced the reported incidence of antimicrobial residues in milk (Seymour ef al.…”

Pre-processed bovine milk quality in Trinidad: Prevalence and characteristics of bacterial pathogens and occurrence of antimicrobial residues in milk from collection centres

“…It is known that milk containing antimicrobial residues pose a health hazard to consumers (Burgat, 1991;Dayan, 1993) and of economic importance was the Wnding that 19.4% of the 36 milk samples from the 17,500-l capacity truck contained antimicrobial residues making such milk unWt for processing and subsequent consumption. Variable frequencies of antimicrobial residues in milk have been reported by others (Brady & Katz, 1988;Chagonada & Ndikumera, 1989;Collin-Thompson et al, 1988;Larocque, Carignan, & Sued, 1990;McEwen, Black, & Meek, 1990;Waltner-Toew & McEwen, 1994).…”

“…Varying frequencies of detection of antimicrobial residues have been reported for milk originating from farms that failed to observe stipulated withdrawal periods following the use of antimicrobial agents are well documented in the literature (Adesiyun, Webb, & Romain, 1998;Brady & Katz, 1988;Chagonada & Ndikumera, 1989;WaltnerToew & McEwen, 1994). The public health and economic signiWcance of antimicrobial residues in milk have been discussed by others (Collin-Thompson, Wood, & Thomson, 1988;Washington, 1979).…”