Evaluation of Antibiotics Residues in Milk and Meat Using Different Analytical Methods

Abstract

Veterinary drugs are pharmacologically and biologically active chemical agents. At present, veterinary drugs are extensively used to prevent and treat animal diseases, to promote animal growth, and to improve the conversion rate of feed. However, the use of veterinary drugs in food-producing animals may leave residues of the parent compounds and/or their metabolites in food products resulting in harmful effects on humans. To ensure food safety, sensitive and effective analytical methods have been developing rapidly. This review describes sample extraction and cleanup methods, and different analytical techniques are used for the determination of veterinary drug residues in milk and meat. Sample extraction methods, such as solvent extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, and cleanup methods such as dispersive solid-phase extraction and immunoaffinity chromatography, were summarized. Different types of analytical methods such as microbial, immunological, biosensor, thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry were discussed for the analysis of veterinary drug residues in animal-derived foods. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry is the most widely used analytical technique for the determination of antibiotic drug residues. This is due to the powerful separation of LC and accurate identification of MS, and LC-MS/MS is more popular in the analysis of veterinary drug residues.

Detection of selected antimicrobial residues in red meat and kidney of beef cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir, Ethiopia

“…Veterinary medications are currently widely utilized to treat and prevent illnesses in animals, encourage healthy growth in animals, and increase feed conversion rates. Nevertheless, veterinary medication use in animals raised for food production may leave parent chemical and/or metabolite residues in food items that are toxic to humans (Getahun et al., 2023 ). The issue of antibiotic residues in meat is a serious problem that is not effectively addressed in low and middle income countries including Ethiopia.…”

Veterinary Drug Residues in the Food Chain as an Emerging Public Health Threat: Sources, Analytical Methods, Health Impacts, and Preventive Measures

“…Regulations on animal antibiotic use are lacking, and sick animals are sometimes slaughtered too soon for safe consumption without considering the withdrawal period [ 25 ]. For this reason, when the withdrawal period is skipped, residue ends up in animal-based commodities, like milk and meat, that are meant for human consumption [ 26 ]. It is critical to remember that a number of variables, including the type of medication used, the dosage given, and the particular animal species being treated, may have an impact on how long the withdrawal period is.…”

A South African Perspective on the Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Meat: Plausible Public Health Implications

“…In addition, Getahun and colleagues [186] pointed out that antimicrobial residues might occur in meat and meat products via different practices, including the abuse of chemotherapeutic agents, violating withdrawal periods even with the proper administration of the anti-infective agent, alongside the use of antibiotics as growth promoters and feed additives. Darwish and colleagues [187] affirmed that antibiotic residues are recorded extensively in animal-derived foods in Africa, with levels exceeding WHO maximum residue levels, emphasising tetracyclines as the most predominant prescribed drug (41%), followed by beta-lactams at 18%.…”