Sulfonamide residues in eggs

In two series of experiments lasting 3 days each, laying hens were medicated with sulfonamides via the drinking water. In the first experiment 8 laying hens were given sulfaquinoxaline (SQ) at a dose rate of 400 mg/l, while in the second trial 16 laying hens received a 3:5:5 sulfonamide mixture containing sulfaquinoxaline (SQ), sulfadimidine (SDI) and sulfamerazine (SMN), at a dose of 390 mg/l. According to the water consumption data, the hens' daily sulfonamide intake was 53.6 and 56.9 mg/kg body mass, respectively. Eggs laid during and in the first 10 days after the treatment were collected and assayed for sulfonamide residues by spectrophotometry. The detection limit of the method was 0.16 mg/l and the recovery percentage was between 70 and 80%. Sulfonamide was found to appear already in eggs laid after the first day of treatment. The absorption half-life of the drug was 0.4-0.6 day in the egg-white and 0.93-1.08 day in the egg-yolk. Peak drug level in the egg-white was measured on the last day of medication, while in the egg-yolk within 3 days after the end of treatment. The residue measured in the yolk was 13-16% of that found in the egg-white. Acetylated sulfonamide could be measured in the yolk for 3 days after the treatment: its level reached 15%. On the basis of the elimination rate, complete elimination of sulfonamides requires at least 5.2-7.4 days. Therefore, observance of the generally accepted withdrawal time of 10 days is indispensable.