Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
05:56
Demonstrating a Linear Relationship Between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Luteinizing Hormone in Kidney Cortex Extracts
Published on: January 22, 2020
Bovine kidney tissue/biological fluid correlation for penicillin
O A Chiesa1, J Von Bredow, M Smith
1Division of Residue Chemistry, Office of Research, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA. ochiesa@cvm.fda.gov
Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|July 19, 2006
Summary
A new preslaughter test using blood or urine can predict penicillin levels in bovine kidneys. This helps ensure cattle meet food safety standards, preventing carcass rejection.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pharmacology
- Food Safety
- Animal Science
Background:
- Penicillin misuse in cattle can lead to violative residues in edible tissues.
- US regulatory tolerance for penicillin in bovine kidney is 50 ng/g.
- Current methods lack a reliable preslaughter test to predict kidney penicillin levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a preslaughter test for penicillin in cattle.
- To correlate penicillin concentrations in plasma and urine with kidney tissue levels.
- To establish predictive thresholds for ensuring kidney tissue is below regulatory tolerance.
Main Methods:
- 12 steers were administered penicillin at approved doses.
- Blood, urine, and kidney biopsy samples were collected at multiple intervals.
- Laparoscopic surgery was used for live kidney biopsies.
- Kidney samples were also collected post-slaughter for comparison.
Main Results:
- Penicillin concentrations in plasma and urine were correlated with kidney tissue concentrations.
- Predictive models were developed based on these correlations.
- With 95% confidence, 99% of animals are below tolerance if plasma penicillin < 0.4 ng/mL and/or urine penicillin < 140 ng/mL.
Conclusions:
- Plasma and urine penicillin concentrations can reliably predict kidney tissue levels in cattle.
- These findings support the development of a preslaughter diagnostic test.
- Implementing such a test can enhance food safety and reduce economic losses due to carcass rejection.
