Detection of antimicrobial residues in poultry meat and slaughter cattle in Nigeria

The European four plate test (FPT) was used to establish whether and where antimicrobial residues accumulate in the tissue of commercial poultry and slaughter cattle in Nigeria. Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to different antimicrobials seeded on nutrient agar media at different pH levels were employed. Inhibitory residues were detected in the muscles, liver, and/or kidney of experimental local chickens, commercial broilers and layers and 2 of 24 slaughter cattle. The public health hazards of antimicrobial residues in developing countries are discussed.