Tetracyclines in Processed Animal Proteins: A Monitoring Study on Their Occurrence and Antimicrobial Activity

In 2013, the European Union (EU) lifted the feed ban restriction, authorizing the use of non-ruminant (NR) processed animal proteins (PAPs) as ingredient in aquafeed. A further relaxation is soon expected, and NR PAPs will be allowed in next future in poultry and pig feed, avoiding cannibalism. Other potential hazards linked to PAPs as raw material should be evaluated. Antibiotics administered along the lifecycle of animals may leave residue in tissues and bones and still be present in PAPs. This monitoring study aimed to determine tetracyclines (TCLs), known to cumulate in bones, in PAPs and their possible residual antibiotic activity (RAC). A sensitive Liquid Chromatography coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantification of TCLs in PAPs was developed and applied to 55 PAPs from EU manufactures. Most PAP samples (n = 40) contained TCLs (concentrations 25.59 ÷ 456.84 µg kg^-1). Among samples containing more than 25 µg kg^-1 for at least three TCLs, three PAPs were chosen for RAC test before and after TCLs extraction procedure applying an in vitro acidic digestion: in two out of those three samples, RAC was observed after in vitro digestion. TCLs were determined in the digested PAPs (concentrations 26.07 ÷ 64.55 µg kg^-1). The detection of TCLs in PAPs should promptly target the risk assessments of this unconsidered way of exposure to antibiotic residues.