Detection and quantification of multiclass antibiotic residues in poultry products using solid-phase extraction and...

Area of Science:

• Food safety analysis
• Veterinary drug residue monitoring
• Analytical chemistry

Background:

• Antibiotic residues in poultry pose a public health concern.
• Regulatory limits (MRLs) exist to ensure food safety.
• Limited data exists on antibiotic residues in Nigerian poultry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the levels of six antibiotic residues in frozen poultry from Nigeria.
• To assess compliance with maximum residue limits (MRLs).
• To identify potential sources of contamination.

Main Methods:

• Solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample cleanup.
• High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) for quantification.
• Analysis of fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and macrolides in turkey and chicken tissues.

Main Results:

• Enrofloxacin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamerazine, and tylosin exceeded MRLs in poultry samples.
• Domestic chicken tissues showed higher concentrations than permissible levels.
• The method demonstrated good linearity (R² 0.963-0.999) and sensitivity (LOD 5.37-55.4 μg/kg).

Conclusions:

• Nigerian poultry, particularly domestic chicken, contains hazardous levels of antibiotic residues.
• Non-compliance with drug withdrawal periods by farmers is a likely cause.
• Urgent interventions are needed to mitigate risks associated with antibiotic residues in poultry products.