Multivariate Approach to Antimicrobial Residue Concentrations in Animal-Derived Products: An Analytical Review

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents an alarming global public health concern exacerbated by livestock antibiotic misuse, affecting humans and the environment. However, the precise magnitude of antimicrobial residue concentrations in animal-derived products remains not well understood. This study aimed to quantify antimicrobial residues in animal products through an analytical literature review.

This review covered the scientific articles from 1977 to 2020. The antimicrobials were classified according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines into four categories. The final database comprised seven qualitative variables (antibiotic, antibiotic class, region, country, decade, EMA category, animal product and animal species) and one quantitative variable (residue concentration recorded as µg/kg). Due to the number of variables involved in the study, a multivariate analysis approach was used using a Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) carried out in R.

The highest concentrations of antimicrobial residues were detected in fish samples, followed by egg. Notably, concentrations of ruminant-derived products were lower than to monogastric. β-Lactam was the most prevalent residue followed by aminoglycosides, sulphonamides and quinolones, respectively. Moreover, South America had the highest residues levels, followed by Asia and Europe.

The multivariate analysis reveals a possible association between the EMA category, animal species, antimicrobial class and animal product. In conclusion, the concentration of antimicrobial residues in products of animal origin depends mainly on their origin (product, species and geographic region), showing the highest concentrations in products derived from fish and poultry.