DETERMINACIÓN DE RESIDUOS DE CLORANFENICOL Y DIMETRIDAZOL EN RIÑONES DE CERDOS BENEFICIADOS EN EL ESTADO ARAGUA, VENEZUELA Determination of Chloramphenicol and Dimetridazole Residues in Kidneys From Pigs Slaughtered in Aragua State, Venezuela

Chloramphenicol and dimetridazole are antimicrobial agents whose maximum limits of residues have not been yet determined; therefore, their use in animals intended for human consumption is forbidden, due to the deleterious consequences they produce. The aim of this investigation was to determine the presence of chloramphenicol and dimetridazole residues in kidneys from pigs slaughtered in Aragua state. Kidney samples from 11 swine intensive facilities from Aragua state and nine from Carabobo state were randomly taken from October 2010 to March 2011. Subsequently, samples were submitted to the laboratory for processing and analysis using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography technique. Results showed the presence of chloramphenicol and dimetridazole residues in 66.67% of farms assessed in Carabobo state and no residues of these drugs in those from Aragua state. The average residue levels of chloramphenicol and dimetridazole in samples from farms established in the state of Carabobo were higher (P <0.05) compared to those from Aragua state, in which they were undetectable. These results highlight the issue of marketing animal products with antimicrobial residues harmful as for public health in Venezuela; on the other hand, they show the violation of standard regulations (Codex Alimentarius, Food and Agriculture Organization/ World Health Organization, Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency) set by national and international institutions.