Tetracycline Residues in Intensive Broiler Farms in Upper Egypt: Hazards and Risks

Antibiotics are used in poultry farms to enhance growth, feed efficiency and reduce diseases. Additionally, prophylactic treatment is common during periods of stress. Tetracyclines are the most commonly used antimicrobials in food-producing animals. In Egypt veterinary antibiotics are easily accessible with the increased intensive poultry production therefore, this study was conducted to estimate tetracyclines' residue in poultry tissues collected from broiler farms in Upper Egypt. Four members of tetracycline group; Oxytetracycline (OTC), Tetracycline (TC), Doxycycline (DOC) and Chlortetracycline (CTC) were evaluated in 282 samples (muscle, liver and kidney samples)using HPLC. OTC residue was detected in 50, 100 and 93 % of muscle, liver and kidney samples, respectively, while TC residue could be detected in 69, 72 and 86 %, respectively. For DOC and CTC, none of the analyzed samples showed value below their corresponding limit of detection. OTC, DOC and TC highest levels were recorded in liver; 7.23, 20.43 and 1.06µg/g, respectively followed by that of the kidney samples. The residues in all muscle and liver samples were higher than the maximum residue limits of both FAO and FDA reports for DOC. Furthermore, muscle and liver samples exceeded these guideline limits for CTC and OTC, respectively. Health risk of tetracyclines' residue for Egyptian population was estimated to ensure the hygienic fitness for secure consumption. In both adults and kids, the assessed risk for DOC in muscle, liver and kidney was distinctively. The assessed risk of OTC residue in liver and CTC in muscle in adults was also distinctively. Moreover, the assessed risk of TC in Kids for muscle and liver was considerable. So, the potential health hazard for Egyptian population was high from consumption of poultry edible especially liver containing high level of DOC and OTC.