Determination of tylosin excretion from sheep to assess tylosin spread to agricultural fields by manure application

Abstract Antibiotics administered to livestock are partly excreted with urine and feces. As livestock excrement is used as manure on agricultural fields, soil may be contaminated by excreted antibiotics, potentially resulting in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the amount of antibiotic administered to livestock that could spread to agricultural fields through manure application. This study reveals the excretion ratio of tylosin from sheep. After developing an analysis procedure for tylosin in urine and feces from sheep, a tylosin excretion study was performed with two sheep. Tylosin was excreted in urine and feces for four days, after which its concentrations dropped below the limits of quantification (urine: 0.5 μg/kg, feces: 2.4 μg/kg). The total excretion ratio was 11% on average. The results of our study can provide useful knowledge for treating excrement in order to prevent the spread of antibiotics to agricultural fields through manure application.