Antibiotic Residues in Edible Poultry Tissues and Products in Nigeria: A Potential Public Health Hazard

Jallailudeen Rabana Lawal,Yaqub Ahmed Geidam,Yakaka Wakil,Muhammad Mustapha,Saleh Mohammed Jajere,Amina Mohammed Bello

doi:10.19026/ijava.7.5241

Jallailudeen Rabana Lawal, Yaqub Ahmed Geidam + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.19026/ijava.7.5241

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Abstract

Antibiotics are used by the veterinarians and poultry industry to enhance growth rates, health of the birds, feed efficiency, egg production and for therapeutic reasons to reduce the incidence of poultry diseases. Antibiotics had been used in poultry production for both therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. Most poultry farmers in Nigeria have employed the use of various antibiotics with or without the guidance of veterinarians. Although antibiotics benefit most of its uses, the illegal use of these drugs has led to the accumulation of toxic antibiotic residues in edible poultry products destined for human consumption. And this poses a major threat and hazard to the public that could be toxicological, microbiological or immunological. Several analytical techniques are available to screen edible poultry products with levels of toxic antibiotic residues. Drug withdrawal period and maximum residue level of antibiotics should be strictly observed in treated birds before any poultry product (meat or eggs) is passed “wholesome” for human consumption. There are still few researches addressing this major public health problem coupled with lack of awareness in Nigeria. Therefore, there is need for public enlightenment campaign on the dangers of antibiotic residues in edible poultry tissues and products to the teeming populace and restriction and regulation of indiscriminate use of antibiotics in poultry production and industry to curb the incidence of this public health hazard in Nigeria.

Highlights

Antibiotics are naturally occurring, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds with antimicrobial activity that can be applied parentally, orally or topically (Geidam et al, 2009)
Antibiotics are among the most widely used veterinary drugs in poultry industry (Simon and Baxter, 2006). They are used by the poultry industry and veterinarians to enhance growth rates, health of the birds, feed efficiency, egg production, or for therapeutic reasons to reduce the incidence of poultry diseases (Dipeolu et al, 2002; Donoghue, 2003)
The inappropriate use and handling of these antibiotics has led to occurrence of harmful residues in edible poultry tissues and other animal products like milk (Olatoye and Ehinmowo, 2009; Shareef et al, 2009)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Antibiotics are naturally occurring, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds with antimicrobial activity that can be applied parentally, orally or topically (Geidam et al, 2009). In most developed countries close attention is paid on sampling of animal products for chemical residues (Dipeolu, Pharmacology and toxicology of commonly used antibiotics in poultry industry in Nigeria: Veterinary drugs can be administered under prescription to food producing animals for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purposes (Simon and Baxter, 2006). This is an indication that there are no adequate reported that following administration these drugs are veterinary public health regulatory control and national rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of the programme for monitoring drug residues in foods of chicken (Ramadan et al, 1992; Alhendi et al, 2000) Circulatory and nervous system, while organic arsenic is Techniques for screening of antibiotic residues in considered less toxic (Doyle, 2006)

Agar gel diffusion test are the basis of screening

CONCLUSION

Findings

Government authorities of Nigeria should mandate a