Measurement of Tetracycline residue in consumed Broiler meats in Ahvaz City by HPLC

  Abstract:   Tetracycline as the broad-spectrum antibiotic could be used for prevention or treatment of different diseases in poultry industries since the beginning of the growing period. Lack of attention to veterinarian recommendations regarding of prohibiting antibiotic therapy in the withdrawal period before slaughtering, leads to increase in antibiotic residuals in poultry meat more than the standard limit. This problem could be cause antibiotic-resistance bacteria or hyperesthesia in consumers. In this study, the level of Tetracycline in chicken breast meat in Ahvaz area was measured by HPLC method. One hundred samples of broiler carcasses (50 carcasses in the warm season and 50 carcasses in the cold season) were collected from Ahvaz abattoirs . The samples were selected from different flocks randomly. All samples were placed in bags, on ice, for transportation to the laboratory, and processed within 24h of collection. The pectoral muscle was removed and homogenized. Then tetracycline extraction and purification was carried out and samples were injected to the HPLC apparatus and tetracycline concentration was determined for each sample. This study showed 60% of samples were positive for tetracycline residues and the mean (and standard error) concentration of tetracycline in positive samples was 39.18 ± 5.54 μg/kg. The concentration of tetracycline for 10 samples was significantly higher (p0.05). It was concluded that tetracycline has been used in broiler farms in both warm and cold season based on similar management and the withdrawal period of antibiotic has not been controlled before slaughtering.