Usage of enrofloxacin in poultry production as a potential risk for food safety: Veterinary drugs residues in edible tissues | Primena enrofloksacina u živinarstvu kao potencijalni rizik za bezbednost hrane - rezidue veterinarskih lekova u jestivim tkivima

Food safety is the basic priority in the process of food production. Safe food is free of residues, contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms, which poses the question of the influence of primary production on food safety. Excessive use of antimicrobial drugs in intensive animal husbandry is a fact and the only question is in what way and to what extent it reflects on safety of animal originating foodstuffs. Resulting from the use of veterinary drugs, their residues as well as residues of their metabolites can be detected in meat and animal originating foodstuffs, which make them unsafe for human consumption, because of their potential harmful effect on human health. Current and most important side effects of antimicrobial drugs usage are occurrence of veterinary drug residues in edible animal tissues and development of resistance in food borne pathogens. Enrofloxacin is fluoroquinolone antimicrobial licensed in Serbia for use in poultry treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the target tissue residues of enrofloxacin and its main metabolite ciprofloxacin, to eliminate health risk for the consumers. The presence of residues in muscle and liver after prescribed administration of enrofloxacin to chickens was studied in experimental design. HPLC/Fl and microbiological inhibitory method were used for the detection of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues. During the 5-day dosing period, and first three days of withdrawal period, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin concentration in breast muscle and liver exceeded the EU MRL values (MRL-maximum residue limit). After correct application of enrofloxacin, tissue residue levels decreased to permitted quantities (below MRL) in prescribed withdrawal period – seven days. But even after expiration of withdrawal period, residues were still present in edible animal tissues. Residues of enrofloxacin can be detected in meat nine days after the end of the treatment, while residues in liver are present for much longer. Residues were detected in liver until 22 days after the treatment.