Residues of Antibiotics in Camel Products and Tissues

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish antibiotic withdrawal time in camel and cow products and compare that to what proposed by drugs companies. Forty two camels were used in the study. They were divided into 3 groups of 14 animals each. One drug was injected into each group (Sulphadimidine sodium 33%, Terramycin (50mg/ml), and Ampicillin sodium for 3 days. Thereafter, samples of blood were first collected for analysis. Two animals from each group were slaughtered after 24 hours, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days following antibiotic administration. Liver, Kidney and muscle were collected for further analysis. Samples of camel product collected from slaughterhouse at a period of 4 weeks ( 200 samples Liver and 200 samples Kidney). The results of the 4 antibiotics which further confirm the observation that withdrawal period in the camel to be significantly longer than in cow. The values were 4days for cows and 5 days for the camel for ampicillin and cloxacillin, 4 days for the cow and 6 days for the camel for oxytetracycline and cefruxime. The withdrawal period of ampicillin, oxytetracyclin, and sulphadimidine in camel milk and tissues was found to be longer as compared to that of other animals. Residue concentrations of antibiotic that exceeded MRL were found in dairy camel milk and tissues of slaughtered camels. It is recommended that estimation of withdrawal period should be done for every drug in camel and not extrapolated of doses from other animals. Effects including awareness, creation and observance of withdrawal period should be employed. Effective surveillance, monitoring and control of the IV use veterinary drugs should be performed to prevent drug residues in animal products.