DETECTION OF ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG RESIDUES IN MEAT FROM BUNAJI CATTLE SLAUGHTERED IN MINNA MODERN ABATTOIR

Abstract

Antimicrobial drug residues are of global health concern in many countries of the world, with Nigeria reporting occurrence of residue contamination of edible animal products beyond FAO and WHO permissible levels. The occurrence of antimicrobial drugs residues in meat in Minna modern abattoir was investigated during this study, 56 meat samples were collected from 56 Bunaji cattle slaughtered in the abattoir at 2weeks intervals for period of 4months ( April – August 2019) . Antimicrobial inhibition test was adopted with zone of inhibition measured in millimetres (mm), samples below 1mm were considered negative. 29(51.78%) samples were tested positive with zone of inhibition at various levels of residue (12mm, 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, 19mm and 20mm), which signified high levels of residue. Samples from female‘s cows had the highest number 20(68.90%) and values at 20mm. Ages between 6-10 years had 17(58.62%) while the lowest residue was recorded at older animals above 10 years 5(17.24%). This result indicated that consumers in Minna metropolitan are predisposed to health hazards due to the presence of antimicrobial residue, this emphasis the need for effective prevention of infectious diseases, general enlightenment on the withdrawal periods, and establishment of antimicrobial residues monitoring unit in Minna.