SURVEYS ON ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG RESIDUES IN SLAUGHTERED CATTLE AND CHICKEN IN NIGERIA

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Date
1998-10
Authors
KABIR, JUNAIDU
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Abstract
The study comprised two distinct surveys. In the first a questionnaire survey was carried out using two separate structured questionnaires, to determine the nature of veterinary drug use, extent of abuse and misuse of these drugs among animal health workers, livestock and poultry producers and to assess awareness and concern for veterinary drug residues in meat, among livestock and poultry producers, meat sellers/butchers, and the consuming public. The second survey determined the prevalence of antimicrobial drug residues in 876 routinely slaughtered animals consisting of 500 cattle in Zaria and 376 chicken in Kaduna, using a microbial inhibition test(MIT); Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, was used to test urine and faeces of cattle and chicken respectively at the time of slaughter for the presence of antimicrobial substances. One hundred and forty four, responses were obtained from 130 veterinarians and 14 other veterinary staff, One hundred and thirty eight (95.8% of respondents) believed that there is gross abuse and misuse of veterinary drugs in Nigeria. These practices were attributed to both veterinary staff and owners of the animals(51.6% of respondents). Antibacterial drugs and antihelminthics were considered to be the most commonly misused drugs (93.0% and 56.3% of respondents respectively), particularly in intensive poultry production and free range ruminant production. The misuse was believed to be capable of causing residues particularly in meat largely due to over dosage, use of long acting preparations ana failure to observe withdrawal times; this is especially so when animals are treated by owners. There was ignorance about laws regarding use of veterinary drugs in food animals, and this was not influenced by nature of respondents' employment (×2,p>0.05). Public health education and the provision of drug use legislation were the most advocated strategies for control of residues in Nigeria (97% and 89% of responses respectively). Three hundred and ninety eight responses were obtained from 220 consumers(53.3%), 59 meat sellers/butchers(14.8%), and 119 livestock and poultry producers (29.2%) . Animals at the point, of slaughter showed the risk of producing residue-containing meat. Two hundred and twenty two(55.8%) respondents were concerned about residues in meat. This concern was related to age, sex, location and literacy level(×2, p<0.05). The public favours the introduction of legislation for residue prevention including condemnation of contaminated meat. Thirty seven (7.4%) of the urine samples and 82(21. .8%) of the faecal samples were positive for antimicrobial substances. Positive cases were not distributed according to breed(Fisher's exact Lest, P>0.05) bur occurred significantly more in males (X2, p<0.0l), cattle aged 3-9 years and in those with good body condition (Fisher' s exact test, P<0.05). Thirty eight cases, in the form of 16 different disease or pathological conditions, were seen from visual inspection of the carcasses. Lymphadenopathy was seen in 10(23.7%) carcasses including 1 carcass positive for antimicrobial substances. Dermatophilosis and emaciation constituted 15.8% and 13.2% of conditions observed. Broilers had the highest class specific prevalence tate(33.1%) for poultry, followed by pullets (23.6%) while local birds had the least (4.8%) . There was a high prevalence of antimicrobial Subtance in slaughtered animals particularly vii intensively raised chicken. It is essential to fully restore the meat inspection process including screening of animals for drug residues before slaughter.
Description
A Thesis Submitted To The Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, In Partial Fulfillment For The Award Of The Degree Of Master Of Science In Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. OCTOBER, 1998.
Keywords
SURVEYS,, ANTIMICROBIAL,, DRUG,, RESIDUES,, SLAUGHTERED,, CATTLE,, CHICKEN,, NIGERIA.
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