PREVALENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESIDUES IN COMMERCIAL TABLE EGGS IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

Poultry treated with pharmaceutical products can produce eggs contaminated with drug residues: such residues pose a risk to consumer health. In this study, prevalence of antibiotic residues in commercial table eggs sold in Ido local government area of Oyo state were evaluated. Twenty eggs each were bought from local retailers in Apata, Apete, Ijokodo and Omi adio. Five eggs from each location were randomly selected and evaluated for the presence of residues of gentamicin and enrofloxacin as described by Garrat. (2002). Result showed that all the twenty eggs screened tested positive for both gentamicin and enrofloxacin. There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the antibiotic residues in the eggs and weight of eggs sampled from all locations. The study showed that all eggs sampled had antibiotics residues within the recommended limits, though eggs from Apata had the highest levels of enrofloxacin and gentamicin residues which may be due to their larger sizes. Therefore, great care should be taken to monitor antibiotic withdrawal periods before the release of table eggs for public consumption. In addition, strict legislation and ample compensation policies should be proffered in order to minimize the abuse of antibiotics