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Occurrence of antimicrobial residues in commercial chicken eggs was determined
in Morogoro municipality between January and February 2007. Twenty
smallholder farmers were interviewed on the types of antimicrobials, reasons of
use and their awareness on antimicrobial withdrawal period. Seventy egg samples
were collected for qualitative antimicrobial drug residues analysis by use of
agar well diffusion and Delvotest SP assays. It was found that farmers use
antimicrobial drugs as prophylaxis and treatment of common chicken diseases
namely fowl typhoid (85%), infectious bursa disease (Gumboro) (65%) infectious
coryza (65%), collibacilosis (55%), coccidiosis (54%), Newcastle disease
(50%), helminthosis (20%) and fowl pox (15%). Antimicrobials accounted for
85% of the drugs commonly used. It was also found that 65% of the farmers
treat their chicken themselves. The common drugs were oxytetracycline (75%),
egg booster (50%), amprolium (35%), sulphamethoxypyridazine (35%), sulphanilamide
(25%), chlortetracyclines (10%), chloramphenicol (10%), sulphadiazine–
trimethoprim (20%), duoxycycline (20%), sulphadiazine (25%) and
flumequine (10%). Eighty per cent of the farmers had knowledge on antimicrobial
withdrawal period sold eggs before withdrawal period and almost 85%
were unaware of possible effects of antimicrobial residues in humans. All 70
eggs were positive to antimicrobial residues by Delvotest kit, but 21.4% positive
with agar well diffusion test. It was concluded that the presence of antimicrobial
residues in table eggs could be of public health significance to the egg
consumers in Morogoro municipality. |
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