Residue levels of sulfadiazine, oxytetracycline hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate in poultry eggs in Ghana

Abstract Background Poultry eggs were analyzed for residues of three veterinary drugs including sulfadiazine, oxytetracycline hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate from selected farms in the Eastern Region Methods A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate poultry farmer’s knowledge, attitude and practice on the use of veterinary drugs to determine the risk factors for residue in poultry eggs. High-performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in tandem with Mass spectroscopy analyses was used to assess the residual levels of three veterinary drugs sulfadiazine, oxytetracycline hydrochloride and amoxicillin trihydrate in the poultry eggs. Results Mean residue concentrations of all drugs varied in eggs. Oxytetracycline hydrochloride recorded a residue prevalence rate of 17.9% with mean residue concentration in eggs ranging from 0.54 µg/kg to 13.49 µg/kg ± 0.71. Amoxicillin trihydrate recorded a 30.7% prevalence with a residue concentration ranging from 4.92 µg/kg to 21.49 µg/kg ± 0.71. The detectable concentration was above the recommended maximum residue level established by JECF. Sulfadiazine recorded a residue occurrence rate of 7.6% and the mean sulfadiazine residue concentration ranges from 0 µg/kg to 26.48 µg/kg ± 0.71. The detectable concentration was below the recommended maximum residue level established by JECF. Conclusion Dietary exposure assessments of all drugs based on quantitated residue levels are within the Joint FAO/ WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives safe regulatory exposure limits. This study informs the veterinary food safety Laboratory and the public about veterinary drug residues in poultry and helps address policy and regulatory changes in the use of veterinary drugs in poultry.