Health risk assessment of enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimidine residues in broiler chicken carcasses marketed in Mit Ghamr, Egypt

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Abstract
The widespread use of antibiotics in poultry production raises concerns about drug residues in chicken tissues and associated public health risks. Chicken tissue samples ( n = 180; 60 each from breast, thigh, and liver) were purchased from various poultry shops in Egypt and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Residues of enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimidine were detected in 51.67% (93/180), 71.67% (129/180), and 16.67% (30/180) of chicken samples, respectively. Interestingly, 54.84% (51/93) of enrofloxacin-positive samples, 55.81% (72/129) of oxytetracycline-positive samples, and 70% (21/30) of sulfadimidine-positive samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Among the 180 samples of each of chicken breast, thigh, and liver samples, 5% of each tissue type contained the three antibiotics tested, while 40% of chicken breasts and 50% of both thighs and liver samples contained two of the three antibiotics. HPLC analysis revealed mean concentrations of 90.4, 317.7, and 573.3 µg/kg for enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimidine, respectively, in chicken breasts; 161.5, 964.1, and 47, respectively, in chicken thighs; and 1707.3, 10,625, and 3848.1, respectively, in livers. The estimated daily intake (EDI) for antibiotics analyzed in chicken tissue among consumers was between 0.012 and 0.590 µg/kg body weight/day. The Hazard quotient (HQ) values of enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimidine ranged between 0.0006 and 0.050 for schoolchildren, 0.0003 and 0.022 for women, and 0.0002 and 0.021 for men, respectively. Among the different age groups of the Egyptian consumers, schoolchildren had the highest daily intake and hazard quotient values of antibiotic residues from chicken tissue. The HQ values for tested antibiotics indicated no significant health risk for either adults or children, although children showed relatively higher values. Overall, the findings highlight the need for strict antibiotic monitoring, with consideration of their withdrawal periods in the veterinary field, to ensure food safety and to protect public health.
Funding Information
  • Mansoura University

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