Screening for antibiotic residues in swine and poultry tissues using the STAR test

During a 12–month period, 138 tissue samples (muscle, liver, kidney) were screened for antibiotic residues (ARs), using the five–plate STAR test. Samples positive to one or more antibiotics were detected in 33.9% of the chicken samples and in 26% of the pig samples. All the chicken liver samples, 32.2% of the chicken muscle and 14% of the swine liver samples were positive to sulphonamides and β–lactams, 25% of the kidney, 11.1% of the liver and 4% of the muscle tissue of the swine samples and 1.7% of the chicken muscle samples were positive to tetracycline, 12.5% of the kidney and 4% of the muscle swine samples were positive to aminoglycosides and macrolides. No quinolone residues were detected in any samples. The use of a microbiological method such as the STAR–test, for ARs screening in food is an effective low cost scheme indicating potential contamination with ARs.

Keywords: STAR test, antibiotic residues, pork, chicken, antibiotic residue screening, swine tissues, poultry tissues, antibiotics, muscle tissue, liver tissue, kidney tissue, microbiology, food safety, food contamination