Evaluation of tetracycline antibiotics residues in chicken tissues using the four-plate test, ELISA, and HPLC methods in Iran

Nowadays, various antibiotics are widely used for preventing and treating several diseases and for promoting growth in food-producing animals in different countries of the world. In this assay, edible chicken meat from local markets of Hamadan, a Province of Iran, was examined for residues of tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline). In total, 150 samples of breast, wings and thigh tissue were randomly obtained from the local markets of the city of Hamadan. Four-plate tests (FPT), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to analyse tetracycline antibiotic (TC) residues, respectively. Results showed that out of 150 samples, 30 samples (24.00%) and 22 samples (14.71%) of carcases were positive or “suspect by antibiotic residues by FPT and ELISA screening method, respectively. The HPLC assay indicated in 7 samples of wings and 12 samples of breast and 18 samples of thigh, residues of TCs were detected. The study revealed that the TCs levels in one sample of wings and three samples of breast and five samples of thigh exceeded the maximum residue level (MRL) reported by the EU. To reduce the TC residues found in edible chicken meat, regulatory authorities should ensure that the chicken would undergo the proper withdrawal period from TCs before slaughtering.