An Examination of antibiotic residues in meat produced in Rushinga district of Mashonaland Central in Zimbabwe
- Author
- Mushayi, Edmore
- Title
- An Examination of antibiotic residues in meat produced in Rushinga district of Mashonaland Central in Zimbabwe
- Abstract
- The widespread use of antibiotics in animal production has raised concerns about the presence of antibiotic residues in meat, which can contribute to antimicrobial resistance and pose significant health risks to consumers. In Zimbabwe, limited data is available on the prevalence of these residues in meat products, particularly in rural areas such as Rushinga District. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and levels of antibiotic residues in meat produced in Rushinga district, Zimbabwe. It also sought to evaluate the potential risks associated with the consumption of contaminated meat. Meat samples were collected from local abattoir and markets in Rushinga district. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to detect and quantify antibiotic residues in the samples. The results were compared with international safety standards to assess compliance. The study found that found that 25% beef, 20% chevon, and 15% chicken meat samples contained antibiotic residues exceeding permissible levels. The most frequently detected antibiotics were tetracyclines, penicilins, and sulphonamides. The mean residue level across all samples was 0.15 µg/kg, with a range of 0.01µg/kg - 0.35 µg/kg. The findings suggest widespread misuse of antibiotics in animal production in the district. Threshold based on Codex Alimentarius standards is 0.1µg/kg for most antibiotics the results of this study highlight the urgent need for regulatory measures to monitor and control antibiotic use in animal production in Rushinga district. Increased public awareness and education on the risks of antibiotic residues are also critical to safeguarding public health and ensure food safety.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Antibiotics
- Animal production
- Meat production
- Supervisor
- Dr. Masasire
