Camels and Camelids

DETERMINATION OF PESTICIDE AND ANTIBIOTIC RESIDUES IN MUSCLES OF SUDANESE CAMEL (Camelus dromedarius)

Journal Edition: August 2018
Article DOI: 10.5958/2277-8934.2018.00023.1
Published On: 15-10-2018 08:23

A. Ibrahim Ghada1, A. Nour Ikhlas2, Al-Maqbali Rabea3 and I.T. Kadim4
1Department of Meat Production, College of Animal Production, University of Bahri, PO Box 1660, Sudan
2Institute for Studies and Promotion of Animal Exports, University of Khartoum, Sudan
3Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences,
Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman,
4Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences,
University of Nizwa, PO Box 33, PC 616, Birkat Al-Mouz, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman

ABSTRACT

An effective analytical procedure was used for determination of organochlorine pesticides (Endrin, Aldrin, DDT, Endosulfan sulfate and heptachlor) and antibiotics (Tetracycline, Sulfonamides, Gentamycin and Cephalexin) in 12 Sudanese dromedary camel muscles. Forty-eight muscle samples from two age groups: group 1 (3-4 year old) and group 2 (6-7 year old) were collected. Meat samples from four muscles, i.e. longissimus thoracis (LT), semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM) and biceps femoris (BF) were extracted with acetonitrile and purified with acetonitrile-saturated n-hexane for removing impurities. After evaporation to dryness, the residue was passed through a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge for sample cleanup prior to Gas Chromatography coupled with various detectors such as Mass Spectrometer or electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was also used to quantify of chemical concentrations in camel muscles. Pesticides residues in all camel muscles were below the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL). A Thin Layer Chromatographic (TLC) method was used to determine the residual of veterinary drugs and the results were confirmed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMSMS). With the exception of tetracycline, no antibiotic residues were detected in camel muscles. Tetracycline residues in some muscles was significantly higher than the MRL. Meat sample from group 1 had significantly (P<0.05) lower tetracycline residues than group 2 in LT (32.13 vs. 36.75 ppm), BF (34.35 vs. 36.94), ST (29.07 vs. 35.83) and SM (28.42 vs. 35.92). This study confirmed that Sudanese camel meat is free from organochlorine residues but tetracycline residues were accumulated in both age groups. Following medication treatment, a withdrawal period of two weeks should be practiced to avoid any hazard for human health.
Key words: Antibiotics, muscles, organochlorine pesticides, residues, sudanese camel