Detection of quinolones residues in beef and chicken meat in hypermarkets of Urmia, Iran using ELISA

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the quinolone residues in beef and chicken meat samples collected from Urmia region local markets.A total of 395 beef and chicken meat samples varied in three various brands were analyzed in Urmia, Iran by using a sensitive and reliable analytic method based on ELISA detection, for quantification of quinolone antibiotics residues. Samples preparation was performed according to the instructions of the Ridascreen kit (RBiopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany).Two hundred seventeen of 395 (54.9%) examined chicken meat and beef samples were found to be positive for quinolone antibiotic residue. Seventynine number (48.7%) of beef samples and 138 number (59.2%) of chicken meat samples were contaminated to quinolone residues. The mean levels of quinolone antibiotic residue were found to be 37.86± 0.57 μg/kg in positive chicken samples and the mean levels of quinolone residues were as low as 5.51± 1.17 μg/kg in positive beef samples. Present study indicated that 395 samples of beef and chicken meat sold in Urmia contained residues of quinolone antibiotics. In terms of preventing antibiotic resistance in humans, the low level of quinolone residue levels observed in this study represents a positive result for local food control.