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Tetracycline Residues in Milk and Vitreous Humor: Risks of Indirect Antibiotic Resistance

Authors

  • Belmahi Mohamed Habib

    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Constantine 3 Salah Boubnider, Algeria

  • Mecheri Imane

    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Constantine 3 Salah Boubnider, Algeria

  • Mohamed Amine Kerdoun

    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29169/1927-5951.2025.15.10

Keywords:

Indirect antibiotic resistance, health risk, tetracycline, antibiotic assay in milk, vitreous humor, HPLC

Abstract

Background: Since antibiotics became widely used in both human and veterinary medicine, they have been instrumental in fighting bacterial diseases that were once difficult or impossible to treat. However, misuse inevitably increases the risk of selecting resistant bacteria, which poses a major public health concern. The “One Health” concept highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, recognizing that the environment can serve as a reservoir for resistant microorganisms.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate indirect antibiotic contamination from animal-derived food, focusing on tetracyclines, which are widely used in animal feed and veterinary treatments. Residues of tetracyclines can remain in animal-based food products such as meat and milk. Notably, their transmission poses a threat to human health.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis was conducted using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to detect tetracycline residues in milk and meat samples collected from commercial sources. The methodology included sample preparation and analysis to quantify the levels of contamination.

Results: HPLC analysis revealed tetracycline residues exceeding 100 µg/L in milk and over 20 µg/L in sheep’s vitreous humor, indicating a concerning prevalence of contamination in animal-derived food products.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the public health risks of indirect antibiotic contamination in food products of animal origin. The study calls for stricter monitoring of antibiotic residues and a reevaluation of current veterinary practices, emphasizing the importance of the “One Health” approach in addressing antibiotic resistance.

References

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Published

2025-09-07

Issue

Vol. 15 (2025)

Section

Articles

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Tetracycline Residues in Milk and Vitreous Humor: Risks of Indirect Antibiotic Resistance. (2025). Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences , 15, 99-104. https://doi.org/10.29169/1927-5951.2025.15.10

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