Detection of antibiotic residues in cow’s milk using microbiological screening test in Souk Ahras, Algeria


Published: Apr 19, 2025
Keywords:
Antibiotic residues Bacillus subtilis Fermented milk Four plate test Micrococcus luteus Raw milk
R Batah
Z Belbel
K Melouah
I Labied
L Benaldjia
A Berreghis
Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate antibiotic residues in raw and fermented cow’s milk in Souk Ahras region, Algeria. A total of 78 cow’s milk samples were collected, including 46 samples of raw milk from various farms and 32 samples of fermented cow’s milk purchased from various points of sale. Samples were examined using a microbiological test (the European four-plate test). Results indicate that only 35 (17/46 raw milk and 18/32 fermented milk) samples were free from antibiotic residues. A high prevalence of antibiotic residues was observed in both raw and fermented milk (63,04%) and (43,75%), respectively. β-lactams and/or tetracyclines were the most detected in both raw and fermented milk, with (47,83%) and (43,75%), respectively. A rate of 30.43% for aminoglycosides, 15.22% for β-lactams and/or macrolides, and 13.04% for sulfonamides were detected in raw cow’s milk. However, a rate of 18.75% for macrolides and/or β-lactams, 12,50% for aminoglycosides, and 3.12% for sulfonamides were detected in fermented milk. A rate of 62.07% of raw milk was contaminated with one family of antibiotics. Werehase (64.28%) of fermented milk was positive for two families of antibiotics. This preliminary study allowed us to outline the presence of antibiotic residues in raw and fermented cow’s milk in Souk-Ahras region. Failure to adhere to good antibiotic usage practices, particularly regarding the withdrawal periods after treatment, can lead to the presence of residues in animal products, thereby exposing consumers to health risks.


Keywords: Antibiotic residues; Bacillus subtilis; Fermented milk; Four plate test; Micrococcus luteus; Raw milk.


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References
Alimohammadi, M., Askari, S. G., Azghadi, N. M., Taghavimanesh, V.,
Mohammadimoghadam, T., Bidkhori, M., Gholizade, A., Rezvani,
R., & Mohammadi, A. A. (2020) Antibiotic residues in the raw and
pasteurized milk produced in Northeastern Iran examined by the fourplate
test (FPT) method. International Journal of Food Properties,
Alnassrallah, M. N., Alzoman, N. Z., & Almomen, A. (2022) Qualitative
immunoassay for the determination of tetracycline antibiotic residues
in milk samples followed by a quantitative improved HPLC-DAD
method. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 14502. https://doi.org/10.1038/
s41598-022-18886-2
Baazize-Ammi, D., Dechicha, A. S., Tassist, A., Gharbi, I., Hezil, N.,
Kebbal, S., Morsli, W., Beldjoudi, S., Saadaoui, M. R., & Guetarni,
D. (2019) Screening and quantification of antibiotic residues in
broiler chicken meat and milk in the central region of Algeria. Revue
Scientifique Et Technique (International Office of Epizootics), 38(3),
Bacanlı, M., & Başaran, N. (2019) Importance of antibiotic residues in
animal food. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 125, 462‑466. https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.01.033
Butovskaya, E., Gambi, L., Giovanetti, A., & Fedrizzi, G. (2023) Screening
of antibiotic residues in raw bovine milk in Lombardy, Italy :
Microbial growth inhibition assay and LC-HRMS technique integration
for an accurate monitoring. Heliyon, 9(4), e15395. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15395
Chen, J., Ying, G.-G., & Deng, W.-J. (2019) Antibiotic Residues in
Food : Extraction, Analysis, and Human Health Concerns. Journal
of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(27), 7569‑7586. https://doi.
org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01334
Layada, S., Benouareth, D.-E., Coucke, W., & Andjelkovic, M. (2016) Assessment
of antibiotic residues in commercial and farm milk collected
in the region of Guelma (Algeria). International Journal of Food
Liu, Y., Luo, Y., Li, W., Xu, X., Wang, B., Xu, X., Hussain, D., & Chen,
D. (2024) Current analytical strategies for the determination of quinolone
residues in milk. Food Chemistry, 430, 137072. https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137072
Meklati, F. R., Panara, A., Hadef, A., Meribai, A., Ben-Mahdi, M. H.,
Dasenaki, M. E., & Thomaidis, N. S. (2022) Comparative Assessment
of Antibiotic Residues Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled
with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a Rapid Screening
Test in Raw Milk Collected from the North-Central Algerian
Dairies. Toxics, 10(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10010019
Merhi, A., Khatib, S. E., Haddad, J., & Hassan, H. F. (2023) A review of
the antibiotic residues in food in the Arab countries. Applied Food
Mouliom Mouiche, M. M., Okah-Nnane, N. H., Moffo, F., Djibo, I.,
Mapiefou, N. P., Mpouam, S. E., Mfopit, Y. M., Mingoas, J.-P. K.,
Tebug, S. F., & Ndukum, J. A. (2024) Antibiotic Residues in Foods
of Animal Origin in Cameroon : Prevalence, Consumers’ Risk Perceptions,
and attitudes. Journal of Food Protection, 87(4), 100237.
Niu, C., Yan, M., Yao, Z., & Dou, J. (2023) Antibiotic residues in milk
and dairy products in China : Occurrence and human health concerns.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 30(53),
Onyinye Stella, O.-I., Vivienne Ezenduka, E., & John Anaelom, N. (2020)
Screening for tylosin and other antimicrobial residues in fresh and
fermented (nono) cow milk in Delta state, South-South, Nigeria.
Veterinary World, 13(3), 458‑464. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.
458-464
Ouabdesselam, L., Benmaamar, Z., & Berbar, A. (2020) Contribution
to the Identification of Antibiotics Residues in Raw Bovine Milk in
Algeria. European Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 10(1), 43‑46.
Parmar, J. K., Chaubey, K. K., Gupta, V., & Bharath, M. N. (2021) Assessment
of various veterinary drug residues in animal originated
food products. Veterinary World, 14(6), 1650‑1664. https://doi.
org/10.14202/vetworld.2021.1650-1664
Sachi, S., Ferdous, J., Sikder, M. H., & Azizul Karim Hussani, S. M.
(2019) Antibiotic residues in milk : Past, present, and future. Journal
of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 6(3), 315‑332. https://
doi.org/10.5455/javar.2019.f350
Titouche, Y., Akkou, M., & Houali, K. (2022) Detection of antimicrobial
residues in bovine meat marketed at Tizi-Ouzou area (Algeria), by a
microbial screening assay. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical
Society, 73(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.26396
Treiber, F. M., & Beranek-Knauer, H. (2021) Antimicrobial Residues in
Food from Animal Origin-A Review of the Literature Focusing on
Products Collected in Stores and Markets Worldwide. Antibiotics
(Basel, Switzerland), 10(5), 534. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10050534
Wu, Q., Shabbir, M. A. B., Peng, D., Yuan, Z., & Wang, Y. (2021) Microbiological
inhibition-based method for screening and identifying of
antibiotic residues in milk, chicken egg and honey. Food Chemistry,
Yamada, Y., Sasaki, J., Matsuzaki, T., & Shiiki, K. (1981) Influence of
medium and diluent pH and diffusion time on antibiotic bioassay. The
Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, 6(1), 23‑33.
Yazdanpanah, H., Osouli, M., Salamzadeh, J., Rashidi, E., Karimi, Z.,
Beykmohammadi, L., & Eslamizad, S. (2023) Simultaneous Screening
of Six Families of Antibiotic Residues in Milk Samples by Biochip
Multi-array Technology. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical
Research: IJPR, 22(1), e136363. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijpr-136363
Zeghilet, N., Bouchoucha, B., & Bouaziz, O. (2022) βeta-lactam and
Tetracycline Antibiotic Residues in Cow Milk in the Constantine
region, Algeria. | Veterinarska Stanica | EBSCOhost. https://doi.
org/10.46419/vs.53.3.8