Antibiotic residues in eggs from intensive and free-range poultry systems in Kosovo: Occurrence and dietary risk assessment
Acta Alimentaria, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1556/066.2026.00251
- Dergi Adı: Acta Alimentaria
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Food Science & Technology Abstracts
- Anahtar Kelimeler: antibiotic residues, egg contamination, enrofloxacin, food safety, HPLC-PDA, risk assessment, sulfonamides, tetracyclines
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Antibiotic residues in foods of animal origin represent an important public health concern, particularly in regions where systematic monitoring is limited. This study provides a comparative assessment of antibiotic residues in eggs from intensive and free-range poultry production systems in Kosovo. A total of 113 composite egg samples (65 from intensive farms and 48 from free-range systems) were analysed for enrofloxacin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and sulfadimidine using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). Antibiotic residues were detected in 17 composite samples, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 15.04%. A numerically higher prevalence was observed in intensive systems (18.5%) compared to free-range systems (10.4%), which may reflect more frequent antibiotic use in intensive production. However, higher maximum concentrations were recorded in free-range eggs, particularly for enrofloxacin, which reached 422 μg kg−1, suggesting less standardised and more variable antimicrobial use practices. Dietary exposure assessment showed that International Food Safety Index (IFS) values remained below 1 in both adult and child scenarios, indicating that the estimated exposure through egg consumption was within the acceptable risk range under the applied assumptions. Children showed higher IFS values than adults, particularly under the maximum-concentration scenario; however, all values remained below the threshold of concern. According to current European Union legislation, an MRL of 200 μg kg−1 is established for oxytetracycline in eggs, whereas doxycycline, enrofloxacin, and sulfonamides are not authorised for use in animals from which eggs are produced for human consumption. Beyond direct toxicological concerns, the presence of antibiotic residues may contribute to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Overall, these findings support the need for strengthened monitoring systems, improved regulatory enforcement, and responsible antibiotic use in poultry production to ensure food safety and mitigate antimicrobial resistance risks.