Survey on Tetracycline and Oxytetracycline antibiotic residues in honeys produced in some honey hives in Khuzestan province using HPLC method in 2012

Tetracyclines have been used for treatment of European and American foulbrood in beekeeping since years ago. Lack of attention to veterinary recommendations by beekeepers about time and dosage of antibiotics consumption leads to increase antibiotics residues in honey more than standard or Maximum Residual Limits (MRL). In attention to the side effects of antibiotic residues like drug resistance، consumers hyperesthesia etc.، the investigation for tetracycline and oxytetracycline residues was considered in some consumed honey samples in Khuzestan province by HPLC method. Totally 60 honey samples were collected from Khuzestan beekeepers and processed based on the protocol for investigation of tetracycline and oxytetracycline residues. According to this matter and in order to extract antibiotic residues، 5 g of each honey sample was mixed and dissolved with 25 ml of McIlvaine buffer and filtered. Then after calibration of HPLC system، 20 µl of each solution was injected to HPLC system and finally the amounts of tetracycline and oxytetracycline residues were determined for each sample. This study showed that 14 (23. 33%) samples of whole investigated honeys had no antibiotic residues while 31 (51. 66%) out of 60 collected honey samples contaminated to both tetracycline and oxytetracycline residues. The means of tetracycline and oxytetracycline residues in positive samples were equal to 119. 23±31. 38 and 167. 636±37. 02 µg/kg respectively. In conclusion، in present study 46 (76. 67%) out of 60 studied honey samples contained antibiotic residues. These results showed significant difference with zero µg/kg limits as MRL determined by European Union، Codex Alimentarius and Food and Drug Administration (p≤0. 05).