Determination of tylosin, gentamicin, and neomycin residues in distributed milk and ice-cream in Tehran by HPLC method in 2019

Improper use of antibiotics, and the subsequent residues in raw animal products such as milk, can directly or indirectly cause health problems in human communities such as allergic reactions and reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments. The aim of the present study was to determine the residual levels of tylosin, gentamicin, and neomycin in milk and ice cream distributed across Tehran. A total of 125 samples, including raw milk, pasteurized and sterilized milk, traditional and pasteurized ice cream. The samples were randomly obtained from retail centers in Tehran from July to September 2019. The residual levels of tylosin, gentamicin, and neomycin were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Of the samples, tylosin, gentamicin, and neomycin were detected in 94.4%, 92.2%, and 96.6%, respectively. The highest tylosin residues in raw milk and ice cream samples was 26.72 ± 1.55 and 26.01 ± 1.55 μg/l, respectively. The highest gentamicin residues in raw milk and ice cream samples were 28.15 ± 1.29 and 28.8 ± 1.29 μg/l, respectively. The highest neomycin residues in raw milk and traditional ice cream samples were 33.46 ± 1.95 and 34.7 ±1.95 μg/l, respectively. According to the Iranian National Standard, in all tested samples the residual antibiotics were below the standard approval limit. Since most samples contained antibiotic residues, continuous monitoring of milk samples for antibiotic residues is recommended.