Evaluation of Antibiotic Residues in Commercial Poultry Products in Districts of Faisalabad

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Published: 2026-06-03
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61919/b7rh4n73
Keywords:
Antibiotic residues; poultry products; STAF; egg albumen; liver; food safety; antimicrobial resistance.

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Imran Mukhtar
Gut Microbiome Biostructural Research Group, Gut Microbiome Metabolic Physiology Research Lab, Department of Physiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Akifa Zainab
Gut Microbiome Biostructural Research Group, Gut Microbiome Metabolic Physiology Research Lab, Department of Physiology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Haleema Sohail
Department of Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore, Pakistan
Usama Mustafa
Department of Forensic Science, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Amber Sharif
School of Pharmacy, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
Maaz Bin Nasim
Lords College of Pharmacy, Kot Lakhpat, Pakistan.
Raiha Soban
Department of Biochemistry, Grand Asian University, Sialkot, Pakistan
Mubeen Fatima
Department of Forensic Science, Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Waqas Ahmad
College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Shoaib Zafar
College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic residues in poultry products are an important food safety concern because irrational antimicrobial use and inadequate withdrawal-period compliance may expose consumers to residual antibacterial compounds and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Objective: This study aimed to screen antibiotic-residue activity in commercially produced poultry products collected from periurban poultry farms in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Methods: An observational cross-sectional laboratory-based screening study was conducted during November–December 2024. Eighty birds, including 40 broilers and 40 layers, and 40 eggs were collected from 20 commercial poultry farms. Serum, breast muscle, liver, egg albumen, and egg yolk samples were tested using the Swab Test on Animal Food method with Bacillus subtilis JS 2004 as the indicator organism. Screening positivity was defined by visible inhibition of bacterial growth around sample swabs. Results: No antibiotic-residue activity was detected in serum or breast muscle samples from broiler or layer birds. Broiler liver showed positivity in 14 of 40 samples (35.0%), while layer liver was positive in 2 of 40 samples (5.0%). Among egg components, egg albumen showed the highest positivity, with 24 of 40 samples positive (60.0%), followed by egg yolk, with 4 of 40 samples positive (10.0%). Overall liver positivity was 16 of 80 samples (20.0%). Conclusion: STAF screening detected antibiotic-residue activity mainly in liver and egg samples, especially egg albumen, while meat and serum were negative. Confirmatory analytical testing and routine residue surveillance are recommended

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 11 (2026): Volume 4, Issue 11 (June 2026)

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

How to Cite

1.
Imran Mukhtar, Akifa Zainab, Haleema Sohail, Usama Mustafa, Amber Sharif, Maaz Bin Nasim, et al. Evaluation of Antibiotic Residues in Commercial Poultry Products in Districts of Faisalabad. JHWCR [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 3 [cited 2026 Jun. 4];4(11):1-8. Available from: https://jhwcr.com/index.php/jhwcr/article/view/1485

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