The Depletion of Enrofloxacin Residues in Pork Meat

Abstract. The consequences of drug residues ’ presence in animal organism and food products of animal origin represent an actual problem, due to the high diversity of drugs used for therapy. The presence of residues in food products is accepted under some maximum residues limits (MRLs) that are strictly established and accepted for each type of molecule. The aim of this research was the comparative study of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues depletion in pork after the administration to pigs of two enrofloxacin pharmaceutical forms (oral solution 10 % and powder 40%), for 5 days, in the manufacturer’s recommended doses. The pigs were slaughtered at various time intervals after treatment’s interruption; the samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC). Considering the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin (ciprofloxacin is a metabolite of enrofloxacin), residues level in pork was presented as sum of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in mg/kg. After the administration of enrofloxacin to pigs, the depletion of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues in pork meat was generally balanced, but the biggest amount of enrofloxacin wass eliminated especially during the first days after treatment’s interruption. In the case of enrofloxacin, the determined withdrawal period for pork meat was 6-8 days, depending on the pharmaceutical form and the concentration of the drug.