Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical issue globally, especially in livestock farming. Overusing and misusing antibiotics in animals can lead to resistance, which may eventually impact human health. Our study aimed to identify the current trends of antibiotic presence in animal samples in Bettahalasuru, Karnataka, and assess the potential for antimicrobial resistance.

Objective

The primary goal of this analysis was to detect the presence of doxycycline and amoxicillin in livestock samples and determine whether these antibiotics are within permissible levels.

Sample Preparation

Feed: 20 mg of feed was homogenized with n-Hexane and processed for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.

Excreta: 1 g of pig and hen excreta was mixed with trichloroacetic acid, centrifuged, filtered, and analyzed via HPLC.

Water: Water samples from the pig and hen farms were centrifuged and prepared for HPLC.

Key Findings

Doxycycline Presence: Detected in pig excreta at 0.000002 mg/g and hen excreta at 0.00348 mg/g, both of which are below the permissible limit of 0.02 mg/g.

Amoxicillin Presence: No traces of amoxicillin were detected in any of the samples (feed, excreta, or water).

Conclusion

The presence of doxycycline in both pig and hen excreta, though traceable, is within safe limits. No amoxicillin was detected, suggesting minimal or no use of this antibiotic in the tested livestock. This implies that the current levels of antibiotic use in these animals are not posing an immediate risk of resistance buildup. However, ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure that resistance does not develop over time.