Performances of antibiotic screening tests in determining the persistence of penicillin residues in ewe's milk

Milk collected at 12-h intervals throughout 6 days from three groups of Manchega ewes (n = 12 per group), treated intramuscularly with beta-lactams (benzyl penicillin procaine, ampicillin, and amoxicillin, respectively), was evaluated for antibiotic residue persistence with four microbial inhibitor tests (BRT MRL, CH ATK P&S, Delvotest SP and Eclipse 100ov) and one enzymatic test (Penzym 100). Antibiotic depletion time was established using a logistic regression model. A clear effect (P < 0.0001) of milking order on the response of all tests was observed with the three antibiotics, but no significant effects were found for milk yield. Except with Eclipse 100ov, positive tests were observed after the recommended withdrawal period of benzyl penicillin procame (five milkings) from 2% (Delvotest SP) to 11% (CH ATK P&S). There were almost no positive responses beyond the withdrawal period (six milkings) of ampicillin, except for the Penzym 100 test (7%). Residues of amoxicillin were found to persist beyond the six milkings established as the withdrawal period, from 2.8% (Eclipse 100ov) to 72.4% (CH ATK P&S) of positive cases. Higher frequencies of doubtful cases were found with BRT MRL and Delvotest SP assays with the three beta-lactams. Positive and doubtful results could be obtained when milk samples from individual ewes were analyzed using BRT MRL, CH ATK P&S, Delvotest SP and Penzym 100 tests, even if farmers follow the antibiotic withdrawal periods.