The importance of legislation and forensic findings from the analysis of turkey meat

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of legislation regarding the process of testing the presence of Salmonella spp. in turkeys for slaughter and forensic investigation of the presence of antimicrobial drugs residues in turkey meat. The investigation was performed on a fattening farm, just before the delivery of turkeys for slaughter. Two pooled faecal samples were taken from turkeys and sent for analysis. Both samples were tested positive for Salmonella spp. Antibiogram was performed after that and the drug of choice for treatment was enrofloxacine. After turkeys were treated with antibiotics, again two pooled faecal samples were sent for analysis and now both were negative. Turkeys were sent for slaughter, but at the same time there were some suspicions that the owner did not comply with the time of the withdrawal period for the antibiotic used and a forensic investigation was performed in order to determine the presence of antimicrobial drug residues in slaughtered turkeys. Samples of liver, kidney and fat of turkeys were taken at the slaughter line and were sent for analysis for the presence of antimicrobial drugs residues. All of the samples were free of antimicrobial drug and the suspicions were rejected. Recommendations were made regarding the improvement of biosecurity and hygiene measures on farms and good animal husbandry practices in order to limit the use of antimicrobial agents. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31034]

Keywords

• antimicrobial drugs
• residue
• Salmonella spp.
• turkey