Meta-synthesis of research advances on drug residues associated with antihelmintic, antibiotics in livestock and poultry: Implications for public health.

Abstract

This meta-synthesis summarizes research advances on drug residues associated with using antihelmintic/antibiotics in poultry and livestock farming to highlight their implications on public health. The study applied the Preferred Reporting Items guidelines for the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) on diverse core databases (PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Web of Science) using the title-specific search keywords/terms. Among the 176 included and eligible articles on drug residues associated with the use of antihelminthic/antibiotics in livestock and poultry farms, only 77 were meta-synthesized which revealed a poor growth rate of 1.95% within the periods. The meta-synthesis depicts the most reported pharmaceuticals, residue/metabolite to include Monensin (MON), unchanged Nicarbazin (NCZ), Doxycycline (DOX), Thiabendazole, Dimetridazole (DMZ), concentrated in meat, chicken, eggs, muscle, and liver of livestock with a concentration detected ranging from 0.01 μg/kg to 4840 μg/kg. It is important to note that the residual concentration observed was higher than major countries maximum residual limits (MRLs) for such farm products which reveals the risk of such observed values to consumers. Also, most reported method of residue detection was HPLC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, usually, this is due to the disease and infection threat of coccidiosis and histomoniasis in livestock production. The relatively low annual growth rate of 1.95%indicates poor study between 2000 and 2024 which further emphasizes that the mainstream research in this regard may be neglected gradually if the trend continues, leaving the concern of drug residue unattended while the implications on public health systems remain unengaged. It also revealed high residue and risk associated with the use of antihelminthic/antibiotics in poultry/livestock farming which necessitates intentional and adroit surveillance especially in low- and middle-income nations.