Assessment of Antibiotic Residues in Poultry Meat Sold in Port Harcourt Markets, Rivers State

This study assesses the prevalence and levels of antibiotic residues in poultry meat sold in major retail markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, located in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. Antibiotic residues in poultry meat are a significant food safety concern, as they expose consumers to sub-therapeutic antibiotic levels that may contribute to antimicrobial resistance development and cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Using a professional food safety assessment design, 120 poultry meat samples (muscle, liver, and kidney) were collected from 10 major retail markets in Port Harcourt over a three-month period. Residue screening was performed using the four-plate microbiological inhibition test (MPPT), and positive samples were further analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantification and identification of specific antibiotic classes. Interviews with 30 poultry farmers supplying Port Harcourt markets provided information on antibiotic use practices and withdrawal period compliance. Findings revealed antibiotic residues in 31 percent of screened samples above the European Union MRL benchmarks used as reference standards. Tetracyclines were the most commonly detected residue class, followed by fluoroquinolones. Withdrawal periods before slaughter were observed by fewer than 20 percent of interviewed farmers. The study recommends mandatory withdrawal period education for poultry farmers, market-level residue monitoring programmes, and strengthened regulatory enforcement of antibiotic use guidelines in poultry production in Rivers State. Keywords: antibiotic residues, poultry meat, Port Harcourt, food safety, withdrawal period.