Evaluation of the presence of nitrofurans in meat and chicken eggs

Abstract

The nitrofurans are antimicrobial drugs that have been widely used as veterinary therapeutics or feed additives for treating bacterial diseases in cattle, swine and poultry production. Furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurazone and nitrofurantoin are veterinary drugs that belong to the nitrofuran group, which have been used in the treatment of infections caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella in pigs, poultry and fishes. The nitrofurans are quickly metabolized and are not detected after few hours from their administration. Otherwise, nitrofuran metabolites remain during months as residues bound to tissue proteins.