Albendazole (ABZ) residues in goat's milk and their effect on the response of microbial inhibitor tests used for screening antibiotics were evaluated. A total of 18 MurcianoGranadina goats were treated with ABZ and individually milked once a day over a 7-day period. ABZ quantification was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The ABZ parent drug was not detected. The maximum concentration of its metabolites (ABZ sulfoxide, ABZ sulfone, and ABZ 2-aminosulfone) was reached on the 1st day post treatment (260.0 +/- 70.1 mu g/kg, 112.8 +/- 28.7 mu g/kg, 152.0 +/- 23.6 mu g/kg, respectively), decreasing to lower than the maximum residue limit (MRL, 100 mu g/kg) on the 3rd day post treatment. Milk samples were also analyzed by microbial tests [ Brilliant Black Reduction Test (BRT) MRL, Delvotest SP-NT MCS and Eclipse 100], and only one positive result was found for Delvotest SP-NT MCS and Eclipse 100. However, a high occurrence of positive outcomes was obtained for BRT MRL during 6 days post treatment, whereas ABZ residues were not detected from the 4th day post administration, suggesting that factors other than the antiparasitic agent might affect the microbial test response. Copyright (C) 2016, Food and Drug Administration, Taiwan. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of incorporating rice straw and orange leaves into the diets for goats. Ten Murciano-Granadina goats at mid lactation weighing 45 +/- 0.3 kg were used in a crossover design. Two isoproteic and isoenergetic diets (180 g/kg DM and 17 MJ/kg DM, respectively) with alfalfa hay as forage source (33% of DM) were fed. A control diet (CON) incorporated barley as energy source and soy hulls as fiber component. The experimental diet (ORG) replaced barley and soy hulls with orange leaves (19% on DM basis), rice straw (12%, on DM basis) and soya oil (2%). Peas and horsebeans were the protein source in both diets. Each goat received the 2 treatments in 2 periods. Goats were fed the experimental diets and after 14 d on their respective treatments moved to individual metabolism cages for another 7 d. Subsequently, feed intake, total fecal and urine output and milk yield were recorded daily over the first 5 d. During the next 2 d ruminal fluid and blood samples were collected, and then individual gas-exchange measurements were recorded by a mobile open-circuit indirect calorimetry system using a head box. No differences in dry matter intake were detected, and apparent total-tract digestibility was greater in CON than ORG. Efficiency of metabolizable energy intake for milk and maintenance also was lower in response to ORG (0.65 vs. 0.63), with energy balance being negative (-12 kJ/kg of BW0.75) due to mobilization of fat (-16 g/animal vs. 68 g/animal for ORG and CON, respectively). Although actual milk yield was lower in goats fed ORG (2.32 vs. 2.06 kg/d, respectively), energy-corrected milk did not differ (2.81 kg/d on average). In terms of milk quality, milk fat content, and concentrations of monounsaturated (18.54 vs. 11.55 g/100 g milk fat) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.75 vs. 3.99 g/100 g milk fat) were greater in goats fed ORG. Based on various indices, the milk produced by ORG would be less atherogenic and thrombogenic than CON milk. Compared with CON, enteric CH4 emission was lower due to feeding ORG (reduction of 38 g CH4/kg milk fat). Data suggest that greater fat mobilization in goats fed ORG might have been due to the apparent lack of synchrony between degradable protein and carbohydrate and the lipogenic nutrients associated with the lower cereal content of the ORG diet. Thus, goats fed ORG seemed to rely more on fat depots to help meet energy requirements and reach optimal performance. As such, the lower content of glucogenic nutrients in ORG did not favor body fat deposition and partitioning of ME into body tissue. Overall, responses in terms of CH4 emissions and milk quality suggest that inclusion of rice straw and orange leaves in diets for small ruminants could be a valuable alternative to reuse, recycle and revalue agricultural by-products.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the prophylactic use of antibiotics in intravaginal sponges used for estrus synchronization in goats may result in the presence of inhibitors in milk and, therefore, of positive results by microbial screening tests. Ninety-eight Murciano-Granadina goats were used, divided into 7 groups of 14 animals. Intravaginal sponges were placed in 6 groups using 2 concentrations of 3 different antibiotics: doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and sulfathiazole-framycetin. The sponges of the control group were placed without antibiotics. Milk samples were collected daily until 7 d posttreatment and analyzed using 3 microbial tests. Positive samples were retested by specific receptor-binding assays to confirm the positive results. Vaginal status was evaluated by visual assessment of the external aspect of the sponges after removal. The microbial test response was not affected by either day posttreatment or dose of antibiotic used, except for oxytetracycline at the higher concentration. Moreover, no positive results were obtained using receptor-binding assays, suggesting that residues, if present in milk, did not exceed the regulatory (safety) levels established for these drugs. The occurrence of soiled sponges was higher in the control group. With respect to the dose of antibiotics used, no significant differences were found for the lower dose administered. However, a significant increase in the percentage of clean sponges was observed for the higher dose of doxycycline: We conclude that the prophylactic use of low doses of doxycycline, oxytetracycline, or sulfathiazole in intravaginal sponges used for synchronization of estrus helps to reduce clinical vaginitis in dairy goats and does not seem to be the cause of positive results in microbial inhibitor tests used to detect antibiotics in goat milk.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the interference of acid and alkaline detergents employed in the cleaning of milking equipment of caprine dairy farms on the performance of microbial tests used in antibiotic control (BRT MRL, Delvotest MCS, and Eclipse 100). Eight concentrations of commercial detergents, five acid (0–0·25%) and five alkaline (0–1%) were add to antimicrobial-free goat's milk to evaluate the detergent effect on the response of microbial inhibitor tests. To evaluate the effect of detergents on the detection capability of microbial tests two detergents at 0·5 ml/l (one acid and one basic) and eight concentrations of four β-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin and benzylpenicillin) were used. Milk without detergents was used as control. The spiked samples were analysed twelve times by three microbial tests. The results showed that the presence of acid detergents did not affect the response of microbial tests for any of the concentrations tested. However, at concentrations equal to or greater than 2 ml/l alkaline detergents positive results were found in microbial tests (16·7–100%). The detection limits of the screening tests for penicillins were not modified substantially by the presence of detergents. In general, the presence of acid and alkaline detergents in goat's milk did not produce a great interference in the microbial tests, only high concentrations of detergents could cause non-compliant results, but these concentrations are difficult to find in practice if proper cleaning procedures are applied in goat dairy farms.

Cleaning and disinfection of dairy equipment is essential to ensure the hygienic quality of milk. Occasionally, some farmers use washing-up liquids and disinfectants for home use, especially when cleaning procedures are carried out manually. Residues of detergents and disinfectants in milk may interfere with the response of microbial inhibitor tests used for screening antibiotics in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the interference of non-specific detergents in screening tests (BRT MRL; Delvotest SP-NT MCS; Eclipse 100) for goat's milk. Twelve replicates of eight concentrations of five washing-up liquids (0–1%) and one disinfectant (0–1%) were analysed. The results showed that the presence of washing-up liquids at concentrations of ≥1 ml/l leads to positive results in microbial tests. In particular, the product containing sodium laureth sulphate and ethanol produced the largest number of positive outcomes. The presence of disinfectant based on sodium hypochlorite did not affect the test response. The detection capabilities of microbial inhibitor tests for penicillins were also studied in milk with and without cleaning products, calculating the dose–response curve with eight concentrations of amoxicillin, ampicillin, benzylpenicillin and cloxacillin, respectively. The detection limits of the screening tests for penicillins were not modified substantially by the cleaning product based on sodium laureth sulphate and ethanol. Residues of cleaning agents in milk can be avoided when specific detergents and disinfectants for milking equipment are used and good cleaning practices are applied.

This Research Communication reports interferences related to the administration of ivermectin in lactating dairy goats on the response of microbial tests for screening antibiotics in milk. Twenty-eight Murciano-Granadina goats, naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei var. caprae, were treated with a subcutaneous injection of ivermectin (200 µg/kg b.w.). To prevent re-infestation, a second dose was applied 7 d later. Individual milk samples were collected, daily, up to 15 d post-treatment. Milk samples were analysed by microbial inhibitor tests (BRT MRL, Delvotest SP-NT MCS and Eclipse 100) and ivermectin residues were quantified by HPLC. A large number of positive results were obtained for all microbial tests, especially on the first day after treatment (BRT MRL = 46·4%; Delvotest SP-NT MCS = 14·3%; and Eclipse 100 = 17·8%). However, the highest concentration of drug residues in milk (24·3 ng/ml) was detected on the tenth day after treatment, when positive outcomes were relatively lower (BRT MRL = 17·8%; Delvotest SP-NT MCS = 10·7%; and Eclipse 100 = 7·4%). Results herein suggest that factors related to the ivermectin treatment other than drug residues in milk, or alterations produced by the parasitic disease itself affecting the immune response of animals, could be the cause of false-positive results in microbial tests. It can be concluded that the application of ivermectin in dairy goats infested with sarcoptes mange during lactation produces persistent drug residues in milk, and could also cause false-positive results in microbial inhibitor tests for screening antibiotics.