Development and validation of a chroramphenicol enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method for the determination and monitoring of chloramphenicol residues in livestock products

Abstract

Livestock rearing is an essential and integral part of agriculture in Kenya, however management of livestock diseases remain a major challenge to the growth of this very important industry. The improper use of veterinary drugs may result in potentially harmful levels of resedues in animal products. Following the ban of chloramphenicol enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (CAP) in most countries the European union recommended the minimum requirement performance limit for CAP to be 0.3 ng/g. The study hence develops and validate a highly sensitive, and specific CAP ELISA method using antibodies raised in a range of selected animal species. The findings show that CAP ELISA developed locally can effectively be used as a screening tool for CAP residues in livestock products