LAUSR

The traffic of international animal products can be public health hazard when legal import sanitary procedures are not followed. In Brazil, due to its extensive border area, the importation of animal products is a common practice in many areas of the country, especially in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), a state that borders Argentina and Uruguay. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of veterinary drug residues (antibiotics and antiparasitics) in animal products consumed in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In this study, the presence of residues of veterinary drugs (antibiotics and antiparasitics) was assessed in 189 meat (beef, pork and chicken) processed dairy and meat product samples, bought in Argentina (n=90) and Uruguay (n=99). Residues of veterinary drugs were detected in 50 (26.45%) samples, 28 presenting antibiotic (14.81%) and 22 antiparasitic (11.64%) residues. From the 50 positive samples, 40% (15 from Argentina and 5 from Uruguay) had a maximum residues above the MRLs. From these, 12 presented residues above the MRLs for antiparasitics (11 beef samples with ivermectin and one pork sample with ivermectin and doramectin) and 8 for antibiotics (two pork and two sausage samples with doxycycline; two cheese samples with doxycycline and chlortetracycline; one poultry meat sample with chloramphenicol; and one cheese sample with monensin). Due to their potential toxic effects on humans and antibiotic resistance, the presence of these residues above the legal parameters indicates a potential risk to public health. The possible negative impact on public health of the consumption of imported animal products can be reduced with an effective surveillance system and educational campaigns for the general population.