Sulfamethazine residues in swine: comparison of on-farm monitoring methods

Three sulfamethazine-residue detection methods were used to evaluate samples collected from five swine farms over a 12-month period. All cooperating farms included sulfamethazine in swine diets at various stages of production, for growth promotion or disease control, and followed recommended drug withdrawal periods. Swine finishing ration, swine urine, and swine serum from market-weight animals were tested monthly for the presence of sulfamethazine. Thin-layer chromatograph (TLC) analysis of swine urine was the gold standard by which three other test method-sample combinations were compared. Samples were analyzed for sulfamethazine using TLC (feed), competitive enzyme immunoassay (serum), and agar-diffusion swab test (urine). The relative sensitivities and specificities of sulfamethazine-residue detection for the three combinations were: (1) TLC analysis (27%, 94%); (2) competitive enzyme immunoassay analysis (58%, 59%); (3) agar-diffusion swab test (78%, 12%). None of the three methods tested was individually adequate for on-farm monitoring of sulfonamide residues. Sulfamethazine residues in swine urine were found on 43.3% of the monthly farm visits and in 19.7% of all swine tested.