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5 . 2012

New aspects of antibiotics contamination of food in the light of harmonization of hygienic standards for tetracycline with the international standards

AbstractTo address the issue of harmonization of Russian MRLs for tetracycline in food and on the basis of the tasks of preserving the value of hygienic standard for the more restrictive level than similar standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in this survey we analyzed the evidences of the negative effects of subingibitory amounts of these antibiotics (lying below the MIC for clinically relevant microorganisms). The inadequacy of the microbiological JECFA ADI and the necessity of using of methodology of analyzing the effects of biological active substances in small doses for assessing the risk of food contamination of tetracycline subingibitory concentrations were demonstrated. Current scientific information on the functions of antibiotics as signaling molecules in the microbial world and the role of tetracycline as a leading factor in the regulation of transcription in microorganisms and activation of the horizontal transfer of resistance genes transferred to the family of conjugative transposons Tn916–Tn1545 also was reviewed in paper. Evidencebased data regarding the basic contribution of subingibitory concentrations of tetracycline in the spread of worst transmissible type of antibiotic resistance and the formation of new pathogens, associated with it, are represented. To reduce the risk of direct adverse effects on microbial ecosystem in the human body and its habitat, and to minimize the indirect risk of new infections, the necessity of saving the current Russian level residues of tetracycline (≤0,01 mg/kg of product), which is low by contrast to the Codex MRLs (≤0,1–1,2 mg/kg), was proved. Tetracycline concentrations in food, regulated in Russian Federation, below 0,1 MIC for clinically significant microorganisms which aren’t capable to initiation of the above described negative changes.

Keywords:food contamination by antibiotics of tetracycline group, maximum residue levels, microbiological ADI, minimum inhibitory concentration, subingibitory concentrations of tetracycline

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Viktor A. Tutelyan
Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Scientific Director of the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety (Moscow, Russia)

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