Antibiotic use and residue detection in guinea fowl eggs in rural Togo: An assessment of practices and risks

Various classes of antibiotics are used to treat guinea fowl diseases in rural Togo. The aim of this study was to assess antibiotic treatment practices and detect the presence of antibiotic residues in eggs from guinea fowl farms in the Savannah region of Togo. The study involved direct interviews using a questionnaire administered to 87 farmers in the Oti, Tone and Tandjoare prefectures, using the Kobocollect tool. Qualitative analysis of the presence of antibiotic residues in guinea fowl eggs was carried out using the Premi®Test collected from farmers. Data were presented as relative frequencies using Excel software and logistic regression analysis and Chi-square test were performed to ascertain positive associations. The minority of farmers (1.15 %) were under the care of a veterinarian, while 87.36 % practiced self-medication and did not respect the prescribed doses of antibiotics, and 11.49 % had no supervision. All the farmers surveyed use plants for therapeutic purposes, without any real knowledge of the correct dosage. Additionally, 56.66 % of farmers did not respect the withdrawal period before guinea fowl eggs are consumed or placed on the market. Furthermore, 49.43 % (Chi-square statistic = 14.92; dof = 2; <i>P</i> = 0.00058) of guinea fowl egg samples analyzed contained antibiotic residues. Biosecurity and confinement were positively associated with the presence of antibiotic residues in eggs. The study reveals inappropriate use of antibiotics by guinea fowl farmers in the Savannah region of Togo, leading to the presence of antibiotic residues in the eggs.