Beta-lactams, Tetracyclines and Sulfonamides are the three most widely used antibiotic families for the treatment of bacterial infections
in dairy cattle. A specific indication for administrating these antibiotics is infectious mastitis.
These drugs are also administered to animals in feed for growth promotion and for collective prophylactic treatment.
The monitoring of Beta-lactams, Tetracyclines and Sulfonamides in milk is important because of the hypersensitivity of some individuals
to these antibiotics and also because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
In addition, the general residual level of antibiotics could alter the efficiency of industrial processing of raw milk toward cheese or
other fermented dairy products preparation.
Maximum residue limits (MRLs) have been specified for food products and milk to control the levels of these antibiotics reaching the
consumers.
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