The residue levels of spinosad and abamectin in eggs and tissues of laying hens following spray application.

Spinosad (SPN) and abamectin (ABM) are used in poultry premises to control external parasites including red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae). This study aimed to determine levels of SPN (spinosyn A + spinosyn D) and ABM residues in egg and edible tissues of laying hens following spray application. A total of 36 laying hens were divided into four groups of nine birds each, and they were kept in individual cages. Two different concentrations of SPN (2 and 4 g/l) and ABM (0.025 and 0.033 g/l) were applied in stocked and empty cages, respectively. Eggs were collected individually for 30 days. All hens were sacrificed at day 30 post-treatment, and tissue samples (liver, breast muscle, fat and skin) were collected. The residue levels in eggs and tissues were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. ABM residues were not detectable in egg samples. SPN residues in eggs and residues of both ABM and SPN in liver, muscle and fat were under the maximum residue limits (MRLs) following low and high concentration applications. However, although the MRLs have not been established for SPN and ABM in skin tissue of chicken, residues in the skin detected at the low and high concentrations were greater than the MRLs for other edible tissues (except fat tissue) indicating that a withdrawal period would be necessary for the skin tissue after ABM and SPN use in laying hens.