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Spectrophotometric Analysis of Oxytetracycline Brands Available Over-the-Counter for Veterinary Use in South Western Nigeria


AB Saba
IO Olatoye
OA Oridupa

Abstract

Chemotherapy with oxytetracycline in livestock is reportedly faced with
increasing therapeutic failure and resistant bacteria strains circulating in
humans, animals and the environment. This study determined the actual
concentrations in some dosage forms of oxytetracycline available in Southwest Nigeria labelled for veterinary use by spectrophotometric method of analysis. Eight 5% (50mg/ml) and four 20% (200mg/ml) preparations of injectable oxytetracycline were purchased from veterinary pharmacies in Ibadan. The mean concentration of oxytetracycline obtained from formulations ranged between 0.484mg/ml and 0.757 mg/ml. Al l the commercial formulat ions contained less than the label led concentration when 1mg/ml of these samples was compared with 1mg/ml of the
analytical grade of oxytetracycline. Therapy failures and development of
bacterial resistance to oxytetracycline could therefore result from proliferation of fake or sub- s tandard drugs and indiscriminate use or abuse. There is need for strict regulation and quality control of importation, marketing and use of veterinary drugs in Nigeria. Also, there is need for pharmaco-vigilance a n d p h a rma c o - e p i d emi o l o g i c a l investigation of chemotherapeutic agents,which is recommended to ensure their efficacy for animal health and food safety.

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eISSN: 0331-3026