Examination of antibiotic residues in honey produced in Mugla region

Antibiotics used in bee breeding to provide treatment, increase efficiency and prevent diseases in colonies lead to the presence of residues in bee products. Consumption of foods with those residues may give rise to resistance to antibiotics, poisoning and teratogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic effects. This study was carried out within the scope of Mugla region to identify any presence of antibiotic residues of tetracycline and sulfamethazine which have negative consequences for human health. 84 samples collected from central Mugla and its 12 districts were analyzed via ELISA test kits. According to the ELISA test results, the existence of the residues of tetracycline was identified positive in 49 of the samples (58,3 %) and 35 of them (41,7 %) were examined as negative. Sulfamethazine was found present in all of the samples. Nevertheless, as the ELISA test only scans for residues, the results obtained from this study had better to be controlled and revisited with more precise advanced techniques. When the findings of the present study are compared with the previous scientific studies, it is seen that they have parallelism and similarity. This indicates that these antibiotic derivatives are still used unconsciously in the fight against bee diseases even if it is not legal. Effective ways to combat bee diseases should be explained to bee growers and trainings should be given on the negative effects of excessive and illegal use of antibiotics on human and community health.