Chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol antibiotic residues in food of animal origin represent a potential health risk to the consumer. CD offers a portfolio of antibodies, conjugates and test kits for the analysis of chloramphenicol antibiotics.

Chloramphenicol (CAP)

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a broad spectrum antibiotic obtained originally from the bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae. It is frequently used as a human antibiotic and also as a veterinary drug for its excellent antibacterial and pharmacokinetic properties. The main potential human toxicity is depression of red blood cell production in bone marrow leading to aplastic anemia. Because of the unpredictable effects of dose on different patient populations, the use of CAP in animal-derived foods and animal feed products, including honey from honeybees, has been strictly regulated.

Thiamphenicol (TAP)

Thiamphenicol (TAP) is the methyl-sulfonylanalogue of chloramphenicol and has a similar spectrum of activity, but it is generally 1–2 times less active. Unlike chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol does not cause aplastic anemia in humans.

Florfenicol (FF)

Florfenicol (FF) is a structural analog of thiamphenicol which has greater in vitro activity against pathogenic bacteria than chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol. It is also active against some bacteria that are resistant to chloramphenicol, especially enteric bacteria.

The European Union (EU) has defined a maximum residue limit (MRL) for CAP in food of animal origin at a level of 0.3 µg/kg, while China has an MRL level of 0.5 µg/kg. Thiamphenicol (TAP) and florfenicol (FF) are the analogue compounds of CAP. They can be used as a replacement veterinary antibiotic for CAP in many countries. The maximum residue limits have been set for TAP (50 ng/g) and FF (100 ng/g) in food to date. The CDIATM Chloramphenicol Rapid Test Kits is validated for a wide variety of matrices (milk, honey, meat, fish, shrimp, eggs, feed, plasma and serum)

Key chloramphenicol antibiotics analytes in our portfolio:

+ Chloramphenicol
+ Thiamphenicol
+ Florfenicol