Veterinary Drugs Residues: Control of Helminths (Update)

Domestic animals are affected by a variety of helminth parasites, i.e., parasitic worms, that have a significant economic impact on animal production. Broad-spectrum anthelmintic drugs are commonly used to control these infections. This has not only led to the emergence of significant levels of anthelmintic resistance appearing to all the commonly used anthelmintic drug classes but also to the problem of drug residues in food. Maximum residue limits (MRL) have not only been set for anthelmintic drug residues in edible tissues as markers of food safety but also for the harmonization of trade between different regions around the world. In addition, withdrawal periods have been set for veterinary medicinal products to ensure that residues have depleted below the MRL before tissues entering the food chain.