(a) Delvotest SP
Analyzed samples (n)
Positive samples (n)
(b) LC/MS-MS
MRL (μg/kg)
Range detected (μg/kg)
Farms
150
10
Penicillin G
4
0.7–1973.4
Collection points
826
41
Cloxacillin
30
6.4–542.0
UHT milk
39
1
Amoxicillin
4
0.2–42.9
Total
1,015
52
Ampicillin
4
1.4–784.2
The samples from the region of Peja showed the highest rate of contamination. When the 52 samples that reacted positively on the Delvotest SP were analyzed further with the SNAP test for penicillins, tetracyclines, and sulphonamides, only 40 samples (77 %) were positive for beta-lactams. Twenty-five of these samples were randomly selected to be confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sixteen samples were positive for residues of amoxicillin, penicillin G, or cloxacillin (12 at a concentration higher than the Maximum Residual Limits).
20.4 Discussion
The data presented in this chapter, obtained from the first monitoring plan performed in Kosovo to investigate the presence of AM1 in milk, are encouraging. The results pointed out that the content of AM1 in the contaminated samples was always below that allowed by EU legislation. Comparison of data from neighboring Western Balkan countries showed similar results. AM1 was detected in 30 % of Serbian pasteurized and UHT milk but none of the samples exceeded the concentrations of 50 ng/kg (Polovinski-Horvatović et al. 2009). In Croatia, 98.4 % of the analyzed milk samples had AM1 values below the EU maximum level (Bilandžic et al. 2010). The level of AM1 milk contamination in Kosovo is different from that in countries with similar agricultural practices but different climates, like Iran and Turkey, where AM1 in milk currently appears to be a serious public health problem (Unasan 2006; Kamkar 2008). Due to the unpredictability of climatic and environmental conditions, it is essential that the program of monitoring of AM1 in milk in Kosovo will continue, to avoid an undetected problem, like occurred in Italy in 2003.