Poultry industry is the second largest industry of Pakistan. Antibiotics are enormously used in poultry both for prophylactic and treatment purpose. Irrational use of antibiotics in poultry industry has led to the serious concern among the general public. It has also resulted in emergence of drug resistance in many susceptible organisms. The present study has therefore been planned for quantitative detection of Enrofloxacin residues; in tissues (liver, kidney, fatty tissues and muscles) of broiler birds. So, the present study was designed to detect Enrofloxacin residues in tissues of birds reared under experimental conditions and routinely slaughtered at different poultry shops. The study was completed in two phases. In phase-I, tissue samples from 75 broiler birds reared at Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore were analyzed for quantitative detection of Enrofloxacin by HPLC. In phase-TI, the 25 broiler birds were purchased from various poultry shops of different local markets of Lahore. Tissue sample (Liver, Kidney and thigh muscles) from these broiler birds were also analyzed for quantitative detection of Enrofloxacin by HPLC. In experimentally reared birds, the highest concentration of Enrofloxacin observed was 306ng/g. In the birds injected with Enrofloxacin intramuscularly the overall highest concentration was 68ng/g. The concentration in kidney, liver and thigh muscles was in the range of 28-64 ng/g, 26-63 ng/g, 26-68ng/g in kidney, liver and thigh muscles respectively in birds injected with drug intramuscularly. The drug residues were detected up to 120 hours post treatment in intramuscularly injected birds. In orally treated birds level of Enrofloxacin in the kidney, liver and muscles were between 56-2 17 ng/g, 29- 306 ng/g ,27- 170 ng/g. The residues were detected up to 96 hours post treatment in birds given Enrofloxacin orally. The result of phase-Il showed that among the 75 market samples, 10 (40%) muscles, 8 (32%) liver and 7 (28%) kidney samples showed the Enrofloxacin residues. Out of 25 samples in which Enrofloxacin residues were detected 20 (80%) samples showed the residues concentration above MRL.

This study helped us in drawing true picture about Enrofloxacin drug residues in poultry meat and it is clearly indicated that proper withdrawal time is not being observed while marketing birds. This poses a great health concern for end consumer.