{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140566"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/140566","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Optimizing Veterinary Drug Residue Monitoring in U.S. Cattle through Trend Analysis and Risk-Based Frameworks","abstract":"Veterinary drug residues in U.S. cattle continue to raise important food safety, regulatory, and public health concerns. This dissertation integrates three complementary investigations to examine residue trends, evaluate human health risks, and propose an improved framework for national monitoring. First, national sampling data from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Residue Program (NRP) for 2021–2023 were analyzed to identify frequently detected residues across cattle types. Cattle accounted for 92% of all positive samples across species sampled (sheep and goats, pigs, poultry, and fish), totaling 3,107 out of 3,391 detections. Dairy cows had the highest number of detections within cattle (1,264 out of 3,107). Desfuroylceftiofur, penicillin, flunixin, and several sulfonamides were among the most commonly detected violative residues. Second, a multifactorial risk-ranking model was developed to assess the potential public health risks associated with fifteen high-priority veterinary drugs detected in cattle. The model integrated hazard evidence, exposure frequency, and severity of adverse outcomes across eleven risk domains. Sulfonamides consistently ranked as the highest-risk group, while β-lactams and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ranked as intermediate-risk due to frequent detection despite moderate inherent toxicity. Finally, an adaptive decision support framework was created to improve veterinary drug residue monitoring by incorporating drug-specific, species-specific, and exposure-related determinants into a unified evaluation system. The framework provides clear thresholds for prioritizing high-risk drug species combinations and can support more efficient risk-based sampling strategies aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of frequently detected residues, improved prioritization of high-risk analytes, and an adaptive, evidence-driven approach to sampling. The findings offer actionable recommendations to strengthen residue-control programs, enhance regulatory responsiveness, and protect public health.","abstract_html":"Veterinary drug residues in U.S. cattle continue to raise important food safety, regulatory, and public health concerns. This dissertation integrates three complementary investigations to examine residue trends, evaluate human health risks, and propose an improved framework for national monitoring. First, national sampling data from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Residue Program (NRP) for 2021–2023 were analyzed to identify frequently detected residues across cattle types. Cattle accounted for 92% of all positive samples across species sampled (sheep and goats, pigs, poultry, and fish), totaling 3,107 out of 3,391 detections. Dairy cows had the highest number of detections within cattle (1,264 out of 3,107). Desfuroylceftiofur, penicillin, flunixin, and several sulfonamides were among the most commonly detected violative residues. Second, a multifactorial risk-ranking model was developed to assess the potential public health risks associated with fifteen high-priority veterinary drugs detected in cattle. The model integrated hazard evidence, exposure frequency, and severity of adverse outcomes across eleven risk domains. Sulfonamides consistently ranked as the highest-risk group, while β-lactams and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ranked as intermediate-risk due to frequent detection despite moderate inherent toxicity. Finally, an adaptive decision support framework was created to improve veterinary drug residue monitoring by incorporating drug-specific, species-specific, and exposure-related determinants into a unified evaluation system. The framework provides clear thresholds for prioritizing high-risk drug species combinations and can support more efficient risk-based sampling strategies aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of frequently detected residues, improved prioritization of high-risk analytes, and an adaptive, evidence-driven approach to sampling. The findings offer actionable recommendations to strengthen residue-control programs, enhance regulatory responsiveness, and protect public health.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Al Wahaimed, Abdullah Saud"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":"Food Science and Technology","degree_department":"Food Science and Technology","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Eifert, Joseph D."],"committee_members":["Kuhn, David D.","Hamilton, Alexis Marie","Davis, Jennifer Lynn"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-12-23","date_published":"2025-12-23","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:50Z","subjects":["monitoring","livestock","cows","sampling","medications","drugs","adverse effects"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45498"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:45498","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140566","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Eifert, Joseph D."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Kuhn, David D.","Hamilton, Alexis Marie","Davis, Jennifer Lynn"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Food Science and Technology"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Al Wahaimed, Abdullah Saud"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-12-24T09:01:58Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-12-24T09:01:58Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-12-23"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Food Science and Technology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["monitoring","livestock","cows","sampling","medications","drugs","adverse effects"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:45498"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140566"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Veterinary drug residues in U.S. cattle continue to raise important food safety, regulatory, and public health concerns. This dissertation integrates three complementary investigations to examine residue trends, evaluate human health risks, and propose an improved framework for national monitoring. First, national sampling data from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Residue Program (NRP) for 2021–2023 were analyzed to identify frequently detected residues across cattle types. Cattle accounted for 92% of all positive samples across species sampled (sheep and goats, pigs, poultry, and fish), totaling 3,107 out of 3,391 detections. Dairy cows had the highest number of detections within cattle (1,264 out of 3,107). Desfuroylceftiofur, penicillin, flunixin, and several sulfonamides were among the most commonly detected violative residues. Second, a multifactorial risk-ranking model was developed to assess the potential public health risks associated with fifteen high-priority veterinary drugs detected in cattle. The model integrated hazard evidence, exposure frequency, and severity of adverse outcomes across eleven risk domains. Sulfonamides consistently ranked as the highest-risk group, while β-lactams and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ranked as intermediate-risk due to frequent detection despite moderate inherent toxicity. Finally, an adaptive decision support framework was created to improve veterinary drug residue monitoring by incorporating drug-specific, species-specific, and exposure-related determinants into a unified evaluation system. The framework provides clear thresholds for prioritizing high-risk drug species combinations and can support more efficient risk-based sampling strategies aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of frequently detected residues, improved prioritization of high-risk analytes, and an adaptive, evidence-driven approach to sampling. The findings offer actionable recommendations to strengthen residue-control programs, enhance regulatory responsiveness, and protect public health."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["Veterinary drugs are used to keep cattle healthy, but sometimes traces of these drugs remain in meat, milk, or other products when animals are sent to slaughter. If these residues are too high, they can pose health risks to people and lead to regulatory violations. This dissertation examines what drugs are most commonly found in U.S. cattle, how risky they may be for human health, and how government monitoring could be improved. An analysis of national U.S. testing data from 2021–2023 showed that most positive residue detections came from cattle (3,107 out of 3,391) with dairy cows having most of these violations (1,264 out of 3,107). Several antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial infections in cattle such as ceftiofur, penicillin, and certain sulfonamides as well as pain relief drugs were repeatedly found. To evaluate possible health effects, a risk-ranking model was created that looked at the strength of scientific evidence, how often each drug was detected, and the seriousness of potential health outcomes. Sulfonamides ranked highest because they are linked with strong evidence of harmful effects while ceftiofur, penicillin, and pain relief drugs ranked as intermediate-risk. Lastly, a decision framework was also developed to help improve future monitoring. It offers a structured way for regulators to decide which drugs and animal groups should receive extra attention based on risk levels. Overall, this work provides clearer insight into which drug residues matter most and offers practical tools to help federal and state agencies strengthen food safety and protect consumers."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Optimizing Veterinary Drug Residue Monitoring in U.S. Cattle through Trend Analysis and Risk-Based Frameworks"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Eifert, Joseph D."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Kuhn, David D.","Hamilton, Alexis Marie","Davis, Jennifer Lynn"],"dc:contributor.department":["Food Science and Technology"],"dc:creator":["Al Wahaimed, Abdullah Saud"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-12-24T09:01:58Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-12-24T09:01:58Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-12-23"],"dc:description.abstract":["Veterinary drug residues in U.S. cattle continue to raise important food safety, regulatory, and public health concerns. This dissertation integrates three complementary investigations to examine residue trends, evaluate human health risks, and propose an improved framework for national monitoring. First, national sampling data from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) National Residue Program (NRP) for 2021–2023 were analyzed to identify frequently detected residues across cattle types. Cattle accounted for 92% of all positive samples across species sampled (sheep and goats, pigs, poultry, and fish), totaling 3,107 out of 3,391 detections. Dairy cows had the highest number of detections within cattle (1,264 out of 3,107). Desfuroylceftiofur, penicillin, flunixin, and several sulfonamides were among the most commonly detected violative residues. Second, a multifactorial risk-ranking model was developed to assess the potential public health risks associated with fifteen high-priority veterinary drugs detected in cattle. The model integrated hazard evidence, exposure frequency, and severity of adverse outcomes across eleven risk domains. Sulfonamides consistently ranked as the highest-risk group, while β-lactams and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ranked as intermediate-risk due to frequent detection despite moderate inherent toxicity. Finally, an adaptive decision support framework was created to improve veterinary drug residue monitoring by incorporating drug-specific, species-specific, and exposure-related determinants into a unified evaluation system. The framework provides clear thresholds for prioritizing high-risk drug species combinations and can support more efficient risk-based sampling strategies aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of frequently detected residues, improved prioritization of high-risk analytes, and an adaptive, evidence-driven approach to sampling. The findings offer actionable recommendations to strengthen residue-control programs, enhance regulatory responsiveness, and protect public health."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["Veterinary drugs are used to keep cattle healthy, but sometimes traces of these drugs remain in meat, milk, or other products when animals are sent to slaughter. If these residues are too high, they can pose health risks to people and lead to regulatory violations. This dissertation examines what drugs are most commonly found in U.S. cattle, how risky they may be for human health, and how government monitoring could be improved. An analysis of national U.S. testing data from 2021–2023 showed that most positive residue detections came from cattle (3,107 out of 3,391) with dairy cows having most of these violations (1,264 out of 3,107). Several antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial infections in cattle such as ceftiofur, penicillin, and certain sulfonamides as well as pain relief drugs were repeatedly found. To evaluate possible health effects, a risk-ranking model was created that looked at the strength of scientific evidence, how often each drug was detected, and the seriousness of potential health outcomes. Sulfonamides ranked highest because they are linked with strong evidence of harmful effects while ceftiofur, penicillin, and pain relief drugs ranked as intermediate-risk. Lastly, a decision framework was also developed to help improve future monitoring. It offers a structured way for regulators to decide which drugs and animal groups should receive extra attention based on risk levels. Overall, this work provides clearer insight into which drug residues matter most and offers practical tools to help federal and state agencies strengthen food safety and protect consumers."],"dc:description.degree":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:45498"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10919/140566"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["monitoring","livestock","cows","sampling","medications","drugs","adverse effects"],"dc:title":["Optimizing Veterinary Drug Residue Monitoring in U.S. Cattle through Trend Analysis and Risk-Based Frameworks"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Food Science and Technology"],"thesis:degree_level":["doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:50Z"}