Detection of fluoroquinolone and sulfonamide residues in poultry eggs in Kunming city, southwest China.

Antibiotic residues contained in poultry eggs pose threat to human health. However, the classes and concentrations of antibiotics in poultry egg in southwestern China is unknown due to insufficient monitoring and research. A total of 513 egg samples were collected from supermarkets and farm markets in Kunming city in 2020 and the levels of 7 antibiotics were analyzed using ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method. The linear correlation coefficients were above 0.990 for all antibiotics tested. The limits of detection and limits of quantification in poultry eggs were 0.002 to 0.010 µg/g and 0.007 to 0.033 µg/g, respectively. The average recoveries of the 7 analytes from poultry egg samples were 80.00 to 128.01%, with relative standard deviations of less than 13.97%. A total of 93 (18.13%) samples tested positive for antibiotics, with the highest concentration being 2.48 µg/g. The concentration range of ofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, and sulfamethoxazole in poultry eggs was 0.01 to 0.37 µg/g, 0.06 to 0.48 µg/g, 0.05 to 0.29 µg/g, 0.03 to 0.16 µg/g, 0.06 to 1.00 µg/g, 0.05 to 0.37, and 0.07 to 2.48 µg/g, respectively. Sulfamonomethoxine was detected from hen eggs with the highest concentration level at 1.00 µg/g. Sulfamethoxazole was detected with the highest concentration level from both duck and quail eggs, at 1.87 and 2.48 µg/g, respectively. The antibiotic with the highest residue level in pheasant eggs was danofloxacin, which was 0.37 µg/g. Sulfamethoxypyridazine was identified in 30 samples with the highest positive rate of 5.85%, sulfadimethoxine was identified in 3 samples with the lowest positive rate of 0.58%. We observed that 7 targeted antibiotic residues in quail eggs and 3 targeted antibiotic residues in pheasant eggs. We also found that there were antibiotic residues in free-range hen eggs and the concentration was not low. The antibiotic with the highest residue level in free-range eggs was sulfamonomethoxine, which was 1.00 µg/g. These findings suggest that continual antibiotic residue monitoring of poultry eggs is essential in China.

Determination of colistin in luminal and parietal intestinal matrices of chicken by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Justification for continued use of colistin in veterinary medicine, for example medicated water, relies on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies that require accurate measurement of colistin content in the digestive tract. A method for the detection and quantification of colistin in poultry intestinal material was developed and validated. Colistin is not absorbed after oral administration, and the biophase is the gastrointestinal tract. Extraction of colistin from the matrix was achieved using solid-phase extraction with a methanol:water (1:2; v/v) solution. Polymyxin B was used as an internal standard. Colistin A and colistin B, the main components of colistin, were separated, detected and measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The method was validated for linearity/quadraticity between 1.1 (LOQ) and 56.7 mg/kg. Mean accuracy was between 82.7% and 107.7% with inter- and intra-day precision lower than 13.3% and 15% respectively. Freeze-thaw, long-term and bench storage were validated. Incurred samples following colistin treatment in poultry at the approved clinical dose of 75,000 IU/kg in drinking water and oral gavage were quantifiable and in line with expected intestinal transit times. The method is considered appropriately accurate and precise for the purposes of pharmacokinetic analysis in the gastrointestinal tract.

In-depth lipidomic analysis of tri-, di-, and mono-acylglycerols released from milk fat after in vitro digestion.

Milk fat is arguably one of the most complex fats found in nature and varies widely between animal species. Analysis of its digestion products is tremendously challenging, due to the complexity, diversity, and large range of concentrations of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and their digestion products (i.e. diacylglycerols (DAGs), monoacylglycerols (MAGs), and free fatty acids (FFAs)). Therefore, a method combined the solid phase extraction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and multi-dimension mass spectrometry (MDMS) was developed to identify and semi-quantify the TAGs, DAGs and MAGs in milk fat after in vitro digestion. Up to 105, 64, 14 and 30 species of TAGs, DAGs, MAGs, and FFAs were determined with their concentrations of 0.01-22.3, 0.01-39.2, 0.01-47.8, and 0.04-191.0 mg/g fat, respectively, during the in vitro digestion of cow and sheep milk. The validation of the method shows that this method was precise and reliable.

Purification and identification of anti-inflammatory peptides from spent hen muscle proteins hydrolysate.

Spent hens have low market value and incur significant costs for disposal. This study explored the use of spent hens as a source of bioactive peptides. Spent hen hydrolysates prepared by Protease M or Protex 50FP exhibited interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitory activity in endotoxin-activated macrophage-like U937 cells (p < .05). The potential peptides from Protex 50FP hydrolysate were further fractionated using a combination of ultrafiltration, solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography; 17 novel peptides encoded in major muscle proteins were identified by mass spectrometry analysis, of which 7 were chemically synthesized and assayed for the IL-6 inhibitory activity. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, peptide FLWGKSY induced a 79% reduction of IL-6 production in endotoxin-activated macrophage-like U937 cells, which is comparable to results reported from other food sources. Our results indicate that spent hens have potential to be a source of bioactive peptides for anti-inflammatory applications.

Development of an Analytical Procedure for the Determination of Multiclass Compounds for Forensic Veterinary Toxicology.

Reported here is a new analytical multiclass method based on QuEChERS technique, which has proven to be effective in diagnosing fatal poisoning cases in animals. This method has been developed for the determination of analytes in liver samples comprising rodenticides, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides, coccidiostats and mycotoxins. The procedure entails addition of acetonitrile and sodium acetate to 2 g of homogenized liver sample. The mixture was shaken intensively and centrifuged for phase separation, which was followed by an organic phase transfer into a tube containing sorbents (PSA and C18) and magnesium sulfate, then it was centrifuged, the supernatant was filtered and analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A validation of the procedure was performed. Repeatability variation coefficients <15% have been achieved for most of the analyzed substances. Analytical conditions allowed for a successful separation of variety of poisons with the typical screening detection limit at ≤10 µg/kg levels. The method was used to investigate more than 100 animals poisoning incidents and proved that is useful to be used in animal forensic toxicology cases.

Screening of over 100 drugs in horse urine using automated on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry for doping control.

A fast method for the direct analysis of enzyme-hydrolysed horse urine using an automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to a liquid-chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometer was developed. Over 100 drugs of diverse drug classes could be simultaneously detected in horse urine at sub to low parts per billion levels. Urine sample was first hydrolysed by ß-glucuronidase to release conjugated drugs, followed by centrifugal filtration. The filtrate (1mL) was directly injected into an on-line SPE system consisting of a pre-column filter and a SPE cartridge column for the separation of analytes from matrix components. Through valves-switching, the interfering matrix components were flushed to waste, and the analytes were eluted to a C18 analytical column for refocusing and chromatographic separation. Detections were achieved by full-scan HRMS in alternating positive and negative electrospray ionisation modes within a turn-around time of 16min, inclusive of on-line sample clean-up and post-run mobile phase equilibration. No significant matrix interference was observed at the expected retention times of the targeted masses. Over 90% of the drugs studied gave estimated limits of detection (LoDs) at or below 5ng/mL, with some LoDs reaching down to 0.05ng/mL. Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) was included to provide additional product-ion scan data to substantiate the presence of detected analytes. The resulting product-ion spectra can be searched against an in-house MS/MS library for identity verification. The applicability of the method has been demonstrated by the detection of drugs in doping control samples.

Characterization of equine urinary metabolites of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) S1, S4 and S22 for doping control purposes.

Selective androgen receptor modulators, SARMs, constitute a class of compounds with anabolic properties but with few androgenic side-effects. This makes them possible substances of abuse and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned the entire class of substances. There have been several cases of illicit use of aryl propionamide SARMs in human sports and in 2013, 13 cases were reported. These substances have been found to be extensively metabolized in humans, making detection of metabolites necessary for doping control. SARMs are also of great interest to equine doping control, but the in vivo metabolite pattern and thus possible analytical targets have not been previously studied in this species. In this study, the urinary metabolites of the SARMs S1, S4, and S22 in horses were studied after intravenous injection, using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QToF-MS). Eight different metabolites were found for SARM S1, nine for SARM S4, and seven for SARM S22. The equine urinary metabolite profiles differed significantly from those of humans. The parent compounds were only detected for SARMs S4 and S22 and only at the first sampling time point at 3 h post administration, making them unsuitable as target compounds. For all three SARMs tested, the metabolite yielding the highest response had undergone amide hydrolysis, hydroxylation and sulfonation. The resulting phase II metabolites (4-nitro-3-trifluoro-methyl-phenylamine sulfate for SARMs S1 and S4 and 4-cyano-3-trifluoro-methyl-phenylamine sulfate for SARM S22) are proposed as analytical targets for use in equine doping control.

Simultaneous and confirmative detection of multi-residues of ß2-agonists and ß-blockers in urine using LC-MS/MS/MS coupled with ß-receptor molecular imprinted polymer SPE clean-up.

A liquid chromatography-linear ion-trap spectrometry (LC-MS³) method using ß-receptor molecular-imprinted polymer (MIP) solid-phase extraction (SPE) as clean-up was developed to determine simultaneously and confirmatively residues of 25 ß2-agonists and 21 ß-blockers in urine samples. Urine samples were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by ß-glucoronidase/arylsulphatase, and then extracted with perchloric acid. Sample clean-up was performed using ß-receptor MIP SPE. A Supelco Ascentis® express Rp-Amide column was used to separate the analytes, and MS³ detection used an electrospray ionisation source in positive-ion mode. Recovery studies were carried out using blank urine samples fortified with the 46 analytes at the levels of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 µg l⁻¹. Recoveries were obtained ranging from 60.1% to 109.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 7) from 0.5% to 19.4%. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) of the 46 analytes in urine were 0.02-0.18 and 0.05-0.60 µg l⁻¹, respectively. As a result of the selective clean-up by MIP SPE and MS³ detection of the target drugs, the sensitivity and accuracy of the present method was high enough for monitoring ß2-agonist and ß-blocker residues in urine samples. Satisfactory results were obtained in the process of the determination of positive urine samples.

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry based identification of steroid esters in serum and plasma: an efficient strategy to detect natural steroids abuse in breeding and racing animals.

During last decades, the use of natural steroids in racing and food producing animals for doping purposes has been flourishing. The endogenous or exogenous origin of these naturally occurring steroids has since remained a challenge for the different anti-doping laboratories. The administration of these substances to animals is usually made through an intra-muscular pathway with the steroid under its ester form for a higher bioavailability and a longer lasting effect. Detecting these steroid esters would provide an unequivocal proof of an exogenous administration of the considered naturally occurring steroids. A quick analytical method able to detect at trace level (below 50 pg/mL) a large panel of more than 20 steroid esters in serum and plasma potentially used for doping purposes in bovine and equine has been developed. Following a pre-treatment step, the sample is submitted to a solid phase extraction (SPE) before analysis with UPLC-MS/MS. The analytical method's efficiency has been probed through three different in vivo experiments involving testosterone propionate intra-muscular administration to three heifers, 17-estradiol benzoate intra-muscular administration to a bull and a heifer and nandrolone laurate intra-muscular administration to a stallion. The results enabled detecting the injected testosterone propionate and 17-estradiol benzoate 2 and 17 days, respectively, post-administration in bovine and nandrolone laurate up to 14 days post-administration in equine. The corresponding elimination profiles in bovine serum and equine plasma have been established. The first bovine experiment exhibited a maximal testosterone propionate concentration of 400 pg/mL in one of the three heifer serum within 5h post-administration. The second bovine experiment reported a maximal 17-estradiol benzoate concentration of 480 pg/mL in the same matrix recorded 9 days after its administration. The last equine experiment resulted in a maximal nandrolone laurate concentration of 440 pg/mL in horse plasma 24h after administration.

Determination of fluoroquinolones in blood by matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction and CE.

A simple and rapid method for the determination of residues of four fluoroquinolones in blood samples was developed. The method was based on matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction followed by CE with ultraviolet detection. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate aqueous solution was used as the background electrolyte for the separation of fluoroquinolones. The average recoveries of the four fluoroquinolones at two spiked levels ranged from 54.0 to 86.4% for pig blood, and 45.4 to 79.9% for deer blood, with the relative standard deviations <9.45%. Detection limits for the four fluoroquinolones in blood sample ranged from 0.15 to 0.31 µg/mL.

Screening of drugs in equine plasma using automated on-line solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method was developed for the simultaneous screening of 19 drugs of different classes in equine plasma using automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Plasma samples were first protein precipitated using acetonitrile. After centrifugation, the supernatant was directly injected into the on-line SPE system and analysed by a triple quadrupole LC-MS-MS in positive electrospray ionisation (+ESI) mode with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) scan function. On-line extraction and chromatographic separation of the targeted drugs were performed using respectively a polymeric extraction column (2 cm L x 2.1mm ID, 25 microm particle size) and a reversed-phase C18 LC column (3 cm L x 2.1mm ID, 3 microm particle size) with gradient elution to provide fast analysis time. The overall instrument turnaround time was 9.5 min, inclusive of post-run and equilibration time. Plasma samples fortified with 19 targeted drugs including narcotic analgesics, local anaesthetics, antipsychotics, bronchodilators, mucolytics, corticosteroids, sedative and tranquillisers at sub-parts per billion (ppb) to low parts per trillion (ppt) levels could be consistently detected. No significant matrix interference was observed at the expected retention times of the targeted ion transitions. Over 70% of the drugs studied gave detection limits at or below 100 pg/mL, with some detection limits reaching down to 19 pg/mL. The method had been validated for extraction recovery, precision and sensitivity, and a blockage study had also been carried out. This method is used regularly in the authors' laboratory to screen for the presence of targeted drugs in pre-race plasma samples from racehorses.

Simple and sensitive monitoring of sulfonamide veterinary residues in milk by stir bar sorptive extraction based on monolithic material and high performance liquid chromatography analysis.

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the quantitative monitoring of five sulfonamide antibacterial residues (SAs) in milk was developed by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) coupling to high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The analytes were concentrated by SBSE based on poly (vinylimidazole-divinylbenzene) monolithic material as coating. The extraction procedure was very simple, milk was diluted with water then directly sorptive extraction without elimination of fats and protein in samples was required. To achieve optimum extraction performance for SAs, several parameters, including extraction and desorption time, desorption solvent, ionic strength and pH value of sample matrix were investigated. Under the optimized experimental conditions, low detection limits (S/N=3) quantification limits (S/N=10) of the proposed method for the target compounds were achieved within the range of 1.30-7.90 ng/mL and 4.29-26.3 ng/mL from spiked milk, respectively. Good linearities were obtained for SAs with the correlation coefficients (R(2)) above 0.996. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of SAs compounds in different milk samples and satisfied recoveries of spiked target compounds in real samples were obtained.

Isolation and characterization of a hepcidin peptide from the head kidney of large yellow croaker, Pseudosciaena crocea.

Large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) is one of the most important marine cultured fish in China. Acidic extracts of five tissues of large yellow croaker showed strong anti-Vibrio alginolyticus activity. Acidic extract of head kidney tissue was subjected to heat-treatment in boiling water, and solid-phase extraction on Sep-Pak C(18) cartridge. It was found that the antibacterial substances were heat stable, and 20% acetonitrile effluent exhibited strong antibacterial activity. Active extract was further applied to Sephadex G-25 gel permeation chromatography and StableBond C(18) RP-HPLC. An antibacterial peptide with a single peak was obtained. The results of amino acid sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS suggested that the peptide was RCRFCCRCCPRMRGCGICCRF with an observed molecular mass of 2523.2 Da. BLAST searching suggested that the purified antibacterial peptide was the mature peptide section of the hepcidin preproprotein presumed from cDNA of large yellow croaker, thus designated hepcidin-Pl. Hepcidin-P1 exhibited strong antibacterial activity against four marine vibrios.

Evaluation of the diffusion of corticosteroids between the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinically effective concentrations of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone can be achieved in the navicular bursa after injection of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) or triamcinolone acetonide (TA) into the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) and whether clinically effective concentrations of these drugs can be achieved in the DIPJ after injecting the navicular bursa with the same doses of MPA or TA. ANIMALS: 32 healthy horses. PROCEDURES: Horses in groups 1 through 4 received 40 mg of MPA in the DIPJ, 10 mg of TA in the DIPJ, 40 mg of MPA in the navicular bursa, and 10 mg of TA in the navicular bursa, respectively. Concentrations of corticosteroids that diffused into the adjacent synovial structure were determined. RESULTS: For group 1, injection of MPA into the DIPJ yielded a mean +/- SD concentration of 0.24 +/- 0.072 microg of methylprednisolone/mL in the navicular bursa. For group 2, injection of TA into the DIPJ yielded 0.124 +/- 0.075 microg of triamcinolone/mL in the navicular bursa. For group 3, injection of MPA into the navicular bursa yielded 0.05 +/- 0.012 microg of methylprednisolone/mL in the DIPJ. For group 4, injection of TA into the navicular bursa yielded 0.091 +/- 0.026 microg of triamcinolone/mL in the DIPJ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A clinically effective concentration of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone diffused between the DIPJ and navicular bursa after intra-articular or intrabursal injection, which would justify injection of the DIPJ with MPA or TA to ameliorate inflammation of the navicular bursa.