Detection of unwanted residues of ivermectin in bovine milk by dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay.

Avermectins are frequently used to control parasitic infestations in many animal species. Previous studies have shown the long-term persistence of unwanted residues of these drugs in animal tissues and fluids. An immunoassay screening test for the detection and quantification of ivermectin residues in bovine milk has been developed. After an extensive extraction procedure, milk samples were applied to a competitive dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay using a monoclonal antibody against an ivermectin-transferrin conjugate. The monoclonal antibody, raised in Balb C mice, showed cross-reactivity with eprinomectin (92%), abamectin (82%) and doramectin (16%). The limit of detection of the assay (mean + 3 SD), calculated from the analysis of 17 known negative samples, was calculated as 4.6 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-assay RSDs were determined as 11.6% and 15.8%, respectively, using a negative bovine milk sample fortified with 25 ng/mL ivermectin. Six Friesian milking cows were treated with ivermectin, three with a pour-on formulation of the drug and three with an injectable solution at the manufacturer's recommended dose rate. An initial mean peak in ivermectin residue concentration was detected at day 4 (mean level = 47.5 ng/mL) and day 5 post-treatment (mean level = 26.4 ng/mL) with the injectable form and pour-on treatment, respectively. A second peak in residue concentration was observed using the DELFIA procedure 28 days post-treatment in both treatment groups (23.1 ng/mL injectable and 51.9 ng/mL pour-on). These second peaks were not confirmed by HPLC and must at this time be considered to be false-positive results. By day 35 after treatment the mean ivermectin residue concentration of both groups fell below the limit of detection of the assay.

Simultaneous determination of thiabendazole and its major metabolite, 5-hydroxythiabendazole, in bovine tissues using gradient liquid chromatography with thermospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry.

A novel method is presented for the determination of thiabendazole and 5-hydroxythiabendazole in animal tissues. Samples are homogenised in buffer at pH=7.0, extracted with ethyl acetate and cleaned up using CN solid-phase extraction columns. Thiabendazole and 5-hydroxythiabendazole are separated chromatographically using gradient elution and analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Deuterated thiabendazole is employed as an internal standard for thiabendazole determination; 5-hydroxythiabendazole is quantified via external standards. Samples are screened by monitoring the protonated molecular ions at m/z=202 for thiabendazole, 206 for deuterated thiabendazole and 218 for 5-hydroxythiabendazole using thermospray LC-MS. Positives are confirmed by multiple ion monitoring using APCI LC-MS. Validation of the method was carried out at 50, 100 and 200 microg kg(-1). Recoveries for thiabendazole in bovine muscle, liver and kidney ranged from 96-103% with C.V.s between 0.7 and 4.8% and for 5-hydroxythiabendazole recoveries ranged from 70-85% with C.V.s between 3.1 and 11.5%.