Simultaneous determination of different classes of antibiotics in fish and livestock by CE-MS

Core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer sensor for enrofloxacin determination in various matrices: a novel, sustainable One Health analytical strategy

Antibiotics are essential in treating infectious diseases in both humans and animals, and they are also utilized to enhance animal growth. However, their widespread use has led to significant environmental concerns. After administration of antibiotics, a substantial portion of them is excreted by animals, contaminating various environmental compartments. This problem is examined from the One Health perspective which seeks to balance human, animal, and environmental health for the benefit of global well-being. Enrofloxacin (ENR) is a commonly used antibiotic in veterinary medicine. Despite its efficacy in animal health, ENR is not approved for human use due to its associated toxicities. To address ENR detection, a sensor built upon a core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was created for the determination and testing of ENR in different matrices. Offering a miniaturized and reproducible tool for determining antibiotic residues in biological and environmental samples helps in revolutionizing the way we monitor and control antibiotic usage and contamination in various settings. The fabricated sensor demonstrated an optimum response time and functioned effectively across the pH range of 2.0 to 5.0. The potential profile displayed a linear correlation within a varying concentration spectrum of 1.0 × 10-5 M to 1.0 × 10-2 M characterized by a slope of 57.21 mV per decade. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of the environmental sustainability of the developed method was carried out using the Analytical Greenness calculator, AGREE algorithm. Lastly, an examination of the method's level of environmental friendliness was pursued using the newly developed RGB12 model to evaluate its "whiteness" level.

Multiantibiotic residues in commercial fish from Argentina. The presence of mixtures of antibiotics in edible fish, a challenge to health risk assessment

The occurrence of 46 antibiotics (amphenicols, cephalosporins, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, fluroquinolones, macrolides, nitrofurans, penicillins, quinolones, sulfamides and tetracyclines) in Argentinean market fish were investigated by UPLC-MS/MS. Veterinary and human antimicrobials enrofloxacin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, doxycycline and oxytetracycline were detected in 100% of the samples, being to our knowledge the first report of clarithromycin in edible fish muscle. Maximum Residual Limits were exceeded for at least one antibiotic in 82% of pacú, 57% of shad, 57% of trout and 50% of salmon samples. Chloramphenicol, furazolidone and nitrofurantoin (banned compounds in food items) were detected in 41%, 22% and 4% of the samples, respectively. Based on the estimated daily intake calculation, samples do not pose a serious risk to public health. Further investigation on the chronic impact and risk calculation of the mixture of antibiotics on the aquatic environment and human health is urgently needed.

Interaction Mechanism between Antibiotics and Humic Acid by UV-Vis Spectrometry

In this study, the interaction between the humus and two antibiotics was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy to describe the interaction mechanism and the effects of different environmental factors on the mechanism. Results showed that humic acid (HA) containing more aromatic groups was easily associated with antibiotics. In the HA-OTC, with the increase of the concentration of OTC, there were obvious absorption peaks in the 230–260 nm and 330–360 nm range, and the absorption band of the HA ultraviolet spectrum underwent a slight blue shift and the absorption intensity increased, demonstrating that a new ground state complex was generated. In the HA-SD, with the increase of SD concentration, an aromatic structure absorption peak appeared in the 190–220 nm range, and the peak value increased and the absorption band underwent a red shift, and the aromatization of HA decreased, which enhanced the interaction between the antibiotics and HA. With the increase of pH, the absorption band of HA, HA-OTC and HA-SD ultraviolet spectrum suffered a blue shift, the degree of polymerization of HA molecules decreased, and the number of adsorption binding sites increased, which resulted in the interaction of HA with antibiotics being enhanced. The absorption band of HA, HA-OTC and HA-SD displayed a red shift with the increase of ionic strength, which indicated that the repulsion within HA particles was weakened, and the molecular polymerization was strengthened and therefore, the interaction between antibiotics and HA was inhibited. The UV characteristics of the HA, HA-OTC and HA-SD systems were insensitive to the temperature. This study lays the foundation for better studying the effect of humus on the distribution of antibiotic residues in the environment.

Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals in the marine environment including fish farms in Korea

The occurrence trends and effects of 30 human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and β-blockers, in the marine environment, with a focus on seawater, sediment, cultured fish, and their feed collected from coastal and fish farm areas in the southern sea of Korea, were investigated. The concentrations of total pharmaceuticals in coastal area seawater (mean: 533ng/L) were higher than those in fish farm seawater (mean: 300ng/L), while the opposite trend (coastal area: 136ng/gdrywt<fish farm area; 195ng/gdrywt) was observed for sediment samples. Regarding cultured fish, the concentration of total pharmaceuticals in fish muscle (mean: 5.08ng/gwetwt) was lower than that in organs (mean: 14.1ng/gwetwt). However, not all compounds were present at higher concentrations in organs. Characteristic distribution patterns of pharmaceuticals were observed according to sample types and sampling sites based on the predominance of various antibiotics in fish farms (including cultured fish and feed) and the predominance of pharmaceuticals of terrestrial origin (human and livestock) in coastal areas. Pharmaceuticals used as fish drugs, such as sulfadiazine, erythromycin, and trimethoprim, were commonly detected in fish farm media (seawater, sediment, and cultured fish), which might contaminate fish farm media.

Determination of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol and florfenicol amine in poultry, swine, bovine and fish by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for confirmatory and quantitative purposes using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated for determination of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol and its metabolite, florfenicol amine, in poultry, swine, bovine and fish muscle. Sample preparation was based on extraction with organic solvent (ethyl acetate: ammonium hydroxide, 98:2) followed by evaporation and fat removal using hexane. The chromatographic separation was carried out with an XTerra C18 column with a gradient elution using water and acetonitrile both with 2mM of ammonium acetate. Mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization was operated in positive or negative polarity using selected-reaction monitoring (SRM) analysis mode, achieving the requirements of four identification points for each compound. Chloramphenicol-D5 was added as internal standard. Method validation was performed according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Parameters as precision, reproducibility, trueness, CCα and CCβ were determined. Trueness values were within the range 82-108% and 84-111% for bovine and fish, respectively. Precision ranged from 1.1% to 10.1% and within-laboratory reproducibility ranged from 4.3 to 18.1%, depending on matrix. The CCα and CCβ for bovine muscle, for instance, were established as 0.06 and 0.11μgkg(-1), respectively. The method was successfully applied for several interlaboratory proficiency testing programs, achieving 100% of satisfactory results.

Graphene oxide-based selection and identification of ofloxacin-specific single-stranded DNA aptamers

ssDNA aptamers specific to ofloxacin with high affinity were screened using graphene oxide-SELEX.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: an emerging class of environmental micropollutants

The aim of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of different chemical and environmental aspects concerning fluoroquinolone antibiotics as emerging contaminants. A literature survey has been performed based on 204 papers from 1998 to mid-2013, resulting in a dataset consisting out of 4100 data points related to physical-chemical properties, environmental occurrence, removal efficiencies, and ecotoxicological data. In a first part, an overview is given on relevant physical-chemical parameters to better understand the behavior of fluoroquinolones during wastewater treatment and in the environment. Secondly, the route of these antibiotics after their application in both human and veterinary surroundings is discussed. Thirdly, the occurrence of fluoroquinolone residues is discussed for different environmental matrices. The final part of this review provides a tentative risk assessment of fluoroquinolone compounds and their transformation products in surface waters by means of hazard quotients. Overall, this review shows that fluoroquinolone antibiotics have a wide spread use and that their behavior during wastewater treatment is complex with an incomplete removal. As a result, it is observed that these biorecalcitrant compounds are present in different environmental matrices at potentially hazardous concentrations for the aquatic environment. The latter calls for actions on both the consumption as well as the wastewater treatment aspect to diminish the discharge of these biological active compounds.

Occurrence, distribution and bioaccumulation of antibiotics in the Liao River Basin in China

The occurrence and distribution of 19 antibiotics including ten sulfonamides, four quinolones, three tetracyclines and two macrolides in water, sediment, and biota samples from the Liao River Basin, China were investigated in the present study. The samples were collected in May 2012, and laboratory analyses revealed that antibiotics were widely distributed in the Liao River Basin. Macrolides made up the majority of antibiotics in the water ranging from not detected (ND) to 3162.22 ng L(-1), while tetracyclines and macrolides were the predominant antibiotics in the sediments, ranging from ND to 404.82 μg kg(-1) (mean 32.11 μg kg(-1) dw) and ND to 375.13 (mean 32.77 μg kg(-1) dw), with detection frequencies of 37.3% and 38.1%, respectively. In biological samples, quinolones were the most frequently detected antibiotics (57.1-100%), with concentrations ranging from 286.6-1655.3 μg kg(-1). The highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of 45407 L kg(-1) was found for enrofloxacin. The phase distribution calculation showed that tetracyclines were the most strongly adsorbed antibiotics in the sediment, with the highest pseudo-partitioning coefficient values, ranging from 1299 to 1499 L kg(-1). The geographical differences of antibiotic concentrations were largely due to anthropogenic activities and the sewage discharges from the local cities along the rivers.

Development of an improved method for trace analysis of quinolones in eggs of laying hens and wildlife species using molecularly imprinted polymers

A sensitive, selective, and efficient method was developed for simultaneous determination of 11 fluoroquinolones (FQs), ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine, marbofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid, and sarafloxacin, in eggs by molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and column liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Samples were diluted with 50 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate at pH 7.4, followed by purification with a commercial MIP (SupelMIP SPE-Fluoroquinolones). Recoveries for the 11 quinolones were in the range of 90-106% with intra- and interday relative standard deviation ranging from 1 to 6% and from 3 to 8%, respectively. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.12-0.85 ng/g, and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.36 and 2.59 ng/g, whereas the decision limit (CC(α)) and detection capability (CC(β)) ranged from 0.46 to 3.35 ng/g and from 0.59 to 4.12 ng/g, respectively. The calculated relevant validation parameters are in an acceptable range and in compliance with the requirements of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Moreover, a comparison to two other sample treatments [solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solvent extraction] has been carried out. The method was applied to lying hens, Japanese quail, and black-headed gull eggs, in which FQs were not found. The method was also applied to study the depletion of sarafloxacin in eggs.

Multiresidue determination of veterinary drugs in aquaculture fish samples by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, selective and fast multiresidue method was developed for the determination of 32 veterinary drug residues belonging to several families, in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The extraction was based on modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) procedure, using as extraction solution a mixture of acetonitrile and methanol (75:25, v/v), and it reduces sample handling, increasing sample throughput in relation to current methodologies. The developed method was validated and mean recovery ranged from 69% to 125% (at 10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/kg). Intra and interday precision, estimated as the same levels and expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD, were lower than 20% and 30%, respectively. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were lower than 7.5 and 25 μg/kg, respectively, except for danofloxacin, oxytetracycline and tetracycline (LOD and LOQ of 15.0 and 50 μg/kg, respectively). Decision limit (CC(α)) and detection capability (CC(β)) were also calculated and ranged from 16.7 μg/kg (levamisole) to 605.0 (flumequine) μg/kg and from 23.5 μg/kg (levamisole) to 611.5 μg/kg (flumequine), respectively. The expanded uncertainty, U, was also evaluated ant it was below 25% at 100 μg/kg level, except for tetracycline (28%). Finally, the method was applied to ten samples obtained from local supermarkets in Almería (Spain) and traces of some compounds were detected.

Investigation of antibiotics in mollusks from coastal waters in the Bohai Sea of China

This study focused on the presence and distribution of 22 antibiotics, including eight quinolones, nine sulfonamides and five macrolides in mollusks from the Bohai Sea of China. 190 samples of eleven species were collected in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Laboratory analyses revealed that antibiotics were widely distributed in the mollusks with quinolones as the major compounds with concentrations of 0.71~1575.10 μg/kg, which were up to two orders of magnitude higher than those of sulfonamides (0~76.75 μg/kg) and macrolides (0~36.21 μg/kg). The contents of quinolones and macrolides did not show significant changes from 2006, 2007 to 2009, while sulfonamides decreased significantly from 2006 to 2009. Compared with other sites, the city of Dalian was more polluted with quinolones, while Beidaihe was more contaminated with erythromycin and sulfapyridine. In addition, Mactra veneriformis and Meretrix merehjgntrix Linnaeus contained higher concentrations of quinolones and sulfamonomethoxine, while Mytilus edulis had higher levels of erythromycin and sulfapyridine.

Characterization of protein hydrolysates of cosmetic use by CE-MS

Protein hydrolysates have been used as active principles in cosmetic products conferring different properties to the final formulations, which are mostly controlled by the peptide size and its amino acid sequence. In this work, capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry analyses were carried out in order to investigate such characteristics of protein hydrolysates. Samples of different origins (milk, soy and rice) were obtained from a local company, and were analyzed without a previous preparation step. The background electrolyte (BGE) and sheath liquid compositions were optimized for each sample. The best BGE composition (860 mmol/L formic acid--pH 1.8--in 70:30 v/v water/methanol hydro-organic solvent) was chosen based on the overall peak resolution whereas the best sheath liquid was selected based on increased sensitivity and presented different compositions to each sample (10.9-217 mmol/L formic acid in 75:25-25:75 v/v water/methanol hydro-organic solvent). Most of the putative peptides in the hydrolysate samples under investigation presented molecular masses of 1000 Da or less. De novo sequencing was carried out for some of the analytes, revealing the hydrophobicity/polarity of the peptides. Hence, the technique has proved to be an advantageous tool for the quality control of industrial protein hydrolysates.

Recent advances in the application of capillary electromigration methods for food analysis and Foodomics

The use of capillary electromigration methods to analyze foods and food components is reviewed in this work. Papers that were published during the period April 2007 to March 2009 are included following the previous review by García-Cañas and Cifuentes (Electrophoresis, 2008, 29, 294-309). These works include the analysis of amino acids, biogenic amines, peptides, proteins, DNAs, carbohydrates, phenols, polyphenols, pigments, toxins, pesticides, vitamins, additives, small organic and inorganic ions and other compounds found in foods and beverages, as well as those applications of CE for monitoring food interactions and food processing. The use of microchips, CE-MS, chiral-CE as well as other foreseen trends in food analysis are also discussed including their possibilities in the very new field of Foodomics.

The application of CE-MS in the trace analysis of environmental pollutants and food contaminants

In this review, selected applications of CE-MS in recent years have been highlighted for the separation, detection and determination of environmental pollutants and food contaminants in selected samples. Trace analysis by CE-MS of analytes such as low molecular mass amines, nitroaromatics, alkylphosphonic acids, azo dyes, antidepressants, and antibiotic drugs, among others, in air, sediment and water samples have been reviewed. The CE-MS analysis of pesticides such as triazolopyrimidine sulphoanilides, different types of antibiotics (sulphonamides, beta-lactones, quinolones and tetracyclines) and other exogenous compounds such as acrylamide and toxic oligopeptides in food samples has also been reviewed. The review gives details on the fragmentations, where available, that the ionic species exhibit in-source and in ion trap, triple quadrupole and ToF MS analysers. A critical evaluation is also given of these recent CE-MS analytical methods for the separation, detection and determination of trace levels of such pollutants and contaminants with analytical information on the treatment of the samples, CE separation conditions, linearity ranges, LODs and recoveries from the different matrices presented.

Recent food safety and food quality applications of CE-MS

The first on-line coupling of CE with MS detection more than 20 years ago provided a very powerful technique with a wide variety of applications, among which food analysis is of special interest, especially that dealing with food safety and food quality applications, the major topics of public interest nowadays. With this review article, we would like to show the most recent applications of CE-MS in both fields by recompiling and commenting articles published between January 2004 and October 2008. Although both applications are difficult to separate from each other, we have included in this work two main sections dealing with each specific field. Future trends will also be discussed.

Cellular and humoral immunodepression in vultures feeding upon medicated livestock carrion

Veterinary pharmaceuticals contained in dead livestock may be ingested by avian scavengers and negatively affect their health and consequently their population dynamics and conservation. We evaluated the potential role of antibiotics as immunodepressors using multiple parameters measuring the condition of the cellular and humoral immune system in griffon (Gyps fulvus), cinereous (Aegypius monachus) and Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus). We confirmed the presence of circulating antimicrobial residues, especially quinolones, in nestlings of the three vulture species breeding in central Spain. Individuals ingesting antibiotics showed clearly depressed cellular and humoral immune systems compared with nestlings from the control areas, which did not ingest antibiotics. Within central Spain, we found that individuals with circulating antibiotics showed depressed cellular (especially CD4(+)and CD8(+)T-lymphocyte subsets) and humoral (especially acellular APV complement and IL8-like) immune systems compared with nestlings without circulating antibiotics. This suggests that ingestion of antibiotics together with food may depress the immune system of developing nestlings, temporarily reducing their resistance to opportunistic pathogens, which require experimental confirmation. Medicated livestock carrion should be considered inadequate food for vultures due to their detrimental consequences on health derived from the ingestion and potential effects of the veterinary drugs contained in them and for this reason rejected as a management tool in conservation programmes.