Pharmacokinetics, Activity, and Residue Elimination of R- and S-Diclazuril in Broiler Chickens

Diclazuril (DIC) is widely used as a racemic mixture to prevent and treat coccidiosis in farm animals, while the pharmacokinetics, bioactivity, and toxicity of DIC enantiomers are not known at all. This study first established a simple, sensitive, and reliable liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for separation of R-DIC and S-DIC and their analyses. Then, it was applied to investigate the stereoselective pharmacokinetics and residual elimination of individual enantiomers, and their anticoccidial activity was also evaluated in broiler chickens. The results indicated that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and elimination half-life (t_1/2β) were significantly different (p < 0.05) for two enantiomers in chicken plasma. The AUC and t_1/2β of S-DIC were approximately 2 and 1.4 times those of R-DIC, respectively. The residual elimination of DIC enantiomers in chicken tissues was also stereoselective. The concentrations of S-DIC in chicken muscle and liver were greater than those of R-DIC, and it is the opposite in the kidney. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the anticoccidial activity of racemate and enantiomers when a single enantiomer in feed was added above 0.5 mg kg^-1. However, the anticoccidial activity of R-DIC (0.25 mg kg^-1) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of S-DIC (0.25 mg kg^-1) in the diet. It should be mentioned that in chicken small intestine and cecum, the enantiomerization rate of each enantiomer in the infection group was faster than that in the uninfected group.

Multiresidue Determination of 27 Sulfonamides in Poultry Feathers and Its Application to a Sulfamethazine Pharmacokinetics Study on Laying Hen Feathers and Sulfonamide Residue Monitoring on Poultry Feathers

A method for the simultaneous determination of 27 sulfonamides in poultry feathers using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established in this study. The samples were extracted using 0.1 mol/L HCl solutions in a 60 °C water bath for 2 h, purified using hydrophilic-lipophilic balance solid-phase extraction, nitrogen-dried, and then reconstituted for UPLC-MS/MS analysis, which was performed with a CSH-C18 column. Linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, and precision were calculated in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. For linearity, all standard curves showed a standard coefficient greater than 0.99, and the recoveries and coefficient of variation were 89-115% and <20%, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.2-5 and 0.5-20 ng/g, respectively. The method was successfully applied to sulfamethazine (SMZ) residue accumulation monitoring in laying hen feathers and sulfonamide residue monitoring on poultry feathers. SMZ residue accumulation in the laying hen feathers was studied after administration with 100 mg/kg of SMZ for 21 consecutive days. SMZ residues were still detected in feathers 14 days after drug administration and persisted for up to 85 days. Results from 42 poultry feather samples showed that the feather is a suitable medium to monitor the illegal use of sulfonamides in poultry production.

Residue Distribution and Depletion of Ractopamine in Goat Tissues After Exposure to Growth-Promoting Dose

The objectives of the present study was to investigated the ractopamine (RAC) distribution and depletion process in various tissues of goat including liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart, fat, bile, brain and the eyes. The experiment was carried out on 21 goats (18 treated and 3 controls). Treated goats were orally administered RAC in a dose of 1 mg/kg body mass per day for last 28 days and randomly sacrificed on withdrawal days of 0.25, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21. RAC in all matrices were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry. After 21 days treatment discontinuation, the levels of RAC in bile reached at 13.48 ± 3.36 mg/L, which was significantly higher than that in the other tissues. The concentrations of RAC were followed by kidney, the excretory organ and liver, the major metabolic organ (4.49 ± 0.16 mg/kg for kidney and 1.81 ± 0.11 mg/kg for liver, respectively). The residual concentration of the drug in the eyes of goat was less than that in bile, kidney, liver, lung and spleen on withdrawal days 0.25. RAC residues was higher than the limits of detection = 0.15 μg/mL in liver on Day 21. These findings demonstrated that liver can serve as an alimentary matrix and as a matrix for the control of RAC abuse hypothetically except for urine.

Bioaccessibility of Drug Residues on Common Police Station Work Surfaces

The fraction of any surface-adsorbed contaminant available for absorption is considered the bioaccessible fraction. Applied previously to contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals on surfaces such as soil, food and cosmetics, the term may also be used to describe the fraction of drug residue bound to work surfaces which may be mobilized via contact transfer with human skin. Police station work surfaces have been shown to commonly contain low levels of drug residues as thin films; however, no information is available on how readily these residues may be transferred to human skin during direct or glancing contact. A bioaccessibility study was undertaken in which jojoba oil and artificial sebum were used to mimic human sebum to identify how readily a mix of six licit and illicit drugs were transferred from three commonly used police station work surfaces. Transfer from surfaces was slightly greater for jojoba oil than sebum when using a direct pressure contact or a wiping motion. Generally, less than 5% of applied residues were recovered via direct contact, and up to 10% when a wiping motion was used to simulate a glancing contact. While swabbing of work surfaces with methanol provides a suitable environmental audit of drug residues present, it does not represent the bioaccessible fraction of residues available for contact transfer, and hence, absorption via skin or unintentional ingestion. The current study indicates that the ability of sebum to mobilize drug residues from thin films on work surfaces via casual contact is limited, and sebum may potentially assist in the preservation of residues on pitted work surfaces and on skin.

Determination of the total tulathromycin residues in bovine muscle, fat, and liver by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A reliable and accurate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method was developed to quantify total tulathromycin residues in bovine tissues. Specifically, the above method relied on the quantification of CP-60,300, a marker produced by tulathromycin hydrolysis, for which maximum residue limits (MRLs) were established by the European Union and several other countries. Sample preparation and LC-MS/MS conditions were thoroughly optimized to allow for accurate quantification. The optimized procedure involved sample homogenization with 2 mol/L hydrochloric acid and ethyl acetate, heating of the resulting aqueous layer to convert tulathromycin and its metabolites into the marker residue, cleanup by a polymer-based cation-exchange cartridge, and subsequent analysis by LC-MS/MS. The developed method was validated for tulathromycin A and the marker residue in bovine muscle, fat, and liver at two levels, namely at the MRL set in Japan and at 0.01 mg/kg. Excellent analytical performance was observed, with the average recoveries of tulathromycin A and the marker residue ranging from 98 to 107%, and relative standard deviations ranging from 1 to 3%. Matrix effects were negligible, and analyte loss during sample preparation was minimal for all matrices tested, which allowed for accurate determination by external standard calibration using a solvent standard. No interfering peaks were observed close to the retention time of the marker residue for all matrices, which was indicative of high specificity. Overall, the developed method was proven suitable for regulatory purpose analysis of total tulathromycin residues.

Assessment of Three Antimicrobial Residue Concentrations in Broiler Chicken Droppings as a Potential Risk Factor for Public Health and Environment

Tetracyclines, sulfonamides and amphenicols are broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs that are widely used in poultry farming. However, a high proportion of these drugs can be excreted at high concentrations in droppings, even after the end of a therapy course. This work intended to assess and compare concentrations of florfenicol (FF), florfenicol amine (FFa), chlortetracycline (CTC), 4-epi-chlortetracycline (4-epi-CTC), and sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) in broiler chicken droppings. To this end, 70 chickens were housed under controlled environmental conditions, and assigned to experimental groups that were treated with therapeutic doses of either 10% FF, 20% CTC, or 10% SCP. Consequently, we implemented and designed an in-house validation for three analytical methodologies, which allowed us to quantify the concentrations of these three antimicrobial drugs using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Our results showed that FF and FFa concentrations were detected in chicken droppings up to day 10 after ceasing treatment, while CTC and 4-epi-CTC were detected up to day 25. As for SCP residues, these were detected up to day 21. Noticeably, CTC showed the longest excretion period, as well as the highest concentrations detected after the end of its administration using therapeutic doses.

Determination of four main components of gentamicin in animal tissues after solid-phase extraction by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

An analytical method for gentamicin in animal tissues was developed and validated. An alkaline mobile phase with an HPH C₈ column was selected so that all the four gentamicin components were retained and eluted without using fluorinated ion-pairing reagents.

METHODS

The method is sufficiently sensitive and highly selective, using a strong cation-exchange solid-phase extraction cartridge (PCX) to clean up the samples. Different types of solid-phase extraction columns and membranes were considered to obtain a high recovery. The method was validated on spiking samples, recovery, inter- and intra-assay variation, to ensure its accuracy and precision.

RESULTS

The LOQ (S/N ≥ 10) for gentamicin in goat meat, liver, kidney and adipose tissue was 25, 50, 30 and 30 ng/g, respectively; the LOD (S/N ≥ 3) was 5, 10, 10 and 10 ng/g, respectively. The recoveries were between 88% and 106%. The method in all animal tissues was calibrated from 10 to 1000 μg/L in the matrix-assisted standard solution.

CONCLUSIONS

The novelty of this method is that the commonly used fluorinated ion-pairing reagent was not used in the mobile phase in our analysis, greatly reducing the contamination of the ESI source in negative mode. Moreover, the four gentamicin components were clearly separated via chromatographic separation.

The tissue residues of sodium dehydroacetate used as feed preservative in swine

BACKGROUND

Sodium dehydroacetate (Na-DHA) is a food and feed additive with antimicrobial effects. There is little information on Na-DHA residue levels in foods derived from animals. In this study, Na-DHA residue levels in swine tissues were determined by HLPC, and the pharmacokinetics of Na-DHA in tissues were determined.

RESULTS

The Na-DHA residue levels in swine tissues were <1.2 mg kg^-1 at different withdrawal time after thirty-two Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs were administered 200 mg Na-DHA kg^-1 through the feed for 30 days. In decreasing order of Na-DHA residue levels, the tissues were kidney > liver > muscle > fat. The pharmacokinetics of Na-DHA followed a binomial regression model, and the half-time of Na-DHA in swine tissues was 9.07 days for kidney, 7.19 days for liver, 6.66 days for muscle, and 5.39 days for fat tissue. The accuracy of the HPLC method for Na-DHA determination ranged from 80.18% to 91.33% recovery, with coefficients of variation <6.4%, limit of detection of 0.08 mg kg^-1 , and limit of quantification of 0.2 mg kg^-1 .

CONCLUSION

Na-DHA included at 200 mg kg^-1 in a swine diet is a safe feed additive based on residue elimination and ADI values reported. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Distribution of Flunixin Residues in Muscles of Dairy Cattle Dosed with Lipopolysaccharide or Saline and Treated with Flunixin by Intravenous or Intramuscular Injection

Twenty dairy cows received flunixin meglumine at 2.2 mg/kg bw, administered once daily by either the intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) route for three consecutive days with either intravenous normal saline (NS) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) providing a balanced design with five animals per group. Cows were sacrificed after a 4 day withdrawal period, and 13 muscle types were collected and assayed for flunixin by LC-MS/MS. After elimination of sample outliers, the main effects of route of administration (IV or IM), treatment (NS or LPS), and tissue type significantly (P < 0.05) affected flunixin residues, with no interaction (P > 0.05). Intramuscular (nonlabel) flunixin administration produced greater (P < 0.05) flunixin residues in muscle than the IV (label) administration, whereas LPS resulted in lower flunixin levels. Differences among the tissue levels indicate it is necessary to specify the tissue to be used for any monitoring of drug levels for consumer protection.

Human Food Safety Implications of Variation in Food Animal Drug Metabolism

Violative drug residues in animal-derived foods are a global food safety concern. The use of a fixed main metabolite to parent drug (M/D) ratio determined in healthy animals to establish drug tolerances and withdrawal times in diseased animals results in frequent residue violations in food-producing animals. We created a general physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for representative drugs (ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, flunixin, and sulfamethazine) in cattle and swine based on extensive published literature. Simulation results showed that the M/D ratio was not a fixed value, but a time-dependent range. Disease changed M/D ratios substantially and extended withdrawal times; these effects exhibited drug- and species-specificity. These results challenge the interpretation of violative residues based on the use of the M/D ratio to establish tolerances for metabolized drugs.

Screening and Confirmatory Analyses of Flunixin in Tissues and Bodily Fluids after Intravenous or Intramuscular Administration to Cull Dairy Cows with or without Lipopolysaccharide Challenge

Twenty cull dairy cows (645 ± 83 kg) were treated with 2.2 mg/kg bw flunixin by intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) administration with, or without, exposure to lipopolysaccharide in a two factor balanced design. The usefulness of screening assays to identify violative flunixin levels in a variety of easily accessible ante-mortem fluids in cattle was explored. Two animals with violative flunixin liver residue and/or violative 5-hydroxy flunixin milk residues were correctly identified by a flunixin liver ELISA screen. Oral fluid did not produce anticipated flunixin concentration profiles using ELISA determination. One cow that had liver and milk violative residues, and one cow that had a milk violation at the prescribed withdrawal period were correctly identified by flunixin milk lateral flow analyses. The ratio of urinary flunixin and 5-hydroxy flunixin may be useful for predicting disruption of metabolism caused by disease or other factors potentially leading to violative liver flunixin residues.

Ivermectin Pharmacokinetics, Metabolism, and Tissue/Egg Residue Profiles in Laying Hens

The goals were to determine the ivermectin (IVM) plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue and egg residue profiles, and in vitro metabolism in laying hens. Experiments conducted were (1) 8 hens were intravenously treated with IVM and blood samples taken; (2) 88 hens were treated with IVM administered daily in water (5 days) (40 were kept and their daily eggs collected; 48 were sacrificed in groups (n = 8) at different times and tissue samples taken and analyzed); (3) IVM biotransformation was studied in liver microsomes. Pharmacokinetic parameters were AUC = 85.1 ng·day/mL, Vdss = 4.43 L/kg, and T1/2el = 1.73 days. Low IVM tissue residues were quantified with the highest measured in liver and skin+fat. IVM residues were not found in egg white, but significant amounts were quantified in yolk. Residues measured in eggs were greater than some MRL values, suggesting that a withdrawal period would be necessary for eggs after IVM use in laying hens.

Metabolic Disposition and Elimination of Cyadox in Pigs, Chickens, Carp, and Rats

The metabolism, distribution, and elimination of cyadox (CYA) is investigated in pigs, chickens, carp, and rats to identify the marker residue and target tissue of CYA in food animals for food safety concerns. Following a single oral gavage of [(3)H]-CYA, the total radioactivity was rapidly excreted, with more than 95% of the dose excreted within 14 days in the four species. Fecal excretion of the total radioactivity was 66.2% and 51.6%, and urinary excretion of the total radioactivity was 28.35% and 44.3% in rats and pigs, respectively. Radioactivity was observed in nearly all of the tissues in the first 6 h after 7 days of consecutive oral dosing. The highest radioactivity and longest persistence were in the livers and kidneys, where the majority of the radioactivity was cleared within 7 days. A total of 15 metabolites were identified in rats, pigs, chickens, and carp, and eight new metabolites were identified for the first time in vivo. No parent drug could be detected in the tissues of rats and pigs. The major metabolites of CYA were Cy1, Cy3, and Cy6 in pigs, Cy1, Cy5, and Cy6 in chickens, Cy1, Cy2, and Cy4 in carp, and Cy1, Cy2, Cy4, and Cy5 in rats. Cy1 was suggested to be the marker residue, and the kidneys were identified as the target tissue of CYA in pigs and chickens. These results provide comprehensive information for the food safety evaluation of CYA in food animals and will improve the understanding of the pharmacology and toxicology of CYA in animals.

Excretory, Secretory, and Tissue Residues after Label and Extra-label Administration of Flunixin Meglumine to Saline- or Lipopolysaccharide-Exposed Dairy Cows

Twenty lactating dairy cattle were intravenously infused with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (n = 10) or sterile saline (n = 10). Five cattle in each group received three doses of flunixin meglumine administered by either intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection at 24 h intervals. Milk, urine, and tissues were collected. Thirty-six hours after the last flunixin administration, milk from six cows contained 5-hydroxyflunixin (5OHF) levels greater than the milk tolerance of 2 ng/mL; by 48 h, milk from two cows, a saline and a LPS-treated animal, had violative milk concentrations of 5OHF. A single animal treated with LPS and intramuscular flunixin contained violative flunixin residues in liver. The ratio of urinary flunixin/5OHF was correlated (P < 0.01; R(2) = 0.946) with liver flunixin residues in LPS-treated animals, but not (P = 0.96; R(2) = 0.003) in cows treated with saline in lieu of LPS. Violative residues of flunixin in dairy cattle may be related to LPS inhibition of flunixin metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of erythromycin in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. after oral administration

Erythromycin (ERY) is an antibiotic effective against Streptococcus iniae, a microorganism responsible for significant losses in aquaculture. No data are available on the pharmacokinetics and residue depletion of ERY in sea bream. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ERY in this species after a single oral administration at 75 mg kg(-1) b.w. and to assess its residue depletion from tissues after prolonged treatment for 10 days. ERY was rapidly absorbed in sea bream (Cmax  = 10.04 μg g(-1) and Tmax =1 h), with a half-life of 9.35 h and an AUC0-24 of 56.81 (h μg mL(-1) ). The data obtained and the evaluation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters allowed us to hypothesize that dosage used in this study should be effective against S. iniae. A rapid reduction in erythromycin concentrations was observed in tissues, with the drug being detectable only during the first day post-treatment. In Europe, the use of ERY in aquaculture is allowed by off-label prescription with a withdrawal time of 500 °C day(-1) . The absence of ERY residues in tissues already at 24 h post-treatment suggests that ERY in sea bream should not pose human food safety issues.

Depletion of penicillin G residues in heavy sows after intramuscular injection. Part II: application of kidney inhibition swab tests

Sows (n = 126; 228 ± 30.1 kg) were administered daily IM doses of penicillin G procaine (33 000 IU/kg bw; 5× the label dose) for 3 consecutive days using three different administration patterns. Within treatment, six sows each were slaughtered on withdrawal day 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 32, and 39. Tissues (injection site, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle) or body fluids (serum and urine) were screened for penicillin G using the KIS test, recently adopted by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The IM administration patterns had no discernible effect on penicillin G depletion. Residues were depleted more rapidly from liver and skeletal muscle and more slowly from kidney and urine. Kidney was the most sensitive and suitable tissue for detecting penicillin G residues on-site, with two positive results after a 39-day withdrawal period. Urine was the most suitable ante-mortem surrogate to predict the results of kidney tests.

Depletion of penicillin G residues in heavy sows after intramuscular injection. Part I: tissue residue depletion

Heavy sows (n = 126) were treated with penicillin G procaine at a 5× label dose (33 000 IU/kg) for 3 consecutive days by intramuscular (IM) injection using three patterns of drug administration. Treatments differed by injection pattern and injection volume. Sets of sows were slaughtered 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 32, and 39 days after the last treatment; skeletal muscle, kidney, serum, and urine were collected for penicillin G analysis by LC-MS/MS. Penicillin G at withdrawal day 5 averaged 23.5 ± 10.5 and 3762 ± 1932 ng/g in muscle and kidney, respectively. After 15 days of withdrawal, muscle penicillin G residues were quantifiable in only one treated hog (3.4 ng/g) but averaged 119 ± 199 ng/g in kidneys. Using a hypothetical tolerance of 50 ng/g and a natural log-linear depletion model, the withdrawal period required for penicillin depletion to 50 ng/g was 11 days for skeletal muscle and 47 days for kidney.

Simultaneous Determination of Residual Veterinary Drugs in Bovine, Porcine, and Chicken Muscle Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A simple and rapid method using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of 130 veterinary drugs and their metabolites in bovine, porcine, and chicken muscle was developed. The drugs (1 to 10 ng/g, in muscle) were extracted from bovine, porcine, or chicken muscles with acetonitrile-methanol (95:5, v/v), and the extracts were delipidated with n-hexane saturated with acetonitrile. The extracts were evaporated, dissolved with methanol, analyzed by liquid chromatography with gradient elution on a C18 column, and determined by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The detection limits ranged from 0.03 to 3 ng/g. The quantitation limits ranged from 0.1 to 10 ng/g. One hundred eleven, 122, and 123 drugs from bovine, porcine, and chicken muscle respectively showed recoveries between 70 and 110%.

Toxic effects, bioconcentration and depuration of verapamil in the early life stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Verapamil is a pharmaceutical that belongs to a group of calcium channel blockers and is mainly used as a treatment of angina pectoris and arterial hypertension. Verapamil has been detected in aquatic environments in concentrations ranging from ng L(-1) to μg L(-1). In the present study, a series of acute toxicity tests of verapamil on various developmental stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were conducted. As a result, 96hLC50 values of verapamil were estimated at 16.4±9.2, 7.3±1.5 and 4.8±0.2 mg L(-1) for embryos (E5-E9) and common carp larvae L2 and L5, respectively. Lethal concentrations of verapamil decreased with an increase in the age of the fish. Acute exposure to verapamil significantly reduced the heart rate in the embryos and larvae. In an embryo-larval toxicity test (sub-chronic exposure), the bioconcentration, depuration, and toxic effects of verapamil were assessed in common carp. The fish were exposed to verapamil in a concentration of 0.463 (environmentally relevant), 4.63, 46.3 and 463 μg L(-1). Verapamil had no effect on the accumulated mortality, hatching, condition factor, growth or ontogeny of the fish in any of the tested concentrations. In carp exposed to 463 and 46.3 μg L(-1) of verapamil, significantly higher occurrences of malformations and edemas were observed compared to the control. The bioconcentration factor of verapamil in whole fish homogenates ranged between 6.6 and 16.6 and was therefore below the critical value for hazard substances (BCF>500). The half-life and the 95% depuration time for the tested compound were estimated to be 10.2±1.6 days and 44.2±8.6 days, respectively. No effects of verapamil on the studied endpoints were observed at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Florfenicol depletion in edible tissue of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and sea bream, Sparus aurata L

An increase in fish production has consequently brought an increase in infectious diseases in fish farms. The use of chemotherapic drugs is the most effective instrument against common bacterial agents. The number of registered drugs for use in aquaculture is limited and often veterinary practitioners resort to the off-label use of chemotherapic agents authorized for different food-producing animal species. Florfenicol is well known for its outstanding effect against various pathogenic bacteria affecting fish, and therefore, it may be a useful drug for off-label use in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depletion of florfenicol and its major metabolite, florfenicol amine, from the edible tissue of two fish species, rainbow trout and sea bream, following treatment with medicated feed at a dosage of 10 mg kg(-1) of bw day(-1) , for 10 consecutive days. At prefixed time points after the end of administration (0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after treatment), edible tissues (muscle plus adherent skin) from 15 individuals in each group were collected and analysed by HPLC, to determine concentration of the drug in the tissue. On the basis of the obtained concentrations, withdrawal times of florfenicol in the two species were calculated. The results indicate that a drug withdrawal time of 500 °C-day, as established by Directive 2004/28/EC, for off-label drug use is more than satisfactory to guarantee the healthiness of fish products against the risk of drug residues.

[Distribution and elimination of thiabendazole and its metabolite residue in laying hens]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the distribution and elimination of thiabendazole and its metabolite 5-hydrothiabendazole residues in the hens tissues including liver, muscle, heart, fat, as well as in eggs.

METHODS

Laying hens were orally administred thiabendazole for 5 consecutive days (100mg per hen daily) and then the hens were sacrificed at the times of 1 day, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days after the end of treatment. Eggs, liver,muscle,fat and heart tissues were collected and homogenized. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile, further concentrated and purified by an Oasis MCX cartridge, and then the contents of thiabendazole and 5-hydrothiabendazole in tissue homogenates determinated by liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS).

RESULTS

The major residues in the tissue homogenates was 5-hydroxythiabendazole, with more higher concentrations than thiabendazole. Egg samples presented the large majority of both drug residues. For the tissue homogenates,the total concentrations of thiabendazole and 5-hydrothiabendazole residues followed the order of liver > heart > muscle > fat at 1 day after the treatment. The withdrawal period of thiabendazole for eggs was about 7 days.

CONCLUSION

Distribution and elimination of thiabendazole and its metabolite residues in laying hens were primarily studied in this study.

Transfer of nitrofuran residues from parent broiler breeder chickens to broiler progeny

The use of nitrofuran antibiotics in food-producing animals is prohibited within the EU. Countries in the EU, as well those intending to export food to the EU, must ensure that their products are free from nitrofuran residues. As a result of recent global problems where chicken meat from a wide range of countries has been contaminated with nitrofuran metabolites, an investigation was performed to discover whether or not residues of the nitrofurans might be transferred from parent breeder chickens to their offspring broilers. Four groups of broiler breeders were each treated with one of the nitrofurans: furazolidone, nitrofurazone, nitrofurantoin or furaltadone. Residues of their side-chain metabolites, AOZ, SEM, AHD and AMOZ, were detected in the fertilised eggs at concentrations up to 1567 microg/kg. However, in the chicks that subsequently hatched from these eggs, residue concentrations of SEM, for example, were only found up to 26.6 and 32.5 microg/kg in liver and muscle, respectively, for 1-d-old chicks. Residue concentrations in tissues had fallen below the detection limit of the analytical method for 40-d-old broiler chicks, for all compounds except for semicarbazide (SEM, the nitrofurazone metabolite). Relatively high concentrations of nitrofurans are available to the newly hatched chick through the egg yolk. However, most of these residues are neither utilised nor deposited in the liver or muscle.

Tissue depletion and concentration correlations between edible tissues and biological fluids of 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone in pigs fed with a furazolidone-medicated feed

Furazolidone has been prohibited for use in food animal production worldwide for its carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, but it is still illegally used in some farms because of its effectiveness and cheap price. Because of the food safety and economical concerns, it is necessary to find an efficient and low-cost way to monitor the misuse of furazolidone in food-producing animals. For this regard, the tissue depletion and tissue-biological fluid concentration correlations of 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), which is the marker residue of furazolidone, were studied in pigs. Pigs were dosed with 400 mg/kg of furazolidone in feed for 7 days and were sacrificed at the withdrawal time of 0.5, 7, 21, 35, 56, and 63 days. Muscle, liver, kidney, urine, and plasma were collected to detect the AOZ by a simplified indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA). Results showed that AOZ was widely distributed in pigs and eliminated slowly after the digestion of furazolidone. The half-lives of AOZ in the plasma, urine, liver, kidney, and muscle were 13.7, 14.7, 13.6, 13.6, and 15.0 days, respectively. Good correlations of the AOZ concentration were found between plasma and muscle, plasma and liver, urine and liver, and urine and kidney in the depletion period of 7-63 or 21-63 days, with correlation coefficients of more than 0.97 and p values less than 0.05. These correlations can provide a basis for a simple and economical way using plasma/urine to monitor the illegal use of furazolidone in pigs without slaughter.

Residue depletion and tissue-plasma correlation of methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid after dietary administration of olaquindox in pigs

A residue depletion study was performed to investigate the tissue kinetics and tissue-plasma correlation of methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), the marker residue of olaquindox (OLA), in pigs. Twenty-five pigs were randomly divided into a test and a control group. The former group was treated with 100 mg/kg OLA in its feed for 30 consecutive days, and the latter was given blank feed for the same period. One control and four treated animals were slaughtered at 0.5, 3, 10, 17, and 28 days post-medication. Muscle, liver, kidney, fat, and plasma samples were collected and analyzed using the validated high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC). Results showed that the tissue concentration of MQCA in the liver > kidney > fat > muscle, at almost all time points. The half-lives of MQCA in the muscle, liver, kidney, fat, and plasma were 12, 8, 15, 8, and 6 days, respectively. A withdrawal period of 38 days was calculated using the statistical method recommended by the European Medical Evaluation Agency (EMEA). Good correlations between tissue and plasma MQCA levels were found in the present study with correlation coefficients of more than 0.92. These correlations would be helpful in the routine monitoring of OLA in porcine tissues, without sacrificing the animals.

Sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim residues in three species of fish after oral dosing in feed

Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, and walleyes Sander vitreus were treated with Romet-30 (PHARMAQ AS, Oslo, Norway) via a medicated ration at 50 mg Romet-30 kg fish body weight(- 1) d(-1) for 10 d to compare the elimination kinetics of the test substance. This study was part of a larger effort to develop a species grouping concept for the labeling of therapeutic compounds for cultured fishes. The fish tests were conducted at the ideal water temperature for each species and at 5 degrees C lower than the ideal temperature except for summer flounder, which would not feed at the lower temperature of 15 degrees C. Test temperatures were 30 degrees C and 25 degrees C for Nile tilapia, 20 degrees C and 17 degrees C for summer flounder, and 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C for walleyes. Neither component of Romet-30 (sulfadimethoxine and ormetoprim) could be detected in samples of the edible portion of walleyes (muscle plus skin) collected at day 10 posttreatment or thereafter. In studies with summer flounder, only one fish had a detectable concentration of either component on day 21 or thereafter. Elimination of Romet-30 by Nile tilapia was extremely rapid. The limited number of Nile tilapia with detectable sulfadimethoxine or ormetoprim during the posttreatment period prevented the determination of elimination half-life or elimination in this species.

An evaluation of the effect of repeated doses of oral activated charcoal on the depletion of enrofloxacin residual levels in chicken breast muscles

The purpose of this study was to determine whether concurrent oral administration of activated charcoal has an affect on the depletion of the residual concentrations of enrofloxacin (ENRO) in chicken breast muscles. Sixty-four broiler chickens were divided into four groups (n = 16 per group), one given a daily oral dose of enrofloxacin with feed at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days (control group) and the others given the same dose of enrofloxacin simultaneously with activated charcoal at a dose rate of 0.5, 1, and 2 % of daily feed for 5 days (treatment groups). At the end of treatment, 2 hens were sacrificed at each of the sampling time points (6,12, 18,48, 72,96,120 and 144 h after completion of dosing), breast muscles were collected and analyzed. Supercritical fluid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography methods were used to determine the enrofloxacin residue levels in chicken breast muscles. The limit of quantification (LOQ) 16.5 microg/kg, was lower than the maximum residue levels (MRL) fixed by the Commission of the European Union. For all the time periods, charcoal treatment did not affect enrofloxacin tissue concentrations except at 12 and 48 h post treatment. To our knowledge, no studies on the depletion of enrofloxacin in the presence and absence of activated charcoal in chicken muscles have been performed. Although our current understanding is incomplete, multiple dose activated charcoals may play a role in the therapy of overdose. To prove this, further investigation is warranted.

Detection, accumulation and distribution of nitrofuran residues in egg yolk, albumen and shell

Nitrofuran antibiotics have been banned for use in food-producing animals in many countries, including the European Union, owing to the threat they pose to human health. Research continues into the accumulation of these drugs in animal tissues and into the appropriate methods for their detection. In this study, an LC-MS/MS method is presented for the detection of the parent compounds, furazolidone, nitrofurantoin, furaltadone and nitrofurazone, in eggs. The parent compounds are first extracted into ethyl acetate, fats are removed by partition between acetonitrile and hexane, and the concentrated sample is analysed by LC-MS/MS. Decision limits (CCalpha) for the parents were < or =1 microg kg-1 for all four compounds. Within-day and between-day CVs are well within the limits stated in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The method provides an alternative to the testing of side-chain metabolites in eggs, which is particularly important in the case of nitrofurazone, where semicarbazide contamination of food has been attributed to sources other than nitrofurazone use. This method was used together with a method for the detection of the side-chain metabolite compounds, 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (AMOZ), 1-amino-hydantoin (AHD) and semicarbazide (SEM), to study the accumulation and distribution of nitrofurans in eggs. Eggs were collected from four groups of hens that had been treated with one of the nitrofurans at a feed concentration of 300 mg kg-1 for 1 week. Parent compounds and metabolites were found in the yolk, albumen and shell. Albumen/yolk ratios for the parent compounds were 0.7, 0.82, 0.83 and 0.31 for furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurazone, respectively. Ratios for the side-chain metabolites were 1.02, 1.06, 0.83 and 0.55 for AOZ, AMOZ, AHD and SEM, respectively. However, 50% of the total SEM residues were found in eggshell. This may be significant if eggshell products reach the consumer.

Transfer of chemicals from feed to animal products: The use of transfer factors in risk assessment

The human risk assessment of feed contaminants has often been hampered by a lack of knowledge concerning their behaviour when consumed by livestock. To gain a better understanding of the transfer of contaminants from animal feed to animal products, a meta-analysis of public literature was made. Data concerning feed contaminant concentrations, feeding periods, residue levels in animal products, and other parameters were gathered and recorded. For each case a 'transfer factor', which was defined as the ratio of the concentration of a chemical in an animal product to the concentration of the chemical in animal feed, was calculated. Scientifically founded transfer factors were calculated and analysed for groups of chemicals based on their contaminant classes or physicochemical properties. These database-derived transfer factors enable a more accurate risk assessment in the case of a feed contamination, and enable rapid risk management decision-making and/or intervention.

Effect of sodium [36Cl]chlorate dose on total radioactive residues and residues of parent chlorate in growing swine

An experimental chlorate-based product has been shown to be efficacious in eliminating economically important, Gram-negative human pathogens in the gastrointestinal tracts of food animals. Prior to the commercial marketing of such a product, the magnitude and chemical nature of residues remaining in edible tissues must be determined. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the tissue distribution and elimination of sodium [36Cl]chlorate in orally dosed swine. Three sets of pigs, each consisting of a barrow and a gilt, were orally dosed with a total of 20, 40, or 60 mg of sodium [36Cl]chlorate per kg body weight via the drinking water. Urine and feces were collected throughout the 30 h study. Twenty-four hours after the last exposure to [36Cl]chlorate, each pig was harvested and both edible and inedible tissues were collected. Urine and tissue samples were analyzed for total radioactive residues and for chlorate metabolites. Elimination of radioactivity in urine averaged 81.6, 83.7, and 83.9% of the total dose for the low, medium, and high doses, respectively. Fecal elimination of radioactivity averaged 1.1% of the dosed radiochlorine across all doses. Parent chlorate always represented greater than 97.4% of the urinary radiochlorine with the remaining radiochlorine being excreted as chloride ion. Chlorate represented 39-77% of fecal radioactivity, depending upon dose. Chlorate concentrations in edible tissues ranged from 0.01 to 0.49 ppm, with residues in liver and skeletal muscle generally lower than those in kidney and adipose tissue. Chlorate residues were concentrated in thyroid tissues (7.7-25.4 ppm) relative to edible tissues. No evidence for the presence of chlorite was observed in excreta or in tissues. Results of this study suggest that further development of chlorate as a preharvest food safety tool in swine merits consideration.

Use of probabilistic modeling within a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to predict sulfamethazine residue withdrawal times in edible tissues in swine

The presence of antimicrobial agents in edible tissues of food-producing animals remains a major public health concern. Probabilistic modeling techniques incorporated into a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model were used to predict the amounts of sulfamethazine residues in edible tissues in swine. A PBPK model for sulfamethazine in swine was adapted to include an oral dosing route. The distributions for sensitive parameters were determined and were used in a Monte Carlo analysis to predict tissue residue times. Validation of the distributions was done by comparison of the results of a Monte Carlo analysis to those obtained with an external data set from the literature and an in vivo pilot study. The model was used to predict the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of the 99th percentile of the population, as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The external data set was used to calculate the withdrawal time by using the tolerance limit algorithm designed by FDA. The withdrawal times obtained by both methods were compared to the labeled withdrawal time for the same dose. The Monte Carlo method predicted a withdrawal time of 21 days, based on the amounts of residues in the kidneys. The tolerance limit method applied to the time-limited data set predicted a withdrawal time of 12 days. The existing FDA label withdrawal time is 15 days. PBPK models can incorporate probabilistic modeling techniques that make them useful for prediction of tissue residue times. These models can be used to calculate the parameters required by FDA and explore those conditions where the established withdrawal time may not be sufficient.

Residues of fluoroquinolone drugs in the cloacal gland and other tissues of Japanese quail

1. In this study we investigated the residues of fluoroquinolone drugs (ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin) in the cloacal gland (a site of foam synthesis) and other tissues such as breast muscle, testes, brain, kidney and plasma. 2. Fifty-four healthy male Japanese quail were selected at random from a flock, maintained under uniform husbandry conditions and divided into three groups, each of 18 birds. Group I (control) received 1 ml vehicle (normal saline 0.9% (w/v) NaCl) daily for 12 d through the intraperitoneal route. Birds of groups II and III received ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin by the same route at the rate of 10 and 12 mg/kg body weight, respectively, every day for a similar period. 3. Birds from each group were killed, at 1, 5 and 10 d after the cessation of treatment, to collect the cloacal gland together with other tissues that were analysed for residual drugs. 4. Cloacal gland retained the maximum drug residues of ciprofloxacin (60%) and pefloxacin (80%) on d 10 compared with that on d 1 after drug withdrawal. The drug residues were found 60 and 80% in ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin groups, respectively, in the cloacal gland tissue even on d 10 after withdrawal of the treatment. 5. In the ciprofloxacin-treated group, all tissues except cloacal gland contained very small amounts of the drug residues on d 10 after treatment ended. In the pefloxacin group the cloacal gland, breast muscle and kidney retained a fairly high amount of drug even on d 10 after treatment ceased. No residues of pefloxacin were detectable in testes and brain throughout. 6. In conclusion, the cloacal gland in Japanese quail acted as the largest sink for the fluoroquinolone drugs. Ciprofloxacin was more widely distributed in different tissues and persisted for a shorter period than pefloxacin.

Concentrations of erythromycin and azithromycin in mature Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha after intraperitoneal injection, and in their progeny

A single dose (40 mg kg(-1)) of erythromycin or azithromycin dihydrate was injected intraperitoneally into maturing female fall Chinook salmon 12 to 32 d before spawning to observe the distribution, retention and clearance of the drugs in plasma, kidney, coelomic fluid and egg vitellin, and their persistence in alevins derived from these fish. Salmon administered prophylactic dosages of erythromycin as subadults were also included to investigate potential interactive effects of oral and injected treatments on reproductive performance and antibiotic clearance. Erythromycin was rapidly cleared from plasma and coelomic fluid, but was detected in the kidney (3.52 to 12.40 microg g(-1)) and egg vitellin (5.32 to 8.87 microg ml(-1)) of all fish at spawning. High, stable concentrations of azithromycin were detected in plasma (14.66 to 20.33 microg ml(-1)), kidney (43.16 to 59.96 microg g(-1)), coelomic fluid (2.52 to 5.50 microg ml(-1)) and egg vitellin (12.65 to 23.51 microg ml(-1)). Oral administration of erythromycin to subadult salmon did not significantly affect tissue concentrations of either erythromycin or azithromycin administered by prespawning injection. Reductions in the percentage of eggs that yielded live embryos at the eyed stage of development occurred among eggs derived from females that had received orally administered erythromycin as subadults. Erythromycin was not detected in unfed fry derived from adults injected with the drug prespawning, but azithromycin was present for more than 2 mo after the onset of exogenous feeding.

Determination of carbendazim residues in the eggs, liver and pectoral muscle of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The effect of carbendazim, a widely applied cereal seed dressing agent, was studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during an overall period of eight weeks, consisting of a four-week feeding phase and a subsequent four-week excretion period. Body mass and feed consumption of the birds were monitored and residues of the active ingredient were determined by an analytical chemical method. During the eight-week study period, changes (either decrease or increase) directly attributable to the toxic effects of carbendazim were not found either in body mass or in feed consumption. Active ingredient levels exceeding the limit of detection were found in the liver (average: 0.0262 mg/kg) and pectoral muscle (average: 0.0236 mg/kg) of the birds and also in the egg (0.0338 mg/kg) samples. From the results it can be concluded that through the consumption of cereal seeds dressed with carbendazim, this active ingredient can be incorporated into the tissues of animals. Via the food chain, carbendazim can also enter the human organism, where it may cause various pathological changes in interaction with other chemicals.

[Determination of tetracycline antibiotics residues in chicken muscle by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]

A sensitive and selective method is presented for simultaneous determination of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) veterinary drugs. Oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracyclines (TC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) in the chicken muscle were extracted, and then solid-phase cleaned-up on a C18 reversed-phase column to obtain an extract suitable for analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Electrospray ionization was applied and operated in the positive ion mode. The calibration curves were good linear between the peak areas and the mass concentrations of TCs from 25 to 500 microg/L with the correlation coefficient more than 0.99. The average recoveries from spiked chicken muscle at the three concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 microg/kg were from 72.4% to 94.9% with relative, standard deviation less than 11%. The detection limits of TCs were 10 microg/kg. The method was successfully validated for chicken muscle in compliance with the requirements set by Document No. 1 of 2003 dispatched by the Bureau of Animal Husbandary of Ministry of Agriculture. This method is suitable for the determination of OTC, TC and CTC in chicken muscle.

Detection of sulphamethazine residues in cattle and pig hair by HPLC–DAD

An HPLC method with diode array detection (DAD) is proposed for the detection of sulphamethazine (SMZ) residues in pig and cattle hair. Hair samples were extracted under alkaline conditions (NH4OH 0.2M for calf samples and NaOH 0.1M for piglet samples) and purified with a dual solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge system (reverse phase/strong-cation exchange). Recovery of SMZ in fortified samples varied from 70 to 85%, with a limit of quantification of 0.155 ng/mg. Residues of SMZ (7.2-59.2 ng/mg) were detected both in calf and piglet hairs after a therapeutic treatment with SMZ, while no interfering peak was observed in samples from untreated animals.

Concentration in Plasma and Excretion in Milk of Lactating Cows after Oral Administration of Tribromsalan, Oxyclozanide and Bromofenofos

The fasciolicides tribromsalan (TBS), oxyclozanide (OCZ) and bromofenofos (BFF) were orally administered to three lactating cows. The concentrations of TBS, OCZ and the BFF metabolite dephosphate bromofenofos (DBFF) in plasma, and the excretion of these compounds in milk were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. In plasma, the concentrations of TBS, OCZ and DBFF reached maximum at about 1.0 day and the compounds remained detectable until 5.7, 7.4 and 15.1 days after administration, respectively. The detection limits of these compounds in plasma were 10, 2 and 2 ppb, respectively. In milk, the concentrations of TBS, OCZ and DBFF reached maximum at about 24 hours and the compounds remained detectable until 30-47, 30-47 and 78-119 hours after administration, respectively. The detection limits of these compounds in milk were 5.1 and 1 ppb, respectively. The residence times of TBS and BFF were very close to the withdrawal times of the fasciolicides.

Phosphorous acid residues in apples after foliar fertilization: Results of field trials

The levels of phosphorous acid residues in apples after foliar fertilization with P fertilizers and after treatment with a phosphonate fungicide (Fosetyl-Al) were determined and compared. Two field trials and a glasshouse experiment, using different genotypes and plants of different age, were carried out and monitored over a three-year period. Phosphorous acid residues were found in apples after application of foliar P fertilizers. Concentrations of the residues ranged between 0.02 and 14 mg kg(-1) depending on the phosphorous acid content in the fertilizer used and the plant size and yield. The treatments induced an accumulation of the residue in the course of the experiments, which in some cases reached a level exceeding the maximum limit set by EU legislation. Residues were also detected in other plant organs, i.e., roots and buds. Plants treated with Fosetyl-Al contained phosphorous acid residues in their fruits and buds two years after the suspension of the treatment, suggesting a long-term persistence of the substance in plant storage organs. A second experiment, involving treatment of trees with seven foliar fertilizers of different composition, also induced accumulation of phosphorous acid residues in fruits. It is concluded that a wide array of foliar products containing phosphorous acid, even as a minor component, could mimic the residue effect of phosphonate fungicide treatments.

Determination of14C residue in eggs of laying hens administered orally with [14C] sulfaquinoxaline

Ten layer hens were dosed for 5 consecutive days with 6.2 mg kg(-1) [14C] sulfaquinoxaline (SQX). Eggs were collected from the hens during the 5-day dosing period and during a 10-day post-dose withdrawal period. Egg yolk and albumen were separated and assayed for total radioactive residues (TRR) using a combustion oxidizer and liquid scintillation counting techniques. Significant amounts of radioactivity were detected on the second day of dosing (greater than 24h after the initial dose) in both egg yolk and albumen. First eggs were collected about 8 h after dosing; the second-day eggs were collected during 8-h period after the second dose. Radioactive residues reached a maximum on the fifth day of dosing in albumen, whereas on the second day of withdrawal in egg yolk, the peak TRR levels in albumen were about threefold higher than in yolk. Thereafter, the TRR levels declined rapidly in albumen and were detectable up to withdrawal day 6, whereas the TRR levels in egg yolk declined more slowly and were detectable up to withdrawal day 10. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that the parent drug sulfaquinoxaline was the major component in both the egg albumen and yolk. Additionally, this work suggests that egg yolk is the appropriate matrix for monitoring SQX residues

Quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid in pigs: criteria to distinguish between the illegal use of carbadox and environmental contamination

Carbadox cannot be used in food-producing animals within the European Union following the adoption of Commission Regulation EC 2788/98/EC. Monitoring of the longest remaining residue--quinoxaline-2-car-boxylic acid (QCA)--is the most effective way of enforcing the prohibition on its use. The study was under taken to determine if QCA could be passed from pig to pig following the exposure of unmedicated animals to housing that had previously contained medicated animals. Drug-withdrawal studies were also carried out on medicated animals. Distinction between treated animals and those exposed to QCA might be required by competent national authorities to determine whether a positive result for QCA in tissue is truly 'violative'. Comparison of the ratio concentrations of QCA in tissues and body fluids was made to determine if they, could be used as criteria for discrimination between illegally treated animals and environmental contamination.

Pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin and the rate of depletion of its residues in pigs

Six pigs were used in a two-period crossover study to investigate the pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin after single intravenous and oral doses of 20 mg/kg bodyweight. Twelve pigs were used to study the residues of the drug in muscle, kidney, liver and fat after they had received daily oral doses of 20 mg/kg amoxycillin for five days. The mean (sd) elimination half life (t1/2beta) and mean residence time of amoxycillin in plasma were 3.38 (0.30) and 3.54 (0.43) hours, respectively, after intravenous administration and 4.13 (0.50) and 4.47 (0.30) hours, respectively, after oral administration. After oral administration, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 7.37 (0.42) microg/ml and it was reached after 0.97 (0.29) hours. Six days after the last oral dose, the mean concentration of amoxycillin in the pigs' kidneys was 21.38 ng/g and in the liver it was 12.32 ng/g, but no amoxycillin could be detected in fat or muscle; the concentrations of amoxycillin in edible tissues were less than the European Union maximal residue limit of 50 microg/kg.

Elimination of chloramphenicol, sulphamethoxazole and oxytetracycline in shrimp, Penaeus chinensis following medicated-feed treatment

Muscle residue depletion of chloramphenicol (CAP), sulphamethoxazole (SMZ) and oxytetracycline (OTC) following oral administration was evaluated in shrimp, Penaeus chinensis under field conditions. Three groups of shrimps were cultured in tanks filled with seawater and fed a commercial medicated diet containing 2000 mg kg(-1) CAP, SMZ and OTC, respectively, twice daily for 3 days. Sampling was conducted at different intervals (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 h) after the cessation of medication. Drug analysis was carried out by HPLC. The elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of CAP was 10.04 h, the elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of SMZ was 5.68 h and that of OTC was 16.12 h. If the EU MRPL value of 0.3 ng/g for CAP and MRL value of 0.1 microg/g for SMZ and OTC quoted for muscle from finfish is extended to shrimp muscle, extrapolation of the data indicates that it would be passed after a 139.7 h (95% CI=132.0-144.4 h), 30.6 h (95% CI=27.2-33.1 h), 90.3 h (95% CI=87.9-92.5 h) withdrawal period for CAP, SMZ and OTC in shrimp muscle, respectively.

Tissue distribution, metabolism, and residue depletion study in Atlantic salmon following oral administration of [3H]emamectin benzoate

Atlantic salmon (approximately 1.3 kg) maintained in tanks of seawater at 5 +/- 1 degrees C were dosed with [3H]emamectin B1 benzoate in feed at a nominal rate of 50 microg of emamectin benzoate/kg/day for 7 consecutive days. Tissues, blood, and bile were collected from 10 fish each at 3 and 12 h and at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days post final dose. Feces were collected daily from the tanks beginning just prior to dosing to 90 days post final dose. The total radioactive residues (TRR) of the daily feces samples during dosing were 0.25 ppm maximal, and >97% of the TRR in pooled feces covering the dosing period was emamectin B1a. Feces TRR then rapidly declined to approximately 0.05 ppm by 1 day post final dose. The ranges of mean TRR for tissues over the 90 days post dose period were as follows: kidney, 1.4-3 ppm; liver, 1.0-2.3 ppm; skin, 0.04-0.09 ppm; muscle, 0.02-0.06 ppm; and bone, <0.01 ppm. The residue components of liver, kidney, muscle, and skin samples pooled by post dose interval were emamectin B1a (81-100% TRR) and desmethylemamectin B1a (0-17% TRR) with N-formylemamectin B1a seen in trace amounts (<2%) in some muscle samples. The marker residue selected for regulatory surveillance of emamectin residues was emamectin B1a. The emamectin B1a level was quantified in individual samples of skin and muscle using HPLC-fluorometry and was below 85 ppb in all samples analyzed (3 h to 30 days post dose).

Feasibility of using half-life multipliers to estimate extended withdrawal intervals following the extralabel use of drugs in food-producing animals

Under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994, veterinarians are legally allowed to use drugs in food-producing animals in an extralabel manner. This could potentially lead to violative residues in food of animal origin. It is therefore essential that an appropriately extended withdrawal interval be established. Ideally, these extended withdrawal intervals should be calculated on the basis of the tissue half-life of the drug in the target animal. However, these data are not readily available for all drugs of extralabel use in food-producing animals. For this reason, the use of a half-life multiplier has been proposed as a simple alternative method to estimate the effective tissue half-life of a drug. Extended withdrawal intervals, estimated using various half-life multipliers, were compared with the withdrawal intervals calculated using actual tissue half-lives. For the group of drugs investigated, a half-life multiplier of 5 resulted in estimates of extended withdrawal intervals that were potentially inadequate to prevent violative tissue residues for drugs that had relatively long tissue half-lives, high tolerances, or both. This is possibly because fewer half-lives are required for these drugs to reach the target tissue concentrations following administration at label doses. Use of a smaller half-life multiplier (in this case 3) is therefore suggested to ensure that extended withdrawal intervals are adequate to prevent violative tissue residues.

Influence of albendazole on the disposition kinetics and milk antimicrobial equivalent activity of enrofloxacin in lactating goats

The pharmacokinetics of single intravenous and intramuscular administrations and milk antimicrobial equivalent activity of enrofloxacin at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram body weight were studied in clinically healthy lactating goats which were either not treated or had received 7.5 mg per kilogram body weight of albendazole orally. The concentrations of enrofloxacin in serum and milk were determined using microbiological assay. Following intravenous injection, enrofloxacin antimicrobial equivalent activity versus time data in serum was described by a two-compartmental open model. Albendazole treatment significantly decreased the elimination half-life (t(1/2beta)) (P>or=0.05) and the mean residence time (MRT) (P>or=0.05), whereas, the rate of enrofloxacin return to central compartment from peripheral tissue (K(21)) was significantly increased (P>or=0.01). In contrast, the volumes of distribution V(d(area)) and V(d(SS)) were significantly decreased (P>or=0.01 and P>or=0.05, respectively) in albendazole-treated goats. After intramuscular injection, enrofloxacin was rapidly absorbed in control and albendazole-treated lactating goats with absorption half-lives (t(1/2ab)) 0.43 and 0.39 h, respectively. The mean peaks of serum concentration (C(max)) were 0.68 and 0.65 mcg ml(-1) attained at (t(max)) 1.08 and 1.12 h, before and after albendazole dosing, respectively. The elimination half-life (t(1/2el)) and (MRT) following intramuscular injections were also shorter in the albendazole-treated lactating goats. The systemic bioavailability of enrofloxacin was significantly decreased from 110.16 to 84.38% in albendazole-treated lactating goats. Concomitant administration of albendazole with enrofloxacin resulted in significant alterations in the disposition kinetic of enrofloxacin and significant decrease in enrofloxacin concentrations in milk. Consequently, the interaction between albendazole and enrofloxacin could be of clinical significance and may require monitoring and adjustment of enrofloxacin dosage.

Disposition of 3-(4-cyano-2-oxobutylidene amino)-2-oxazolidone, a cyano-metabolite of furazolidone, in furazolidone-treated grouper

The cyano-metabolite of furazolidone (FZ), 3-(4-cyano-2-oxobutylidene amino)-2-oxazolidone, was isolated from the mixture of FZ incubated with the post-9000 g hepatic supernatant of grouper. Its structure was confirmed by mass spectrometric and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies. Thereafter, the disposition of the cyano-metabolite in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) after oral and bath treatment with FZ was investigated. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of cyano-metabolite in the fish were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mean recoveries of the metabolite in serum, muscle, liver and kidney were 99.8 +/- 4.1, 98.6 +/- 3.5, 53.1 +/- 7.4 and 64.0 11.4%, respectively. Cyano-metabolite was mainly distributed in the serum and muscle rather than in the liver and kidney. After oral treatment of FZ, the peak cyano-metabolite concentrations, 167.2 ng x ml(-1) in serum and 283.2 ng x g(-1) in muscle, were reached at 5.1 and 6.7 h, respectively. The elimination half-life of cyano-metabolite was 4 h. During 24-h bath treatment of FZ, the maximum concentrations of cyano-metabolite, 258 ng x ml(-1) in serum and 204 ng x g(-1) in muscle, were found at 0.25 and 6 h, respectively. The half-life of cyano-metabolite was 0.5 h after transferring the fish to fresh seawater.

Confirmatory analysis of sulfonamide antibacterials in bovine liver and kidney: extraction with hot water and liquid chromatography coupled to a single- or triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer

A simple, specific, and rapid confirmatory method for determining 12 sulfonamide (SAs) antibacterials in bovine liver and kidney is presented. This method is based on the matrix solid-phase dispersion technique with hot water as extractant followed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with an electrospray ion source. The method was tailored for use with both single-quadrupole MS (I) and triple-quadrupole MS (II) instruments. After acidification and filtration of the aqueous extract, a 250-microL aliquot was injected into instrument I while only 25 microL was analyzed by instrument II. With instrument I MS data acquisition was performed in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, selecting at least three ions for each target compound. With instrument II the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with three fragmentation reactions for each compound was chosen. With the exception of sulfaquinoxaline (SQX), recovery of the analytes at the 50 ppb level in both liver and kidney was 72-96% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging between 3 and 11%. The very poor recovery of SQX was due to its rapid enzymatic oxidation when in contact with the two tissues. With instrument I, limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N = 10) were 5-14 ppb of SAs. Even lower LOQs (1-8 ppb) were estimated by using instrument II, even though the extract volume analyzed was ten times lower than that with instrument I. With both matrices and using instrument I, severe ion signal suppression was experienced for the early-eluted SAs when trying to fractionate analytes by using a short chromatographic run time. This effect was traced to polar endogenous co-extractives eluted in the first part of the chromatographic run that interfered with gas-phase ion formation for SAs. Adopting more selective chromatographic conditions minimized this effect.

Tylosin depletion from edible pig tissues

The depletion of tylosin from edible pig tissues was studied following 5 days of intramuscular (i.m.) administration of 10 mg/kg of tylosin to 16 crossbreed pigs. Animals were slaughtered at intervals after treatment and samples of muscle, kidney, liver, skin+fat, and injection site were collected and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Seven days after the completion of treatment, the concentration of tylosin in kidney, skin+fat, and at the injection site was higher than the European Union maximal residue limit (MRL) of 100 microg/kg. Tylosin residues in all tissues were below the quantification limit (50 microg/kg) at 10 and 14 days post-treatment.