Development and validation of a lateral flow device for the detection of nicarbazin contamination in poultry feeds

Concentrations of the coccidiostat nicarbazin as low as 2 mg/kg in feed can result in violative drug residues arising in poultry liver. A lateral flow device (LFD) was developed for the detection of contaminating concentrations of nicarbazin following solvent extraction of poultry feeds. Test results, as determined by both visual and instrumental measurement, are available within minutes. For 22 feed samples, nicarbazin-free and fortified at 2 mg/kg, the % relative inhibition ranged from 0 to 45% and from 53 to 85%, respectively. Nicarbazin contamination at the critical concentration (2 mg/kg) can be determined in all cases providing the sampling is representative. A wide range of feed samples taken at a mill that incorporated nicarbazin into poultry feed were analyzed. Data generated for these samples by both the LFDs and a mass spectrometric method were compared, and a significant correlation was achieved.     

Determination of nicarbazin in chicken tissues by liquid chromatography and confirmation of identity by thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative measurement of nicarbazin in chicken liver, fat, muscle, and skin tissues. The 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) portion of nicarbazin is extracted from tissues with ethyl acetate. After filtration and evaporation, the extract is purified by liquid-liquid partitioning with acetonitrile-hexane and alumina cartridge chromatography. DNC is separated and measured by reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) with an octadecylsilyl (ODS) column and a UV detector set at 340 nm. The overall average recovery of DNC added to tissues was 83.4 +/- 3.1%. The lowest level validated in tissues by this procedure was 0.10 ppm. The limit of detection was estimated to be 0.020 ppm. This method provides a sensitive, selective, rapid, and reproducible alternative to existing purification, separation, and detection techniques, such as differential pulse polarography and colorimetry, for determination of nicarbazin in chicken tissues. Identity of DNC is confirmed by subjecting the purified extracts to thermospray-LC/mass spectrometric analysis using negative-ion detection and selected ion monitoring. Three structural-indicating ions at m/z 302, 272, and 164 are monitored in the thermospray-mass spectrum which are characteristic of the DNC molecule.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of three sulfonamides in animal tissue and egg

Sulfonamides are widely used as a feed additive in animal production in Japan. The present paper is a determination of 3 sulfonamides: sulfamethazine (SMZ), sulfamonomethoxine [SMX, 4-amino-N-(3-methoxypyrazinyl)-benzenesulfonamide], and sulfadimethoxine (SDX) in animal tissue and egg by liquid chromatography (LC). Tissues were extracted with acetonitrile and fat was removed by liquid/liquid partition. The sulfonamides were purified by an ODS cartridge column; then each compound was separated by an ODS LC column and detected at 268 nm. Quantification levels were 0.02 ppm for SMZ and SMX, and 0.04 ppm for SDX; detection limits were 0.01 ppm for SMZ and SMX, and 0.02 ppm for SDX. Calibration curves were linear between 2 and 40 ng for SMZ and SMX, and between 4 and 80 ng for SDX. Recoveries from muscle and egg samples spiked with 1-2 micrograms/10 g were 81-98%.     

Modified liquid chromatographic method for determination of gentian violet in animal feed

A modified liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of Gentian Violet (GV) in animal feed. The reliable detection limit is 0.5 ng (reference standards), and 1 ppm GV was reliably determined in feed. The calibration curve was linear between 1 and 40 micrograms/mL. The method, developed in a study by the National Center for Toxicological Research, was modified to use methanol-water (9 + 1) instead of benzene-methanol as the eluting solution in the column cleanup. GV is extracted from feed with methanol-1N HCl (99 + 1), cleaned up on a Sephadex LH-20 column to remove any remaining interferences, separated on a Nova-Pak C18 column fitted with a precolumn filter, and determined at 588 nm. The identity of GV is confirmed by thin-layer chromatography (Rf = 0.47) by comparison with a reference standard. Average recoveries from 3 sets of 5 feed samples containing 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 ppm GV were 115, 95, and 102%, respectively.     

An all-in-one dry chemistry immunoassay for the screening of coccidiostat nicarbazin in poultry eggs and liver

An automated immunoassay for the detection of nicarbazin residues in poultry eggs and liver was developed. The assay was based on a novel all-in-one dry chemistry concept and time-resolved fluorometry. The analyte specific antibody was immobilized into a single microtiter well and covered with an insulation layer, on top of which the label was dried in a small volume. The extracted sample was added automatically to the dry microtiter well, and the result was available within 18 min. Due to the rapidity and simplicity, the quantitative immunoassay could also be used as a high throughput screening method. The analytical limit of detection for the assay was calculated as 0.1 ng mL(-)(1) (n = 12) and the functional limit of detection as 3.2 ng g(-)(1) for egg (n = 6) and 11.3 ng g(-)(1) for liver (n = 6) samples. The sample recovery varied from 97.3 to 115.6%. Typically, the intra-assay variations were less than 10%, and interassay variations ranged between 8.1 and 13.6%.     

Analysis of ochratoxin a in coffee by solid-phase cleanup and narrow-bore liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector-mass spectrometry

A method for the analysis of ochratoxin A (OTA) in green and roasted coffee has been developed. OTA was extracted from coffee with 1% NaHCO(3), and the extract was filtered and purified by solid-phase cleanup using a polymeric column that exhibits reversed-phase and anion-exchange functionalities. OTA was analyzed on a narrow-bore reversed-phase C(18) HPLC column with acetonitrile/water (0.1% formic acid) (40:60) as mobile phase and quantified with a fluorescence detector. The presence of OTA in coffee was confirmed by single-quadruple mass spectrometry using an electrospray ionization source. The method has been validated, obtaining a recovery of 82.5% and a detection limit of 0.1 ng/g. It has been applied to 20 coffee samples from various countries and different manufacturers with no detection of OTA.     

Liquid chromatographic determination and stability of the Fusarium mycotoxin moniliformin in cereal grains

Moniliformin is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium subglutinans and other Fusarium species. A rapid, liquid chromatographic method for its determination in corn and wheat is described. Samples are extracted in acetonitrile-water (95 + 5); following defatting with n-hexane, an aliquot of the extract is evaporated and cleaned up on small C18 and neutral alumina columns successively. Reverse-phase liquid chromatography (LC) is conducted on a C18 column with 10 or 15% methanol or acetonitrile in aqueous ion-pair reagent as mobile phase, with detection by ultraviolet absorption at 229 and 254 nm. Average recoveries of moniliformin (potassium salt) added to ground corn and wheat at levels of 0.05-1.0 micrograms/g were 80% (n = 20) and 85% (n = 12), respectively, and the limit of detection was ca 0.01-0.18 micrograms/g, depending on LC conditions. Analysis of 24 samples of wheat, 4 samples of rye, and 12 samples of corn showed moniliformin in only 2 corn samples (0.06 and 0.2 micrograms/g). Moniliformin was also detected in a sample of artificially damaged (slashed) corn (0.2 micrograms/g) and selected kernels of corn that were field-inoculated with F. subglutinans and F. moniliforme (50 micrograms/g and 0.5 micrograms/g, respectively). In stability studies, moniliformin (potassium salt, 1 microgram/g) in ground corn and ground wheat heated at 50, 100, and 150 degrees C for 0.5-2 h decomposed moderately, e.g., 55% remained in corn after 0.5 h at 100 degrees C.     

Simultaneous liquid chromatographic screening of five coccidiostats in chicken liver

A reverse-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for simultaneously determining 5 coccidiostats--aklomide, dinsed, ethopabate, nitromide, and zoalene in chicken liver. The method entails blender extraction of 10 g liver with ethyl acetate, column chromatography through Sephadex LH-20 and neutral alumina, and LC analysis on a C18 column with UV detection at 260 nm. The drugs were eluted from Sephadex with methanol-benzene (10 + 90), from alumina with methanol-dichloromethane (10 + 90), and from C18 with acetonitrile-water (linear gradient: 25% acetonitrile for 10 min, increasing to 55% over 15 min; flow rate 1 mL/min). Liquid chromatography was completed in 40 min and calculations were based on peak height measurements. Average recoveries of the coccidiostats from fortified liver ranged from 72 to 97%, except for dinsed, which showed a relatively constant average recovery of 57%. The detection limit for the standards was 2.5 ng on column. Levels as low as 50 ng/g were detected in fortified liver samples.     

Rapid, sensitive liquid chromatographic method for determination of zearalenone and alpha- and beta-zearalenol in wheat

A rapid, sensitive liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for quantitative determination of zearalenone and alpha- and beta-zearalenol in wheat. The procedure incorporates an internal standard, zearalenone oxime, to facilitate quantitation and automated analysis. A sample, buffered with pH 7.8 phosphate, is extracted with water-ethanol-chloroform (2 + 50 + 75) and cleaned up. The final residue is dissolved in LC mobile phase and injected onto a reverse phase RP-18 column under the following conditions: water-methanol-acetonitrile (5 + 3 + 2) mobile phase; fluorescence (excitation wavelength 236 nm, 418 nm cut-off emission filter) and UV (254 nm, range 0.0025 AU) detectors. The limit of detectability (twice background) is 0.5 ng for zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol standards on the fluorescence detector and 4 ng for beta-zearalenol on the UV detector, which is equivalent to 20 micrograms zearalenone and 20 micrograms alpha-zearalenol/kg, and 160 micrograms beta-zearalenol/kg feed. Standard curves are linear over the range 0-35 ng zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol on the fluorescence detector and 0-50 ng beta-zearalenol on the UV detector. Recoveries of all compounds are 87.5-101% in the range 0.1-3.0 mg/kg (ppm).     

Analysis of moniliformin in maize plants using hydrophilic interaction chromatography

A novel HPLC method was developed for detection of the Fusarium mycotoxin, moniliformin in whole maize plants. The method is based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) on a ZIC zwitterion column combined with diode array detection and negative electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI(-)-MS). Samples were extracted using acetonitrile-water (85:15), and the extracts were cleaned up on strong anion exchange columns. By this procedure we obtained a recovery rate of 57-74% moniliformin with a limit of detection at 48 ng/g and a limit of quantification at 96 ng/g using UV detection at 229 nm, which is comparable to current methods used. Limit of detection and quantification using ESI(-)-MS detection was 1 and 12 ng/g, respectively. Screening of maize samples infected with the moniliformin producing fungi F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum, or F. subglutinans detected moniliformin levels of 1-12 ng/g in 15 of 28 samples using ESI(-)-MS detection. To our knowledge this is the first example of HILIC separation in mycotoxin analysis.     

Simplified cleanup and liquid chromatographic ultraviolet determination of linuron and three metabolites in potatoes

A simple and efficient method is presented for the extraction, cleanup, and liquid chromatographic (LC) determination of linuron and 3 of its metabolites, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl urea (DCPMU), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) urea (DCPU), and 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA), in potatoes. Samples are extracted with acetone, partitioned into dichloromethane-hexane (1 + 1), and cleaned up using disposable silica cartridges. LC determination is performed using a LiChrosorb NH2 5 microns column, with an isopropanol-isooctane gradient mobile phase and UV detection at 248 nm. Recoveries of linuron and 2 of the metabolites from untreated samples fortified at 0.02-2 micrograms/g ranged from 80 to 102%, while recoveries for the metabolite DCA ranged from 60 to 78%. The detection limit was 0.015 micrograms/g for linuron and each metabolite; the minimum quantitation level was 0.5 micrograms/g. The developed method was applied to potato samples from a field experiment.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of tetracycline residues in animal feeds

A liquid chromatographic method for the multiresidue determination of tetracyclines (TCs) in feeds is described. The levels of quantitation were 10 ppm each for tetracycline-HCl (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline-HCl (CTC); the detection limit was 40 ppb for each. The calibration curves were linear between 2.5 and 100 ppm. The procedure involved double extraction with pH 2.0 and pH 4.5 McIlvain buffers, cleanup on a Sephadex LH-20 column, separation on a Nova-Pak C18 column, and detection at 370 nm. Recoveries of 10 micrograms/g of each TC in multiresidue feed samples ranged from 55.8 to 75.5% for OTC, 71.6 to 100% for TC, and 22.4 to 60.6% for CTC. The identities of the TCs were confirmed by thin layer chromatography.     

Immunosorbents coupled on-line with liquid chromatography for the determination of fluoroquinolones in chicken liver.

Four fluoroquinolones were analyzed in fortified chicken liver using an automated, on-line immunoaffinity extraction method. The fluoroquinolones were extracted from the liver matrix using an immunoaffinity capture column containing anti-sarafloxacin antibodies covalently cross-linked to protein G. After interfering liver matrix components had been washed away, the captured fluoroquinolones were automatically eluted directly onto a reversed phase column. Liquid chromatographic analyses were performed by isocratic elution using 2% acetic acid/acetonitrile (85:15) as the mobile phase and an Inertsil phenyl column with fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 280 and 444 nm, respectively. No significant interferences from the sample matrix were observed, indicating good selectivity with the immunoaffinity column. Overall recoveries from fortified liver samples (20, 50, and 100 ng/g) ranged between 85.7 and 93.5% with standard deviations of <5%. The limit of quantification for each fluoroquinolone was 1 ng/mL. The limits of detection, based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1, were 0.47, 0.32, 0.87, and 0.53 ng/mL for ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, and difloxacin, respectively.     

Determination of alpha-amanitin in serum and liver by multistage linear ion trap mass spectrometry

This paper describes a rapid LC-MS/MS/MS method for the analysis of alpha-amanitin in serum and liver. Serum was initially prepared by precipitation of proteins with acetonitrile and subsequent removal of acetonitrile with methylene chloride. Liver was prepared by homogenization with aqueous acetonitrile and subsequent removal of acetonitrile using methylene chloride. For both matrices, the aqueous phase was then extracted using mixed-mode C18/cation exchange SPE cartridges and analyzed on a linear ion trap LC-MS system. Standards were prepared in extracts of control matrix. Seven replicate fortifications of serum at 0.001 mug/g (1 ng/g) of alpha-amanitin gave a mean recovery of 95% with 8.8% CV (relative standard deviation) and a calculated method detection limit of 0.26 ng/g. Seven replicates of control liver fortified at 1 ng/g gave a mean recovery of 98% with 17% CV and a calculated method detection limit of 0.50 ng/g. This is the first report of a positive mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of alpha-amanitin in serum and liver from suspect human and animal intoxications.     

Multiresidue screen for organophosphorus insecticides using gel permeation chromatography--silica gel cleanup.

A multiresidue screen for quantitative determination of 43 organophosphorus insecticides in 5 g of plant and animal tissues is described. The organophosphorus insecticides are extracted with methanol-dichloromethane (10 + 90, v/v) and cleaned up using automated gel permeation chromatography with hexane-ethyl acetate (60 + 40) eluant and in-line silica gel minicolumns. Concentrated extracts are analyzed by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. The method recovers 43 organophosphorus insecticides in the range of 72 to 115%. Analysis of fortified bovine liver (n = 5) shows an average 95.9 +/- 4.8% recovery at the 0.05 micrograms/g level and 93 +/- 3.8% at the 0.5 micrograms/g level. Analysis of fortified bovine rumen content (n = 5) shows an average 98 +/- 4.2% recovery at the 0.1 micrograms/g level and 98.7 +/- 2.8% at the 1 micrograms/g level. Method detection limits ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 micrograms/g for the compounds studied using a nominal 5 gram sample.     

Quantitative liquid chromatographic method using fluorescence detection for determining zearalenone and its metabolites in blood plasma and urine

The liquid chromatographic (LC) method described, suitable for use with both blood plasma and urine, is applicable for determination of zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol at levels as low as 0.5 ng/mL plasma and 5 ng/mL urine. The sample is incubated overnight with beta-glucuronidase to analyze for both conjugated and unconjugated forms of zearalenone. The next day, the sample is acidified with H3PO4, extracted with chloroform, and evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in toluene and loaded onto a silica gel cartridge which is washed with toluene and eluted with toluene-acetone (88 + 12). The eluate is evaporated, and the residue is dissolved in chloroform, extracted with 0.18M NaOH, neutralized with H3PO4, and re-extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is evaporated, dissolved in mobile phase for LC, and injected onto a normal phase column under the following chromatographic conditions: mobile phase of water-saturated dichloromethane containing 2% 1-propanol, and fluorescence detector, excitation wave-length 236 nm, and 418 nm cut-off emission filter. Recoveries of zearalenone and its metabolites from blood plasma and urine are 80-89% in the range 2.0-10 ng standard/mL plasma, and 81-90% in the range 10-30 ng standard/mL urine. This method was used to analyze blood and urine samples from a pig fed zearalenone-contaminated feed (5 mg/kg), corresponding to 80 micrograms/kg body weight. Zearalenone was rapidly metabolized to alpha-zearalenol, which appeared in the blood only 30 min after feeding. Almost all zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol was found conjugated with glucuronic acid in both blood plasma and urine.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of benzoyl peroxide in acne preparations

A rapid, precise, and accurate liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the determination of benzoyl peroxide (BP) in acne preparations. BP is extracted from a water dispersion of the preparation with dichloromethane (DCM), and an aliquot is eluted from a C-18 reverse phase LC column with acetonitrile-0.10 M aqueous NaClO4. Selective and sensitive quantitation is accomplished with a reductive mode electrochemical detector. This detector is an order of magnitude more sensitive than a 240 nm UV absorption detector; the lower limit of detection is 2 ng for a 4 microL injection. The recovery of BP is 99.4% and the detector response is linear to at least 2 micrograms per 4 microL injection.     

Simplified cleanup and liquid chromatographic determination of oxamyl residues in potato tubers

A simple and efficient method is presented for the extraction, cleanup, and liquid chromatographic (LC) determination of oxamyl residues in potato tubers. Samples are extracted with methanol, partitioned into dichloromethane, and cleaned up using Sep-Pak Florisil cartridges. LC determination is performed using a Zorbax PSM 60 size exclusion column with an acetonitrile-water (1 + 9) mobile phase and UV detection at 254 nm. Recovery of oxamyl from spiked control tubers averaged 94.1 and 85.9% at fortification levels of 0.4 and 0.08 micrograms oxamyl/g tuber, respectively. The minimum detectable concentration of oxamyl by this method is 0.01 micrograms/g.     

Matrix solid phase dispersion isolation and liquid chromatographic determination of sulfadimethoxine in catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) muscle tissue

A method for the isolation and liquid chromatographic determination of sulfadimethoxine in catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) muscle tissue is presented. Blank control and sulfadimethoxine-fortified fish muscle tissue samples (0.5 g) were blended with octadecyisilyl (C18, 40 micrograms, 18% load, endcapped) derivatized silica packing material. A column made from the C18/fish tissue blend was first washed with hexane (8 mL), following which the sulfadimethoxine was eluted with dichloromethane (8 mL). The eluant contained sulfadimethoxine analyte that was free from interfering compounds when analyzed by liquid chromatography with UV detection (photodiode array, 270 nm). Standard curves for sulfadimethoxine isolated from fortified samples were linear (0.999 +/- 0.001) with an average relative percentage recovery of 101.1 +/- 4.2% for the concentration range (50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 ng/g) examined using sulfamethoxazole as the internal standard. The interassay variability was 10.7 +/- 8.2% with an intra-assay variability of 2.2%.     

Comparison of two immunochemical methods with thin-layer chromatographic methods for determination of aflatoxins

Three different methods were compared for the determination of total flatoxins in corn and peanuts naturally contaminated with aflatoxins and in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, peanut butter, and poultry feed spiked with aflatoxins B1, B2, and G1. The 3 methods were an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening test; a monoclonal antibody-affinity column-solid-phase separation method; and the AOAC official thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods for all except poultry feed, for which Shannon's TLC method for mixed feed was used. The ELISA test is designed to provide only positive results for total aflatoxins at greater than or equal to 20 ng/g or negative results at less than 20 ng/g. The affinity column separation is coupled with either bromination solution fluorometry to estimate total aflatoxins or liquid chromatography (LC) to quantitate individual aflatoxins. Fluorodensitometry was used to determine aflatoxins in commodities analyzed by the TLC methods. The LC and TLC results were in good agreement for all the analyses. The results for the affinity column using bromination solution fluorometry were similar except those for cottonseed, which were about 60% higher. The ELISA screening method correctly identified naturally contaminated corn and peanut positive samples. No false positives were found for controls. The correct response for spiked corn, raw peanuts, peanut butter, and cottonseed at greater than or equal to 20 ng aflatoxins/g was about 90%. The correct response for spiked poultry feed at greater than or equal to 20 ng aflatoxins/g was about 50%.