Immunochemical screening and liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric confirmation of drug residues in edible tissues of calves injected with a therapeutic dose of the synthetic glucocorticoids dexamethasone and flumethasone.
A field study was performed to assess the drug residue level in edible tissues after a therapeutic application of the synthetic glucocorticoids dexamethasone and flumethasone. Three diseased calves were injected intramuscularly with a commercial batch of dexamethasone esters and slaughtered 72 h after treatment. Another three calves were injected intramuscularly with an aqueous flumethasone preparation and slaughtered 24 h later. Residues of synthetic glucocorticoids in liver, muscle, kidney, and urine were assessed by competitive enzyme immunoassay. All dexamethasone concentrations exceeded the maximal residue level of 0.75 microg/kg in muscle and kidney and 2 microg/kg in the liver. The presence of both dexamethasone and flumethasone in the liver was confirmed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These results indicate that liver tissue provides a suitable matrix to monitor the presence of illegal residues of synthetic glucocorticoids in slaughtered animals.
Van Den Hauwe
Olivia
O
Laboratory of Food Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, Belgium. olivia.vandenhauwe@rug.ac.be
Schneider
Manuela
M
Sahin
Ali
A
Van Peteghem
Carlos H
CH
Naegeli
Hanspeter
H
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D005443:Flumethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005443:Flumethasone