Weight increase of the thyroid gland as a tentative screening parameter to detect the illegal use of thyreostatic compounds in slaughter cattle.
A total of 45 normal or enlarged thyroid glands of adult slaughter cattle were weighed and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography for the presence of residues of the following thyreostatic compounds: thiouracil, methylthiouracil, propylthiouracil, phenylthiouracil, and methimazole. In 21 glands, mostly from imported animals, residues of methylthiouracil or methimazole were detected. These thyroids ranged in weight from 68-245 g (mean value 118 g). Glands in which no residues were found, varied in weight between 20 and 124 g (mean value 42 g). Taking an upper limit of 60 g as normal, 4 out of 22 were false-positive' with respect to the 5 thyreostatic compounds screened for, while no false-negative cases were scored. On the basis of these results the weight increase of the thyroid gland is proposed as a simple indirect parameter in the screening for the illegal use of thyreostatic compounds in slaughter cattle.
Vos
J G
JG
National Institute of Public Health, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
Stephany
R W
RW
Caspers
J W
JW
van Loon
J T
JT
Metzlar
J W
JW
Overhaus
H B
HB
D000818:Animals; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000662:veterinary; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005513:Food Inspection; D008713:Methimazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D008779:Methylthiouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D008713:Methimazole; D008779:Methylthiouracil