title: Quantification of ionophores in aged poultry litter using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: Veterinary anticoccidials, biochemically known as ionophores, are widely used in poultry feed at therapeutic levels to treat Coccidiosis and at sub-therapeutic levels for growth- promotion. Commonly used ionophores in the US poultry industry are monensin, salinomycin, lasalocid and narasin. There is an increasing concern regarding the persistence of these anticoccidials in the environment. However, little attention has been directed to methods development for quantitatively measuring ionophores in complex environmental matrices such as poultry litters that are land applied. Here, we describe a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method developed for simultaneous quantification of monensin, lasalocid, salinomycin, and narasin in aged poultry litter samples. Results show significant level of monensin (97.8 ± 3.2 μg kg⁻¹), lasalocid (19.2 ± 6.6 μg kg⁻¹), salinomycin (70 ± 2.7 μg kg⁻¹) and narasin (57.3 ± 2.6 μg kg⁻¹) in poultry litter stored for over three years at < 5°C. Our findings indicate that even after several years of unmanaged storage of poultry litter, ionophores may continue to persist in this matrix, raising the possibility of prolonged release into the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Saptashati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapkota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007476:Ionophores / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011200:Poultry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007476:Ionophores