title: A simple reagent-free spectrophotometric assay for monitoring metronidazole therapy in aquarium water.
abstract: A reagent-free spectrophotometric assay was developed to measure the concentration of metronidazole (a 5-nitroimidazole) in both freshwater and seawater matrices. This assay is simple, repeatable, sensitive, and precise and is ideal for use when a rapid, selective test to determine metronidazole concentration in aqueous matrices is necessary. The assay was practically tested on a South American fishes display during treatment with metronidazole for an outbreak of the flagellated parasite Spironucleus in a mixed cichlid (family Cichlidae) and tetra (family Characidae) community. The assay clearly illustrated the course of treatment for the system during a real clinical application. The assay is not without limitations, as interferences can occur from other drugs in the matrix with similar absorbance spectra. Nonetheless, this type of assay illustrates the potential for use of native absorbance assays in aqueous matrices for this and other therapeutic compounds.
authors.affiliation: a Veterinary Services and Conservation Medicine , Georgia Aquarium. 225 Baker Street , Atlanta , Georgia , 30313 , USA.
authors.forename: D Harry
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marrero
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merriwether
authors.forename: Alistair D M
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Dove
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014867:Water; D008795:Metronidazole