The presence of cereals and grains in the formulation of pet foods suggests the need to control aflatoxin contamination in these foods. The objective of the study was to analyse domestic pet food to determine the occurrence of aflatoxins as well as their risk to animal health. One hundred food samples (45 for dogs, 25 for cats, 30 for birds) were collected at random from pet shops in Alfenas city, south-east Brazil. Thin-layer chromatography was used for separation, identification and quantification of the compounds after validation of the method. Aflatoxins were detected in 12.0% of the samples. Levels of aflatoxins (B(1) + B(2) + G(1) + G(2)) above the maximum limit established in Brazil (50 microg kg(-1)) for animal food were detected in five of the 12 positive samples (41.7%). The concentration of total aflatoxins was 15-374 microg kg(-1) (mean 131 microg kg(-1)). All samples containing peanuts were positive for aflatoxin B(1). Aflatoxins are carcinogenic and their consumption might be a risk for domestic animal health. The high prevalence of aflatoxin B(1) in foods prepared for birds, species highly susceptible to aflatoxins, shows the need for the re-evaluation of the use of peanuts (present in seven of the eight samples positives for aflatoxin) and/or the addition of fungicides to the food.

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The development of a QuEChERS-HPLC-DAD method using a Lichrospher 60 RP-Select B column (250 x 4.6 mm x 5 µm) at 40°C, mobile phase constituted by phosphate buffer:acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) at a initial flow rate of 0.5 mL min -1 , increased by 1.2 mL min -1 and at 265 nm is presented for simultaneous determination of sulphadiazine, sulphametoxipiridazine and sulphamethoxazole in chicken breast samples. QuEchERS is inexpensive, fast and easy, and the extraction of the analytes of the matrix was successfully employed. In addition, the method presented linearity, in the range of 25, 50, 100, 150, 175, and 200 µg kg -1 , precision, selectivity and sensitivity. The intraday precision (RSD %) for QuEChERS method was between 3.6-10.8 (SDZ), 6.9-14.1 (SPZ) and 1.9-10.9 (SMX) and interday precision (RSD%) was between 1.5-9.7, 1.7-4.1 and 2.1-10.2, respectively. Results of accuracy (bias) were in the range of -8.6 to +11.9 %. Therefore, the validated method is clearly useful for the practical residue monitoring of the drugs evaluated in chicken samples, as all the values were within the acceptable criteria used for food safety. Of 6 samples analyzed, none of them showed contamination of the sulphonamides studied at detectable levels. , aumentando 1,2 mL min -1 e a 265 nm é apresentado para a determinação simultânea de sulfadiazina, sulfametoxipiridazina e sulfametoxazol em amostras de peito de frango. O QuEChERS é barato, rápido e fácil, e a extração dos analitos da matriz foi empregada com sucesso. Além disso, o método apresentou linearidade, na faixa de 25, 50, 100, 150, 175 e 200 µg kg -1 , precisão, seletividade e sensibilidade. A precisão intradia (RSD %) para o método QuEChERS foi entre 3,6-10,8 (SDZ), 6,9-14,1 (SPZ) e 1,9-10,9 (SMX) e a precisão interdias (RSD%) foi entre 1,5-9,7, 1,7-4,1 e 2,1-10,1, respectivamente. Resultados de exatidão (tendenciosidade) foram na faixa de -8,6 a +11,9%. Portanto, o método validado é útil para a monitorização de resíduos de medicamentos avaliados em amostras de frangos, bem como todos os valores estavam dentro dos critérios aceitáveis utilizados para a segurança dos alimentos. De seis amostras analisadas, nenhuma apresentou contaminação de sulfonamidas nos níveis detectáveis estudados.

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