Determination of sulfachloropyridazine residue levels in feathers from broiler chickens after oral administration using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Several antimicrobials are routinely used by the poultry farming industry on their daily operations, however, researchers have found for some antimicrobials that their residues persist for longer periods in feathers than they do in edible tissues, and at higher concentrations, as well. But this information is not known for other classes of antimicrobials, such as the sulfonamides. Therefore, this work presents an accurate and reliable analytical method for the detection of sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) in feathers and edible tissues from broiler chickens. This method was also validated in-house and then used to study the depletion of sulfachloropyridazine in those matrices. The experimental group comprised 54 broiler chickens, who were raised under controlled conditions and then treated with a commercial formulation of 10% sulfachloropyridazine for 5 days. Samples were analyzed via LC-MS/MS, using 13C6-sulfamethazine (SMZ-13C6) as an internal standard. Aromatic sulfonic acid solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were used to clean up the samples. The Limit of Detection (LOD) for this method was set at 10 μg kg-1 on feathers and liver; and at 5 μg kg-1 on muscle. Within the range of 10–100 μg kg-1, the calibration curves for all matrices presented a determination coefficient greater than 0.96. Our results show, with a 95% confidence level, that sulfachloropyridazine persisted in feathers for up to 55 days after ceasing treatment, and its concentrations were higher than in edible tissues. In consequence, to avoid re-entry of antimicrobial residues into the food-chain, we recommend monitoring and inspecting animal diets that contain feather derivatives, such as feathers meals, because they could be sourced from birds that might have been medicated with sulfachloropyridazine.

Detection of Antimicrobial Residues in Poultry Litter: Monitoring a Risk through a Selective and Sensitive HPLC–MS/MS Method

“…Poultry litter is a heterogeneous compound, consisting mainly of poultry droppings, litter material (e.g., wood shavings), dead skin, food debris, water, microbiota, and poultry feathers [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Moreover, concentrations reaching 2947 μg kg −1 of sulfachloropyridazine and oxytetracycline have been detected on poultry feathers, further contributing to the accumulation of AMs in litter [ 13 , 14 ]. Several families of AMs have already been identified in poultry litter in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 152 mg kg −1 [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

The vertical transmission of antibiotic residues from parent hens to broilers

“…Consequently, there was a need for matrices in which antibiotics could be detected over a longer time span. For the monitoring of antibiotic use in poultry, the analysis of feathers provided a means to detect antibiotic residues with a long detection window, even after they were excreted fully from muscle and liver (San Martín et al 2007;Cornejo et al 2011b;Berendsen et al 2013;Cornejo et al 2017;Pokrant et al 2018;Církva et al 2019;Maddaleno et al 2019). Using such a noninvasive method, antibiotic use during almost the whole lifespan of a broiler can be monitored, making it possible to better enforce registration of antibiotics use aiming for prudent application (Jansen et al 2016(Jansen et al , 2017.…”

Multiresidue Determination of 27 Sulfonamides in Poultry Feathers and Its Application to a Sulfamethazine Pharmacokinetics Study on Laying Hen Feathers and Sulfonamide Residue Monitoring on Poultry Feathers

“…SAs are frequently detected in feather meal, of which the major raw material is poultry feather; sulfamerazine, SMZ, and sulfamethoxazole have been detected at 3.5–173 ng/g concentrations . The concentrations of antimicrobials are higher in feathers than in edible tissues, such as liver and muscle samples. − Pokrant et al studied sulfachloropyridazine depletion in feathers from broiler chickens after oral administration. Sulfachloropyridazine persists in feathers for up to 55 days after ceasing treatment, and its concentrations are higher in feathers than in edible tissues .…”

“…The concentrations of antimicrobials are higher in feathers than in edible tissues, such as liver and muscle samples. − Pokrant et al studied sulfachloropyridazine depletion in feathers from broiler chickens after oral administration. Sulfachloropyridazine persists in feathers for up to 55 days after ceasing treatment, and its concentrations are higher in feathers than in edible tissues . These findings suggest that SAs monitoring in livestock production based on feather analysis is possible.…”