Susceptibility of the adult house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and 3 of its principal parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to the GHA strain of Beauveria bassiana and 4 isolates from field-collected muscid flies.

House fly (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) populations can negatively impact poultry layer facilities, posing a risk to human and animal health and egg food safety. House flies quickly develop resistance to traditional chemical control methods; therefore, improved biological control may provide opportunities for improved integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Biological control methods currently used include augmentative releases of pteromalid pupal parasitoids and application of the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin. This study used bioassays to compare the impact of different B. bassiana strains on survival of house flies and of 3 species of filth fly parasitoids. The B. bassiana that were compared were 3 new field-collected isolates, an older field-collected isolate (L90), and a common commercially available strain (GHA). Flies and parasitoids were exposed to filter paper treated with 1.5 × 109 spores of each strain and a control. All field-isolated strains induced lower mean survival times in house flies than GHA did. The results for all species of parasitoids demonstrated less difference among the treatment groups and the control than in-house flies. Although there was some effect of B. bassiana exposure on parasitoid mortality, the expected spatial separation of parasitoids from areas of application may offer some protection. Using the most effective tested strains of B. bassiana and filth fly parasitoids jointly could be a biological component of an IPM plan for fly control in poultry facilities.

Detection and quantification of low-molecular-weight aldehydes in pharmaceutical excipients by headspace gas chromatography.

The adverse effect of reactive chemical residues on the quality of drug products has necessitated the determination of low-molecular-weight aldehydes in pharmaceutical excipients. An analytical methodology for the detection of trace amounts of C1-C8 aliphatic aldehydes and benzaldehyde in excipients is described. The proposed procedure is based on the derivatization of aldehydes in aqueous solution with O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA), followed by static headspace gas chromatographic (SHS-GC) analysis of PFBHA aldehyde oximes with negative chemical ionization (NCI) MS detection. The method developed was demonstrated to be simple, selective, sensitive, and was successfully applied to the screening of aldehydes at sub-microg/g levels in over 30 typical excipients. The most abundant aldehydes found in the samples were formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, for which a rapid and reliable routine quantification method by readily available SHS-GC instrumentation coupled with flame-ionization detection was also developed and validated.

Analysis of organic volatile impurities in pharmaceutical excipients by static headspace capillary gas chromatography.

A systematic approach for the identification and quantification of organic volatile impurities (OVIs) in pharmaceutical excipients is described. Analytical procedures utilizing static headspace capillary gas chromatography coupled with flame-ionization and MS detection techniques were developed for the analysis of toxic ICH class 1 solvents and US Pharmacopeia OVIs at sub-ppm levels, and commonly used organic solvents in a wide range of concentrations. Chromatographic conditions and headspace parameters for the methods were optimized for separation, sensitivity, and speed. The proposed methodologies were demonstrated to be selective, accurate, and reproducible, and were successfully applied to the rapid screening of OVIs in typical excipients.

Static headspace gas chromatographic analysis of the residual solvents in gel extrusion module tablet formulations.

A rapid static headspace-gas chromatographic (SHS-GC) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of residual solvents in pharmaceutical gel extrusion module (GEM) tablet formulations. A static headspace sampling technique was utilized to overcome the difficulties imposed by direct injection methods. A Rtx-1701 megabore capillary column was selected to achieve optimal resolution among organic volatile chemicals used commonly in the manufacturing of GEM tablets, residual solvents in the active ingredient and excipients, and other formulation matrix artifacts. A 50-mM pH 3.0 sodium phosphate buffer was used as a sample diluent to minimize matrix effects. The instrumental parameters of the SHS-GC method were optimized for sensitivity and precision. Quantitation was performed by external standard analysis. The SHS-GC method was validated according to regulatory requirements and produced acceptable results with respect to specificity, linearity, range, detection and quantitation limits, precision, and accuracy.