Comprehensive stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection method for simultaneous determination of amprolium hydrochloride and ethopabate in powder dosage form for veterinary use.

This research deals with the development of a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous determination of amprolium hydrochloride and ethopabate. To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive stability-indicating method has been reported for analysis of this mixture. Separation was achieved using Kromasil cyano column with gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of sodium hexane sulfonate solution and methanol. Quantification was based on measuring peak areas at 266 nm. Amprolium and ethopabate peaks eluted at retention times 10.42 and 18.53 min, respectively. The proposed procedure was validated with respect to system suitability, linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness, detection, and quantification limits. Linearity ranges for amprolium and ethopabate were 1.5-240 and 1-160 µg/mL, respectively. Analytes were subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation and thermal degradation. The proposed method enabled resolution of drugs from their forced-degradation products and amprolium related substance (2-picoline). Moreover, specificity was verified by resolution of the analytes from about 22 drugs used in antimicrobial veterinary products. The validated method was successfully applied to assay of the combined veterinary powder dosage form, additionally it was implemented in the accelerated stability study of the dosage form when stored for six months at 40°C and 75% relative humidity.

Five different spectrophotometric methods for determination of Amprolium hydrochloride and Ethopabate binary mixture.

Five simple, specific, accurate and precise UV-spectrophotometric methods are adopted for the simultaneous determination of Amprolium hydrochloride (AMP) and Ethopabate (ETH), a binary mixture with overlapping spectra, without preliminary separation. The first method is first derivative of the ratio spectra ((1)DD) for determination of AMP and ETH at 234.7nm and 306.8nm respectively with mean percentage recoveries 99.76±0.907 and 100.29±0.842 respectively. The second method is the mean centering of the ratio spectra for determination of AMP and ETH at 238.8nm and 313nm respectively with mean percentage recoveries 100.26±1.018 and 99.94±1.286 respectively. The third method is based on dual wavelength selection for determination of AMP and ETH at 235.3nm & 308nm and 244nm & 268.4nm respectively with mean percentage recoveries 99.30±1.097 and 100.03±1.065 respectively. The fourth method is ratio difference method for determination of AMP and ETH at 239nm & 310nm and 239nm & 313nm respectively with mean percentage recoveries 99.27±0.892 and 100.40±1.814 respectively. The fifth one is area under the curve (AUC) method where the areas between 235.6-243nm and 268.3-275nm are selected for determination of AMP and ETH with mean percentage recoveries 100.35±1.031 and 100.39±0.956 respectively. These methods are tested by analyzing synthetic mixtures of the two drugs and they are applied to their pharmaceutical veterinary preparation. Methods are validated according to the ICH guidelines and accuracy, precision and repeatability are found to be within the acceptable limit.

Field amplified sample injection-capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of amprolium in eggs.

Veterinary medicines are widely administered to farm animals since they keep animals healthy at overcrowded conditions. Nevertheless the continuous administration of medicines to farm animals can frequently lead to the presence of residues of veterinary drugs in consumption products. Amprolium is a quaternary ammonium compound used in the treatment of coccidiosis. In this paper, a method based on CZE to analyze residues of amprolium in eggs was developed and validated for the first time. Parameters such as electrolyte type, concentration, and pH were optimized. In order to improve sensitivity, field-amplified sample injection (FASI) was used for in-line preconcentration after a quick and simple sample treatment based on SPE (Envi-Carb). During method-validation studies using egg samples, a matrix interference was found at the migration time of amprolium. This compound was identified as thiamine and confirmed by MS(n) experiments using CE coupled to MS (CE-MS) with an ion-trap mass analyzer. CZE conditions were reoptimized to separate thiamine from amprolium allowing the quantification of amprolium in eggs at concentrations down to 75 µg/kg, which are far below the MRL-legislated values.

Analysis of amprolium by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

We present a fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the analysis of the coccidiostat amprolium in food samples. Tandem mass spectrometry in a triple quadrupole was used for quantitative purposes, and the information from multiple-stage mass spectrometry in an ion-trap mass analyzer contributed to fragmentation studies. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) in a Fused-Core column using isocratic elution (acetonitrile:formic acid/ammonium formate buffer pH 4, 50 mM (60:40)) successfully analyzed this compound in less than 3 min. The HILIC system was coupled to heated electrospray-MS/MS using highly selective-selected reaction monitoring (H-SRM) to improve sensitivity and selectivity for the analysis of amprolium, after a simple sample treatment based on an "extract and shoot" strategy. Accurate mass measurements were performed to identify the interfering compound responsible for causing matrix ion enhancement in the signal of amprolium. The addition of l-carnitine (the interfering compound) (1 microg L(-1)) to standards and sample extracts allowed the use of the external calibration method for quantitative purposes. The LC-MS/MS (H-SRM) method showed good precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, lower than 13%), accuracy and linearity and allowed the determination of amprolium down to the ppb level (LODs between 0.1 and 0.6 microg kg(-1)).

Determination of amprolium in feed by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method.

As a consequence of the finding of veterinarian drugs in food European Community banned several compounds like coccidiostats as amprolium (APL). This antibiotic has been used as a preventive and clinical anticoccidial drug in chicken. The 2005/187/CE, 2005/925/EC Recommendations ban the use of amprolium as additive in chicken feed. For this reason a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed to detect amprolium in chicken feed following the European community proposed technique (1999/27/EC) for sample preparation. Cause the validation is required for the analytical methods used in feed official control, this method was validated according to 2004/882/EC Regulation.

Determination of amprolium, carbadox, monensin, and tylosin in surface water by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Antibiotics present in the environment are recently considered as emerging contaminants, and have raised increasing concerns about their potential risks to ecosystems and human health. In addition to the utilization for treatment, antibiotics are also routinely added as supplements in livestock feed to promote animal growth. A portion of the administered dose used for these purposes can be excreted into animal manure, and land application of the animal manure as plant fertilizers enhances the dissemination of antibiotics in the environment. It is a common practice to simultaneously administer multiple classes of antibiotics to livestock in an animal production farm. This study attempts to develop a protocol to determine four commonly used veterinary pharmaceuticals, amprolium, carbadox, monensin, and tylosin, in surface runoff from a livestock farm. A single-cartridge solid-phase extraction procedure was developed to simultaneously extract these veterinary antibiotics from surface water which were subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The extraction recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 89 to 113%, and the limits of quantitation were 8, 25, 1, and 35 ng/L for amprolium, carbodox, monensin, and tylosin, respectively. In the surface runoff from a livestock farm, amprolium was most frequently detected with the concentration range of 10-288 ng/L. Monensin was frequently detected with concentrations up to 37 ng/L. Tylosin was detected in two out of eleven samples, and carbadox was not detected in the surface runoff. The results indicate that the developed analytical method can be utilized to determine multiple classes of veterinary antibiotics present in surface runoff originating from animal farms.

Evaluation of a Bacillus stearothermophilus tube test as a screening tool for anticoccidial residues in poultry.

A Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis C953 tube test was evaluated for its ability in detecting the residue of selected anticoccidial drugs in poultry, specially sulfamethazine, furazolidone, and amprolium. Various concentrations of each drug were injected into chicken liver and kidney tissues and these tissues were tested to determine the drug detection limits for each drug. The detection limit was defined as the drug concentration at which 95 % of the test results were interpreted as positive. The limits of detection in liver tissue were 0.35 microgram/ml for furazolidone, 0.70 microgram/ml for sulfamethazine and 7.80 microgram/ml for amprolium. In kidney tissues, they were 0.30 microgram/ml for furazolidone, 0.54 microgram/ml for sulfamethazine, and 7.6 microgram/ml for amprolium. It was concluded that this tube test could be used to screen for the residue of these three drugs in poultry.

Evaluation of a Bacillus stearothermophilus tube test as a screening tool for anticoccidial residues in poultry

A Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis C953 tube test was evaluated for its ability in detecting the residue of selected anticoccidial drugs in poultry, specically sulfamethazine, furazolidone, and amprolium. Various concentrations of each drug were injected into chicken liver and kidney tissues and these tissues were tested to determine the drug detection limits for each drug. The detection limit was defined as the drug concentration at which 95% of the test results were interpreted as positive. The limits of detection in liver tissue were 0.35 microgram/ml for furazolidone, 0.70 microgram/ml for sulfamethazine and 7.80 microgram/ ml for amprolium. In kidney tissues, they were 0.30 microgram/ml for furazolidone, 0.54 microgram/ml for sulfamethazine, and 7.6 microgram/ml for amprolium. It was concluded that this tube test could be used to screen for the residue of these three drugs in poultry.

Further studies on the spectrophotometric determination of amprolium.

The official AOAC spectrophotometric analytical method for amprolium in feeds (961.24) is quantitatively selective for the intact drug in the presence of its primary degradation products. Concentrations evaluated included mixtures of the individual degradates in the presence of amprolium, as well as an equimolar mixture of the 2 degradates. Neither compound responds to the amprolium colorimetric derivatization reaction under any conditions, demonstrating that the official method can be used as an analytical technique for demonstrating the stability of amprolium in medicated feeds. Additionally, liquid chromatography conditions have been established to resolve amprolium from its degradation products.

Simplified high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of residual amprolium in edible chicken tissues.

A simplified determining method for the routine monitoring of residual amprolium in edible chicken tissues (muscle and liver) is developed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with a photodiode-array detector after sample cleanup by an Ultrafree-MC/PL centrifugal ultrafiltration unit. For the HPLC determination and identification, a Mightysil RP-4 GP column and a mobile phase of an ethanol-5 mM 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium salt solution (35:65, v/v) using an ion-pairing system with a photodiode-array detector are used. Average recoveries (spiked at 0.3-3.0 microg/g) are > 90%. The inter- and intravariabilities are 1.9-2.4%. The limits of quantitation are 0.22 microg/g for muscle and 0.25 microg/g for liver. The total time and solvent required for the analysis of one sample are < 20 min and < 2 mL of ethanol, respectively. No toxic solvents and regents are used.

Simplified high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of residual amprolium in edible chicken tissues.

A simplified determining method for the routine monitoring of residual amprolium in edible chicken tissues (muscle and liver) is developed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with a photodiode-array detector after sample cleanup by an Ultrafree-MC/PL centrifugal ultrafiltration unit. For the HPLC determination and identification, a Mightysil RP4 GP column and a mobile phase of an ethanol-5 mM 1-heptanesulfonic acid sodium salt solution (35:65, v/v) using an ion-pairing system with a photodiode-array detector are used. Average recoveries (spiked at 0.3-3.0 microg/g) are > 90%. The inter- and intravariabilities are 1.9-2.4%. The limits of quantitation are 0.22 microg/g for muscle and 0.25 microg/g for liver. The total time and solvent required for the analysis of one sample are < 20 min and < 2 mL of ethanol, respectively. No toxic solvents and regents are used.

Determination of lignocaine and amprolium in pharmaceutical formulations using AAS.

The ion-associate complexes of lignocaine hydrochloride (Lig.Cl) with ammonium reineckate (Rk) or sodium cobaltithiocyanate, and that of amprolium hydrochloride (Amp.Cl) with ammonium reineckate, have been prepared. The precipitated ion-associates were subjected to elemental analyses, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determination of the metal content for elucidation of their structures. The solubilities of the solid ion-associate complexes have been studied and their solubility products were determined at different temperatures at the optimum pH for their quantitative precipitation. The thermodynamic parameters DeltaH, DeltaG and DeltaS for the dissolution of the ion-associate complexes were calculated. These ion-associate complexes have been used for the quantitative determination of the above mentioned drugs by precipitating them with an excess of the inorganic metal complex ions and determining the excess metal complex ions using atomic absorption spectrometry. The method was applied for the determination of the above drugs in pure solution and pharmaceutical preparations. 0.135-135.4 and 0.158-157.6 mg of lignocaine and amprolium, respectively, can be determined with mean relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) 0.92-1.20% and recovery values of 99.18+/-0.48 to 100.12+/-0.34% indicating high precision and accuracy.

Determination of halofuginone and amprolium in chicken muscle and egg by liquid chromatography.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for simultaneous measurement of halofuginone (HFN) and amprolium (APL) in chicken muscle and egg. HFN and APL were extracted from chicken muscle and egg with acetonitrile. In chicken egg, they were partially purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE) to separate them from impurities. The LC separation was performed on a 4.6 mm id x 250 mm TSK-gel ODS-80TM column using acetonitrile-McIlvaine buffer, pH 3.4, containing 0.01M sodium lauryl sulfate (42 + 58) as the mobile phase. Ultraviolet detection of HFN and APL was performed at wavelengths of 242 and 265 nm, respectively. Recoveries of HFN and APL from chicken muscle spiked at 0.5 microg/g were 74.8 +/- 17.7 and 94.2 +/- 5.0%, respectively (mean +/- standard deviation [SD], n = 10). In chicken muscle, the lower limit of determination for both APL and HFN was 0.03 microg/g. Recoveries of HFN and APL from chicken egg spiked at 0.5 microg/g by a cleanup procedure using SPE were 54.6 +/- 3.4 and 85.0 +/- 2.4%, respectively (mean +/- SD, n = 5). In chicken egg, the lower limit of determination for both APL and HFN was 0.04 microg/g.

High performance liquid chromatographic assay of amprolium and ethopabate in chicken feed using solid-phase extraction.

A method for the assay of mixtures of amprolium and ethopabate in chicken feed was developed utilizing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after sample clean-up of a methanolic extract by solid-phase extraction using CN cartridges. HPLC was done with benzocaine as internal standard on a C-8 column with methanol-water 40:60, containing octanesulfonic acid, triethylamine and acetic acid, as mobile phase. Eluate was monitored at 274 nm. Baseline separation was achieved with retention times of approximately 7.5, 9.4, and 10.4 min, for amprolium, benzocaine, and ethopabate respectively. Feed constituents did not give peaks after 6.5 min. Peak area ratios were linear over 10-180 ng of amprolium, and 2-18 ng of ethopabate injected. Limits of quantitation at AUFS 0.05 were 0.5 and 0.3 ng respectively. Recovery studies from spiked feed (n = 9), covering +/- 30% of usual doses in feed, gave percent recoveries (+/- SD) of 99.4 +/- 1.4% for amprolium and 100.5 +/- 2.6% for ethopabate. Applying the method to two different batches of commercial feed gave results which were comparable to those obtained by the AOAC spectrofluorometric methods.

[Amprolium residues in eggs following administration of amprolium/ethopabate in laying hens and breeding hens]. / Residuen van amprolium in eieren na toediening van amprolium/ethopabaat aan leghennen en opfokleghennen.

Amprolium may be used as a coccidiostat in rearing hens and is a therapeutical agent used in laying hens. As a result of cross contamination, low amprolium levels may occur in feed. Feed containing a concentration of amprolium ranging from 5 to 250 mg/kg was therefore supplied to groups of laying hens. The amprolium residues in the yolks during and after treatment were subsequently determined. These levels varied from 1.75 mg/kg in the group fed 250 mg/kg to 0.2 mg/kg in the group fed 5 mg/kg. Amprolium levels in the whites of eggs were much lower than those in the yolks. The residues in yolks decreased below detectable levels (less than 0.005 mg/kg) within approximately ten days after treatment. Rearing hens in a tiered wire floor system were given amprolium in their feed until the first egg was laid. Amprolium residues in yolks were detected for well over a fortnight after the onset of laying. The amprolium residues determined in yolk did not exceed US tolerance levels of 8 mg/kg.

Determination of amprolium in egg yolk and muscle tissue (chicken) by HPLC with post-column reaction and fluorometric detection, using on-line sample clean-up and pre-concentration steps.

A continuous flow system was coupled to a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, resulting in an automated system for the determination of amprolium in egg yolk and (chicken) muscle tissue. The sample was diluted (yolk) or extracted (tissue) with water, and the solution obtained was dialysed against water as the recipient stream. Aliquots of the dialysed solutions were pumped onto a short pre-concentration column. By means of the mobile phase, the concentrate was back-flushed onto the analytical column and amprolium was separated from interfering substances, using a reversed phase ion-pair system. Amprolium was post-column oxidized to amprochrome, which was detected fluorometrically. Linear calibration curves for both yolk an muscle tissue were obtained in the 10-250 micrograms/kg range. The detection limit is approximately 3 micrograms/kg. This method was applied to eggs and muscle tissue, which were commercial obtained. Egg yolk was found to be frequently contaminated with low levels of amprolium (29.4% positive of 266 samples investigated; mean concentration of positive samples = 58 micrograms/kg), whereas only a few muscle samples contained detectable levels (4.9% positive of 81 samples investigated; mean concentration of positive samples = 5 micrograms/kg).

Ion-pair reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of amprolium in complete feeds and premixes.

Amprolium is extracted with methanol-water (2 + 1) containing 5mM dioctylsulfosuccinate (DOSS) and 10mM CaCl2. The analyte is separated from coextracted materials by isocratic ion-pair reverse-phase liquid chromatography, following removal of late-eluting materials on an acid alumina cleanup column, and is detected at 270 nm. The mobile phase contains 4mM DOSS with 0.3% diethylamine and 1% acetic acid in 40% acetonitrile. Linearity is satisfactory over the range of 2.5-50 micrograms/mL. Mean recovery, as determined by standard addition to commercial samples, is 100.1%. Accuracy was further tested in studies comparing the LC method to the official AOAC colorimetric method, using commercial samples, and was found to be satisfactory. Studies show that common poultry feed additives, grass meals, and some pelletization aids do not interfere with the analysis; however, when bentonite is present, recovery is decreased. The precision of the method, measured over several experiments on commercial samples, is satisfactory as indicated by coefficients of variation ranging from less than 1 to 4.5. A ruggedness test resulted in an overall CV of 3.2%, indicating the probable success of the method in a collaborative study.

Liquid chromatographic determination of amprolium in poultry feed and premixes using postcolumn chemistry with fluorometric detection.

Two extraction and liquid chromatographic procedures are presented which separate amprolium from compounds in poultry feed or premixes that could interfere with its fluorometric determination. The procedures are based on earlier work on the determination of thiamine in food samples. Amprolium is extracted from feed with a hexane-aqueous sulfosalicylic acid mix, separated on a C18 column, and detected fluorometrically after postcolumn derivatization. For premixes, water extraction is used. Values for the amprolium content of poultry feed obtained with these procedures are in good agreement with those obtained with AOAC official methods. It is suggested that these methods with suitable modifications may be of use for routine analysis of amprolium in feeds. The overall methods are rapid and appear to give reasonable results.

Liquid chromatographic determination of amprolium in chicken tissues, using post-column reaction and fluorometric detection.

A method is presented for determination of amprolium residues in chicken muscles by a liquid chromatographic post-column reaction system. The drug is extracted from muscles with methanol, and the extract is concentrated to 3-4 mL. This aqueous solution is rinsed with n-hexane and cleaned up by alumina column chromatography. The drug is separated from the interferences on a LiChrosorb RP-8 column, reacted with ferricyanide in alkaline solution, and quantitated by fluorometric detection at 367 nm (excitation) and 470 nm (emission). Recoveries of amprolium added to chicken muscles at levels of 0.1 and 0.2 ppm were 74.9 and 80.9%, respectively. The detection limit was 1 ng for amprolium standard and 0.01 ppm in chicken muscles.

Thiamin inadequacy in infants: lack of evidence of amprolium in egg yolk.

This study investigated the hypothesis that the consumption of egg yolks might lead to thiamin inadequacy in infants because of the possible contamination of the egg yolks with amprolium. Earlier workers showed that the presence of amprolium in the diet inhibits the absorption of thiamin. Amprolium is added to some poultry feeds to control coccidiosis: it is readily incorporated in the egg yolk and egg yolk is one of the solid foods offered to infants at weaning. We found that under current commercial poultry feeding practices in WA it is extremely unlikely that any amprolium would be present in commercial eggs or poultry. Amprolium was undetectable in eggs purchased at several retail outlets. Thus there is no evidence that consumption of egg yolk contributes to thiamin inadequacy in infants.