A sensitive and robust analytical method for the determination of enramycin residues in swine tissues using
Feifei Sun1, Jicheng Qiu2,3, Jingyuan Kong2,3
1Animal-Derived Food Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.
Abstract:
Enramycin, a common growth promoter utilized in chickens and pigs, is sensitive against Gram-positive bacteria, and the maximum residue limit (MRL) of enramycin set up by is 30 μg/kg. However, the methods have been reported for detecting enramycin have failed to meet the accuracy requirements, with the required limit of quantification being higher than the MRL. To address this issue, we developed a high-sensitive and robust analytical method based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), to determine enramycin residues in swine tissues, including liver, kidney, pork, and fat. The ENV cartridge was selected to cleanup and enrich analytes after being extracted using a mixture of 55% methanol containing 0.2 M hydrochloric acid. With comprehensively validation, this established method was found great linearity of enramycin in each tissue, with a coefficient of variation above 0.99. Satisfactory recoveries from four different spiking levels were acquired (70.99-101.40%) while the relative standard deviations were all below 9%. The limit of quantification of enramycin in the present study is 5 μg/kg in fat and 10 μg/kg in other tissues, meeting the requirements for conducting the corresponding safety evaluation study. This method was demonstrated with excellent specificity, stability, and high sensitivity. To conclude, this novel approach is sufficiently sensitive and robust for the safety evaluation of enramycin in food products.
Insights
A new ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method accurately detects enramycin residues in swine tissues. This sensitive approach meets safety evaluation requirements for enramycin, a common animal growth promoter.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Safety
- Veterinary Pharmacology
Background:
- Enramycin is a widely used growth promoter in poultry and swine, effective against Gram-positive bacteria.
- Existing methods for enramycin residue detection lack the required accuracy, with limits of quantification exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 30 μg/kg.
- Accurate quantification of enramycin is crucial for ensuring food safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a highly sensitive and robust analytical method for determining enramycin residues in various swine tissues.
- To establish a method capable of quantifying enramycin at levels below the established MRL, facilitating safety evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Development of an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method.
- Extraction of enramycin from swine tissues (liver, kidney, pork, fat) using a methanol-hydrochloric acid mixture.
- Cleanup and enrichment of analytes using an ENV cartridge.
Main Results:
- The UHPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated excellent linearity (coefficient of variation > 0.99) across all tested swine tissues.
- Satisfactory recoveries (70.99-101.40%) and low relative standard deviations (< 9%) were achieved at various spiking levels.
- The method's limit of quantification was determined to be 5 μg/kg in fat and 10 μg/kg in other tissues, meeting safety evaluation requirements.
Conclusions:
- The developed UHPLC-MS/MS method is highly sensitive, specific, stable, and robust for enramycin residue analysis in swine tissues.
- This novel analytical approach is suitable for the safety evaluation of enramycin in food products, ensuring compliance with regulatory limits.
