Resorcylic Acid Lactones in Urine Samples of Croatian Farm Animals

Detection of ethinyl estradiol and resorcylic acid lactones in poultry meat according to the national residue plan

“…Few studies have been published on screening tests for hormones and other prohibited substances in different matrices 20–22 . The analytical approaches widely used to determine EE or α‐ZAL residues are based on chromatographic techniques, for example, HPLC and LC–MS/MS, 8,10,23 that generally do not contemplate the use of the same method of analysis for the simultaneous determination of such compounds showing different chemical characteristics. The sample preparation proposed in the present study allowed a unique protocol for both the investigated analytes, followed by two specific ELISA tests.…”

“…Specifically, after ingestion of feed contaminated with ZEN, two major metabolites (i.e., α‐ZEL and β‐ZEL) are formed in the intestine and liver of the animal and then reduced into α‐ZAL and β‐ZAL, respectively 9 . While in EU Member States α‐ZAL is included in the category of prohibited substances, its use is allowed in the United States and Canada due to effects on the weight of animals and the feed conversion 10 …”

“…9 While in EU Member States α-ZAL is included in the category of prohibited substances, its use is allowed in the United States and Canada due to effects on the weight of animals and the feed conversion. 10 In Italy, the official control laboratories designated in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2017/625 11 for the analysis of samples collected in the frame of the national residue plan (NRP) are the Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali, that are distinguished by their territory of competence. The NRP is structured according to the Legislative Decree No 158 of 16 March 2006 12 that adopted the following Directives, the Council Directive 96/22/EC 13 concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of β-agonists, and the Council Directive 96/23/EC 14 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products.…”

“…idues are based on chromatographic techniques, for example, HPLC and LC-MS/MS,8,10,23 that generally do not contemplate the use of the same method of analysis for the simultaneous determination of such compounds showing different chemical characteristics. The sample preparation proposed in the present study allowed a unique protocol for both the investigated analytes, followed by two specific ELISA tests.The results obtained for CCβ (0.5 μg/kg for all the investigated analytes) were then compared with the values reported in other studies based on mass spectrometry, that is, the only analytical technique recognized as confirmation method for banned substances by the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC.…”