Simple method for the determination of anthelmintic drugs in milk intended for human consumption using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

[EN]BACKGROUND: Helminth infections in animals to be consumed by humans are an important medical and public health problem. Pharmaceutical research has focused on developing new anthelmintic drugs for parasite control in these animals. However, the incorrect use of anthelmintics can leave residues in animal products intended for human consumption. Their determination is therefore crucial in terms of food safety. RESULTS: In this work, a simple and sensitive method has been developed for the analysis of anthelmintic drugs in milk. The method involves extraction of the analytes using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method, and separation and determination by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The use of a core-shell column significantly reduced the analysis time compared with conventional columns. The method was validated and applied to the analysis of different commercial milk samples: whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed cows' milk, and goats' milk. None of the benzimidazoles studied was found in the samples analyzed, so these were spiked with the analytes at three concentration levels (10, 50, and 100 ∼g kg−1). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method provided high sensitivity compared with other methods for the determination of anthelmintics in milk samples, at concentration levels well below the established maximum residue limit (MRLs) values. The proposed method is simple, easy, precise, accurate, and leads to good recovery levels. It can be used successfully for the routine analysis