Development of an HPLC assay to determine fluazuron residues in bovine tissues

IMPERIALE, F.; FARIAS, C.; IEZZI, S.; SALLOVITZ, J.; LANUSSE, C.

Tandil, Pcia. Bs. As.

Congreso; XL Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental; 2008

Sociedad Argentina de Farmacología Experimental

Fluazuron (FZ) is a halogenated benzoylurea insecticide extensively used in cattle for tick control. Development of adequate analytical methodology is required to assess FZ residues in tissues from treated animals derived to human consumption. A simple reversed-phase HPLC analytical method with ultraviolet detection at 260 nm was developed, validated and applied for quantitative determination of FZ in bovine plasma and tissues. Linearity, precision, recovery and limit of quantification of the method were determined. Drug extraction from samples was effectively performed using liquid extraction and clean up by solid phase extraction. Regression analyses were linear over the concentration range examined (from 0.1 to 10 mg/ml) and correlation coefficients of calibration lines were >0.99. The developed HPLC method allowed the quantification of FZ up to 0.1 mg/ml (plasma) and 0.5 mg/g (tissues) with internationally accepted coefficient of variations (<15%). Recovery values were higher than 70 %. The results obtained indicated that the developed chromatographic method is selective, accurate and easy to reproduce. The analytical method described here is a useful tool for the measurement of this insecticide molecule in different bovine tissues.