Ionization study and simultaneous determination of avermectins and milbemycines in fish tissue by LC-ESI-MS/MS

Abstract

In this study, the simultaneous determination of avermectins (emamectin, eprinomectin, abamectin, doramectin and ivermectin) and milbemycines (moxidectin) in fish tissue with LC-ESI-MS/MS, was studied. Optimum chromatographic separation of target analytes was achieved using a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 mm) analytical column, operated at 40 °C and the composition of the mobile phase used was (A): ACN-MeOH (0.1% HCOOH) (1:1) and (B): 1 mM HCOONH4 (0.1% HCOOH). Various mobile phases were tested and the effect of the mobile phase composition on the analytes ionization was thoroughly examined in an extensive ionization study, aiming to increase the analytes' sensitivity. Deuterated ivermectin (IVR-d₂) was used as an internal standard (IS). Avermectin's and milbemycine's extraction from the fish matrix was conducted with acidified ACN (0.1% HCOOH), followed by QuEChERS methodology. The method developed herein was validated according to the European Legislation requirements (Commission Decision 657/2002/EC) and recoveries ranged from 86 to 106% for all target analytes, with relative standard deviations < 20%. LODs ranged from 0.07 μg/kg (emamectin) to 1.3 μg/kg (doramectin), indicating the excellent sensitivity of the method. The developed methodology was successfully applied to fish samples obtained from aquaculture.

Keywords: Avermectins; Fish; LC-MS/MS; Milbemycines; QuEChERS.