Screening method for detecting cross-contamination residues of tiamulin in swine feeds

A method was developed for the determination of tiamulin (TML), 14-deoxy-14-(2-diethylaminoethyl)mercaptoacetoxy]mutilin hydrogen fumarate, a semisynthetic derivative of the naturally occurring antibiotic pleuromutilin produced by the fungus Pleurotus mutilis. This drug, with high activity against Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative bacteria, and several strains of mycoplasms is administered to animals in food, drinking water, or by injection; however, its chemical structure causes problems in analysis of feeds. Although the molecule is charged below pH 8, attempts to analyze TML-containing extracts on ion-exchange columns or other polar stationary phases have failed. Additionally, TML shows no fluorescence activity and only poor UV activity. The present method consists of organic solvent extraction followed by liquid chromatography with UV detection. A low wavelength (208 nm) was used for detection. Limits of detection and quantitation, as well as data for recovery and repeatability obtained during characterization of the method, are described. The applicability of the optimized method was tested by analyzing commercial blank feeds processed after TML-medicated feeds.