Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche ''Togo Rosati''

Authors    Stella R, Bovo D, Mastrorilli E, Manuali E, Pezzolato M, Bozzetta E, Lega F, Angeletti R, Biancotto G

Abstract   Surveillance of illegal use of growth promoters such as β2-agonists in food producing animals rely on the detection of drug residues by LC-MS/MS. Screening strategies focusing on indirect physiological responses following administration of active compounds are promising approaches to strengthen existing targeted methods and ensure food safety. A metabolomics analysis based on LC-HRMS was carried out on liver extracts from bulls experimentally treated with clenbuterol combined with dexamethasone (n = 8) to mimic a potential anabolic practice, and control animals (n = 8). Nicotinic acid and 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine were identified as biomarkers of treatment. Ratio values of such markers to others of the same metabolic pathways (nicotinamide or methionine) were used to develop a classification model to assign animals as treated with clenbuterol or non-treated. The classification model was tested on an external validation set comprising 74 animals either treated with different anabolic compounds (β2-agonists, sexual steroids, corticosteroid), or non-treated, showing 100% sensitivity and specificity.

Publish Date  2021

Volume    353

ISSN        1873-7072

DOI          doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129366

URL          https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814621003721?via%3Dihub

Journal    Food Chemistry

Pages      art. n. 129366

PMID       33838430