Method development and validation for simultaneous quantitation of ivermectin, doramectin and moxidectin in muscle by using LC-MS/MS in positive ESI mode

A comparatively simple, sensitive and rapid analytical method has been developed and validated to determine the residues of avermectins, such as ivermectin, doramectin and moxidectin in muscle using LC-MS/MS in positive ionization mode. The MRM transitions 892.71 >569.6, 892.71 >551.5 for ivermectin, 916.88 >593.83, 916.88 >331.40 for doramectin and 640.85 >199.03, 640.85 >498.61 for moxidectin have been used for the purpose of quantification and evaluation of other parameters of the method. In order to establish the LOD and LOQ, the matrix muscle is spiked with the ivermectin, doramectin and moxidectin (taking into account the sample weight and the dilution factor). The LOD and LOQ are found to be 0.1 μg/kg and 0.2 μg/kg for ivermectin and doramectin, respectively. For moxidectin, the LOD and LOQ are found to be 0.2 μg/kg and 0.5 μg/kg, respectively. The developed method allows the detection, quantitation and confirmation of macrolide endectosides in chicken muscle present at trace levels with high precision, accuracy and sensitivity by using simple extraction procedure