Abstract
17α-methyltestosterone is used to induce the sex reversal of Tilapia sp. to obtain cultures mono-sex to an economically viable. This practice may lead to environmental contamination and problems in human health. Therefore methods need to be developed to detect residues of 17α-methyltestosterone in aqueous matrices. A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detection (245 nm) and testosterone as internal standard has been developed for the monitoring 17α-methyltestosterone in freshwater samples of tilapia aquaculture. The method described involves limited sample preparation as it includes a filtration followed by a single solid-phase extraction step using C18 cartridge. Validation data indicated that the HPLC-UV method for 17α-methyltestosterone determination in the concentration range of 50 - 2000 μg/L provided good linearity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision. Method performance was efficiently applied to monitoring the freshwater samples of fish ponds and the surrounding aquatic channels.
Highlights
One of the most cultivated fishes of freshwater in many developing countries is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detection (245 nm) and testosterone as internal standard has been developed for the monitoring 17α-methyltestosterone in freshwater samples of tilapia aquaculture
The results demonstrate that real sample matrices had no effect on the performance of the proposed method, which is suitable for analysis of trace levels of 17α-methyltestosterone in surface water of fish ponds and the surrounding aquatic channels
Summary
One of the most cultivated fishes of freshwater in many developing countries is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Oreochromis species are characterised by a precocious sexual maturity and a high reproductive efficacy, resulting in over population in ponds. To overcome these negative aspects, tilapia culture has traditionally involved all-male populations. The most common method for producing monosex populations (all-male) is the sex reversal of larvae with the use of feeds containing synthetic sex hormones for 21 days. It was shown that the use of hormone does not result in the accumulation of residues in tissues of fish treated [4,5] there are still concerns about their release into the environment and the reaction of consumers. The most common method for producing monosex populations (all-male) is the sex reversal of larvae with the use of feeds containing synthetic sex hormones for 21 days. 17α-methyltestosterone (MT), 17βhydroxy-17α-methylandrost-4-ene-3-one (Figure 1), is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid, commonly used in newly hatched tilapia fry for sex reversal at a concentration of 60 mg per one kilogram of feed [1-3].
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