Fipronil and Fipronil Sulfone Distribution in Chicken Feathers and Eggs after Oral and Dermal Exposure.

Riccardo Taddeo,Alberto Angioni,Nicola Arru,Mariateresa Russo,Francesco Corrias,Mattia Casula,Rachid Salghi,Alessandro Atzei

doi:10.3390/foods10123077

Riccardo Taddeo, Alberto Angioni + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10123077

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Abstract

This work aimed to investigate the bio-distribution and the persistence of fipronil and its primary metabolite fipronil sulfone after oral and dermal administration by simulating natural farming conditions. Fipronil and fipronil sulfone detection and quantification were performed in different poultry matrices using an LC-MS/MS method coupled with modified QuEChERS extraction. After oral administration, fipronil was detected in feathers at each sampling time, in eggs for 28 days, and in the internal organs at the end of the experiment. After dermal administration, high levels of fipronil were detected in feathers, accounting for 195.85 ± 8.54 mg/kg, which were reduced by a third after 60 days. No traces of fipronil were detected in the eggs or internal organs. In addition, fipronil sulfone showed remarkable residues in all samples in trial 2. The data obtained confirmed that inappropriate use of unauthorized pesticides can lead to severe contamination of entire poultry farms. The contemporary presence of fipronil sulfone in feathers and eggs associated with the lack of fipronil in eggs suggests recent dermal contamination or past oral contamination. Moreover, simultaneous analysis of hens’ feathers and eggs could represent a new method to improve large-scale monitoring programs and animal welfare, limiting their slaughter.

Highlights

Fluocyanobenpyrazole, better known as fipronil, is an insecticide of the phenylpyrazole family developed by Bayer Crop Science in 1987
All the commercial fipronil formulations analyzed in this study showed the contemporary presence of fipronil and fipronil sulfone at different ratios, even if the labels reported only the parent compound (Table 1)
Oral contamination studies have been reported on chicken fed with cyromazine premix or pure fipronil in gelatine capsules [23,29] and on rats with atrazine administrated by oral gavage [33]

Summary

Introduction

Fluocyanobenpyrazole, better known as fipronil, is an insecticide of the phenylpyrazole family developed by Bayer Crop Science in 1987. Fipronil shows broad-spectrum activity and sensitivity against ants, beetles, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, termites, mole crickets, thrips, rootworms, and weevils; and the parasites resistant to organic phosphorus, organic chlorine, pyrethroids, and carbamates [2]. It has no cross-resistance with the pesticides already available in the market. Since fipronil’s introduction, its metabolism, degradation, and bioremediation strategies have been primarily studied in animals and the environment [3,4]. Fipronil degradation is slow on crops and relatively slow in soil and water, depending on the substrate and external conditions [2]

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