Free Access
Issue
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 4, July-August 2000
Page(s) 517 - 524
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000103
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000103

Apidologie 31 (2000) 517-524

Analysis of oxytetracycline in extender patties

Jan Kochansky

USDA ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Building 476, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
(Received 5 August 1999; revised 15 February 2000; accepted 7 March 2000)

Abstract:

Antibiotic extender patties, consisting of sugar, vegetable shortening, and oxytetracycline (OTC, usually as the hydrochloride), are used for treatment/prevention of foulbrood in honey bees. An analytical method was developed to determine the concentration in the patties and to allow a study of deterioration over time. Trituration of a sample with EDTA-treated C18 silica gel, removal of the shortening with isooctane, and elution of the OTC with methanol/acetonitrile gave a solution that could be analyzed by HPLC. Different concentrations and total amounts of OTC have been recommended by different authors. Not all newly-procured samples contained the same level of OTC, and the concentration decreased about 4% per year with storage at room temperature.


Keywords: oxytetracycline / solid-phase extraction / HPLC / American foulbrood / European

Correspondence and reprints: Jan Kochansky
E-mail: jkochans@asrr.arsusda.gov

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