Entomotoxicology: Development and validation of CG-MS and LC/MS-MS methods for nicotine, metanfetamine, endosulfan, and coumatetraryl detection in blowflies

Introduction: In addition to their use in the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) necrophagous blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) may also represent a reliable specimen for toxicological analyses (Entomotoxicology) especially in the absence of tissues and fluids normally taken for such purpose. Numerous researchers have extracted several toxicological substances and measured their effects in altering the morphology, the rate of development and the survival on blowfly immatures associated with remains. The accumulation of such substances in blowflies may compromise their use for the estimation of the minPMI. At present a modest number of substances and insect species/instars have been studied. Furthermore, many early studies utilized analytical procedures which are now obsolete with little/no validation. Methods and Results/Conclusions: This research presents the method validation and the effects on blowflies for: Nicotine in Calliphora vomitoria (L.) by GC-MS. Nicotine is an alkaloid present in the tobacco plant. Nicotine is one of the most deadly poisons known to man and it’s extremely easy to purchase. Methamphetamine in C. vomitoria by GC-MS. Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant synthetic drug originally used as a medical treatment but now a common recreational drug (meth, crystal, and ice). High doeses can cause death. Endosulfan in C. vomitoriaby GC-MS. Endosulfan is a toxic pesticide, responsible for many fatal poisoning incidents around the world. Endosulfan is acutely neurotoxic to both insects and humans. Coumatetralyl in Lucilia sericata (Meigen) by LC/MS-MS. Cumarine compounds are used in anti-coagulant therapies. Coumatetralyl is a product largely used in poisoned baits.