Neoformation of boldenone and related steroids in faeces of veal calves

Giuseppe Pompa (1) , Francesco Arioli (1) , Maria L. Fracchiolla (1) , Carlo A. Sgoifo Rossi (1) , Andrea L. Bassini (2) , Simone Stella (1) , Pierantonio Biondi (1)

1 VSA
2 VSA

Conflicting findings on the boldenone content of bovine faeces suggests it may be synthesised de novo in emitted faeces. We tested this hypothesis by analysing uncontaminated urine, fresh and various forms of dried faeces from 10 calves (not given boldenone) by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for 17alpha- and 17beta-boldenone; 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD); 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AED), testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (ET). Urine contained no alpha BOL, beta BOL or ADD. Analysed substances were variably present in rectal faeces, and at higher levels in faeces scraped from skin or the stall floor. In pooled rectal faeces naturally dried for 13 days, alpha BOL, ADD, AED and ET levels were extremely high (much higher than accounted for by increase due to drying), while beta BOL and T were absent. De novo synthesis of alpha BOL and metabolites occurs naturally in bovine faeces and only uncontaminated urine should be analysed for illegal boldenone.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Giuseppe Pompa, Francesco Arioli, Maria L. Fracchiolla, Carlo A. Sgoifo Rossi, Andrea L. Bassini, et al.. Neoformation of boldenone and related steroids in faeces of veal calves. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2006, 23 (02), pp.126. ⟨10.1080/02652030500442508⟩. ⟨hal-00577573⟩