Analysis of aflatoxins and ergot alkaloids in feeds for adult equine

Rafael Gomes Abreu Bacelar,João Farias Sousa Junior,Márcio Dos Santos Rocha,Maria Christina Sanches Muratori,Juliana Alexandre Ianiceli,Aline Maria Dourado Rodrigues,Camila Maria Coutinho Moura,Luciana Muratori Costa

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i11.19697

Abstract

Mycotoxins are products resulting from fungi metabolism normally present in the environment and which can develop in food. The aim of this study was the fungi quantification, aflatoxin detection and investigation of ergot alkaloids occurrence in pelleted feed for adult equines during storage. The feed samples were collected from three rural properties with equideoculture activity in the city of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The results showed that was no significant difference (p<0.05) for the counting of colony-forming units (CFU/g) of filamentous fungi and yeasts in the samples. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 were found in acceptable amounts and the other fungal metabolites: ergometrine, griseofulvin, festuclavin, ergine and lysergol. Concluding, the results of this study demonstrate that amount of filamentous fungi and the water activity present in the original package remain constant after six days of storage. Four types of aflatoxins were found: AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and the Ergot alkaloids: ergine, ergometrine, festuclavine, griseofulvin and lisergol in amounts within acceptable limits. These groups of toxic compounds produced by fungi can be present in equine feed and may lead to a risk to their health.

Highlights

Equines are animals that have nutritional requirements determined primarily for maintenance energy composition and for performing physical activities
Mycotoxins are products resulting from fungi metabolism, so they are secondary metabolites that can affect both human and animal health
The amount of filamentous fungi presents in the original package remained constant until the sixth day of storage

Summary

Introduction

Equines are animals that have nutritional requirements determined primarily for maintenance energy composition and for performing physical activities. The determination of these animals feeding should be balanced and the appropriate proportions should be well-adjusted. The main characteristic of a food is in relation to its safety, since contamination poses a risk to animal health (Hillmann et al, 2015). Food contamination by fungi can compromise animals’ health because these microorganisms that are widely distributed in the environment are able to reduce the nutritional value and, depending on the species, can produce toxic secondary metabolites that cause diseases in animals (Silva et al, 2015)

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