Assessment of Ochratoxin A Exposure in Ornamental and Self-Consumption Backyard Chickens.

Alessandro Guerrini,Alberto Altafini,Paola Roncada

doi:10.3390/vetsci7010018

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that may be present in various food and feed of plant and animal origin, including chicken meat. In Italy, backyard poultry farming is rather widespread. Animals are raised for meat, eggs and for ornamental purpose, and they are often fed with home-made diets not subject to official controls. The purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure of ornamental and backyard chickens to OTA using biliary ochratoxin A as a biomarker. Therefore, bile samples, in addition to kidney, liver and muscle, were collected from 102 chickens reared in 16 farms located in 6 Italian regions. High-performance liquid chromatography method and fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) analysis were carried out firstly on bile from all animals, and OTA was detected in 12 chickens (concentration range 3.83–170.42 µg/L). Subsequently, the kidneys of these chickens were also analysed, and the mycotoxin was not detected. The analytical detection limits (LODs) of OTA in bile and kidney were 2.1 µg/L and 0.1 µg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, these animals were exposed to OTA but their meat can be considered safe, given that this mycotoxin, if present, concentrates highest in kidneys. Biliary ochratoxin A confirms its use as a valid biomarker to assess exposure of poultry to OTA.

Highlights

Ochratoxins are known mycotoxins, secondary toxic metabolites produced by several fungal species mainly belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium
High-performance liquid chromatography method and fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) analysis were carried out firstly on bile from all animals, and ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected in 12 chickens
Biliary ochratoxin A confirms its use as a valid biomarker to assess exposure of poultry to OTA

Summary

Introduction

Ochratoxins are known mycotoxins, secondary toxic metabolites produced by several fungal species mainly belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. OTA may be present in almost all cereals of zootechnical interest, such as corn, barley, rice, sorghum, oats, soya beans [2], and in dry foodstuffs such as coffee beans, spices, cocoa [3] and raisins [4,5]. Even drinks such as wine [6], grape juice and beer [7,8] may be contaminated. In unprocessed cereals for human consumption, a limit for OTA of 5.0 μg/kg has been established [18], while in cereals and cereal products for animal feeding, the European Commission set a guidance value for OTA of

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