Natural Occurrence of Ochratoxin A in Blood and Milk Samples from Jennies and Their Foals after Delivery.

Vincenzo Lippolis,Erminia Mancini,Michelangelo Pascale,Angelo Peli,Shafaq Asif,Salvatore Cervellieri,Domenico Robbe,Fiorenza Minervini,Ippolito De Amicis

doi:10.3390/toxins12120758

Abstract

An assessment of the natural ochratoxin A (OTA) exposure of seven Martina Franca jennies was carried out by analyzing blood and milk samples collected close to and after delivery. A total of 41 and 34 blood samples were collected from jennies and foals, respectively, and analyzed by ELISA. A total of 33 milk samples were collected from jennies and analyzed by the HPLC/FLD method based on IAC clean-up. Furthermore, 53 feed samples were collected from January to September and analyzed by a reference method (AOAC Official Method No. 2000.03) for OTA content. Feed samples showed OTA levels up to 2.7 ng/g with an incidence of 32%, while the OTA incidence rate in jennies’ blood samples was 73%, with a median value of 97 ng/L and concentrations ranging from <LOD to 6000 ng/L. A seasonal effect on OTA levels in positive blood samples was observed, with increases in the 53% of the positive ones from April to June. Concerning foals, the incidence rate of blood samples was 50%, with a median value of 52 ng/L, and concentrations ranged from <LOD to 4034 ng/L. The incidence of milk samples was 36%, with levels ranging from <LOD to 82 ng/L. In conclusion, the results showed a natural exposure of jennies and foals to OTA, and its presence in jenny milk could pose a risk for human newborns, considering its well-known nutritional and health properties.

Highlights

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a major mycotoxin produced by several species of fungi, includingAspergillus ochraceus, A. carbonarius, A. niger, and Penicillium verrucosum [1]
In contrast to in vivo toxicological studies, in which defined amounts of mycotoxins are administered and it is possible to determine their blood levels, this study was planned to monitor and evaluate the exposure of jennies to OTA under natural conditions, using non-artificially
In contrast to in vivo toxicological studies, in which defined amounts of mycotoxins are administered and it is possible to determine their blood levels, this study was planned to monitor and evaluate the exposure of jennies to OTA under natural conditions, using non-artificially contaminated feed and keeping animals reared extensively in open stabling, as donkeys are normally bred

Summary

Introduction

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a major mycotoxin produced by several species of fungi, includingAspergillus ochraceus, A. carbonarius, A. niger, and Penicillium verrucosum [1]. OTA has been reported as a ubiquitous natural contaminant of food and feed [3,4,5]. Cereals, such as oat, wheat, barley, and their by-products, such as bran, being widely used as feed raw materials are the major cause of OTA exposure to animals. The intake of feed contaminated by OTA represents a potential risk for animal health and a food safety issue mainly due to the transfer of the toxin. Monogastric (without rumen) species, for example humans, swine, and ruminants (with immature/partially functioning rumen), are at higher risk, lacking appropriate ruminal microbiota and microbes for the degradation of OTA to less toxic compounds [9]; regular exposure to OTA can be a threat to monogastric species.

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