Screening and monitoring zearalenone-producing Fusarium species by PCR and zearalenone by monoclonal antibodies in feed from China

Abstract

Screening of zearalenone (ZEN)-producing species and monitoring of ZEN in feed were performed by using anti-zearalenone monoclonal antibodies. ELISA recoveries of ZEN from corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) feed, corn feed, rice bran, soybean meal, wheat bran and rapeseed dregs were between 78.6% and 88.6%. ZEN recovery from culture media was 96.3% at the spiked level of 500 µg/kg. Eighty-three samples of DDGS feed, corn feed and other fee ingredients were collected from 11 provinces of China and analysed for ZEN. Average ZEN levels were 563.4 µg/kg for DDGS feed, 393.1 µg/kg for corn feed and 65.7 µg/kg for other feed ingredients. Eighteen Fusarium species such as Fusarium graminearum which could produce ZEN were isolated from corn feed and other feed ingredients.