Mycotoxin Concentrations Research Articles

Longitudinal Investigation of the Native Grass Hay from Storage to Market Reveals Mycotoxin-Associated Fungi.

This study aimed to characterize the fungal diversity and mycotoxin concentrations of native grass hay in various storage periods. In the present study, the native grass hay samples were collected when stored for 0 d (D0 group), 30 d (D30 group), and 150 d (D150 group), respectively. Here, mycotoxin analyses combined with ITS gene sequence were performed to reveal the changes in response to the storage period. There were notable differences in deoxynivalenol and aflatoxin B1 concentrations among the three groups. Compared to the D150 group, the diversity of the fungal community was higher in the D0 and D30 groups, which indicating the diversity was significantly influenced by the storage period. No significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed among the three groups on the dominant phyla. Interestingly, a significant (p < 0.05) difference was also observed in Chactomella and Aspergillus among the three groups, the abundance of the Chactomella was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased and the abundance of Aspergillus was statistically (p < 0.05) increased in the D150 group. Correlation analysis of the association of fungi with mycotoxin could provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of the fungal community. These results indicated that the good practices of storage are essential for the prevention of mycotoxin. The information contained in the present study is vital for the further development of strategies for hay storage with high quality in the harsh Mongolian Plateau ecosystem.

Development of a rapid dot-blot assay for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection using peptide conjugated gold nanoparticles for bio-recognition and detection

Ochratoxin A is a secondary metabolite produced by fungi and a major mycotoxin contaminating cereal grains and cereal-based products. Although, ochratoxin A is hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and carcinogenic, its detection is limited due to low awareness, time-consuming conventional methods and false positive results. In this study, a rapid, user-friendly dot-blot assay was developed using peptide conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a detection agent. The peptide binding to ochratoxin A was evaluated by the apparent dissociation constant ( K d app ) measurement using indirect enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay. A low K d value (1.046 μM) suggested high binding of peptide with ochratoxin A. The potential of peptide-based ochratoxin A recognition was translated to a portable platform using streptavidin functionalized AuNPs conjugated to a biotinylated 11-mer peptide. Dot-blot assay was developed for detection of ochratoxin A with a limit of detection of 0.49 μg/kg. Negligible cross-reactivity with low spot intensities were observed for high concentrations of other mycotoxins like aflatoxin B1 and citrinin, in comparison to control. Further, percent recovery of ochratoxin A from spiked wheat samples by dot-blot was comparable to the conventional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, detection of ochratoxin A by dot-blot was validated by HPLC in 65 whole wheat, crushed wheat coarse, crushed wheat fine and wheat flour samples with a high correlation with R 2 = 0.93. HPLC and dot-blot confirmed the presence of ochratoxin A ˂ 5 μg/kg in the samples. Therefore, a portable, easy-to-use dot-blot assay for ochratoxin A detection with potential of application at each stage of harvesting, storage, production and distribution can contribute to safe and healthy food and feed. • A rapid, on-site, sensitive visual Dot-blot assay was developed for ochratoxin detection. • Peptide conjugated gold nanoparticles were employed as a recognition label to replace expensive antibodies. • The developed Dot-blot assay had a limit of detection of 0.49 μg/kg for ochratoxin. • High sensitivity and specificity for ochratoxin detection.

Low background interference SERS aptasensor for highly sensitive multiplex mycotoxin detection based on polystyrene microspheres-mediated controlled release of Raman reporters

Mycotoxin contamination is a serious global issue in food safety. The accurate detection of mycotoxins in complex samples, particularly via a portable detection system that realizes multi-analyte detection, remains a great challenge. Here, a polystyrene (PS)-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) aptasensor was designed for ultrasensitive and simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins in food samples. First, the novel Raman tags were prepared using PS as nanocontainer to encapsulate abundant Raman reporters. The PS nanocontainer with Raman reporters was then functionalized by aptamer as an effective target-recognition platform. Second, the single-strand binding protein modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs@SSB) were used as a magnetic capture substrate. When the target mycotoxin was present and recognized by its aptamer, the combination of PS-Apt and mycotoxins can hinder the binding between PS-Apt and MNPs@SSB. Consequently, after the magnetic separation and treatment by THF solution, fewer biological-silent reporter probes were released from PS, causing the reduction of SERS signal as a function of target mycotoxins concentration. Due to the high loading capacity of PS and the excellent signal conversion and amplification of aptamer-assisted SERS assay, the proposed strategy is reliable and ultrasensitive for the determination of multiple mycotoxins. The limit of detection was as low as 0.159 fg L−1, 2.015 fg L−1, and 1.561 fg L−1 for ZEN, OTA and AFB1, respectively. This strategy not only raises a new idea for designing novel Raman tag, but also broadens the application of SERS for multiple detection of trace target.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ПРОФИЛЯ МИКОТОКСИНОВ В БУРЫХ ВОДОРОСЛЯХ ИЗ ШТОРМОВЫХ ВЫБРОСОВ

Brown algae Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, Fucus serratus Linnaeus, Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis and Saccharina latissima (Linnaeus) C.E. Lane, C. Mayes, Druehl &amp; G.W. Saunders collected from natural substrates and from storm emissions in one of the ecotopes of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea (66°31' N 33°11' E) were used for comparative assessment of the content of low-molecular metabolites of micromycetes beloning to the genera Fusarium Link, Alternaria Nees, Penicillium Link, Aspergillus P. Micheli ex Haller, Myrothecium Tode, Cladosporium Link and others. After drying, the samples were crushed in a laboratory mill, a mixture of acetonitrile and water was used for extraction in a volume ratio of 84:16 with a consumption rate 10 mL per 1 g specimen. Extracts after 10-fold dilution with the buffer solution were analyzed using a set of certified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems (Russia). The lower limit of quantitative measurements corresponded to an 85% level of antibody binding. All analyzed compounds – T-2 toxin, diacetoxiscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins, alternariol, ochratoxin A, citrinin, PR-toxin, mycophenolic acid, aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, cyclopiazonic acid, emodin, roridin A and ergot alkaloids – were found in the fresh thalli of F. vesiculosus, F. serratus, and A. nodosum. In the samples from the emissions, the profile of mycotoxins has been significantly changed. In F. vesiculosus and F. serratus the content of mycotoxins decreased sharply and uniformly and, as a result, the incidence of detection reduced to 8% and 15%. In A. nodosum, alternariol, aflatoxin B1 and mycophenolic acid were revealed in 17% of samples near the limits of determination of methods, and the other components of the complex could not be found. The mycotoxins were absent in the fresh thalli of S. latissima, and only some of the samples from the emissions had weak contamination with mycophenolic acid and emodin.

A Preliminary Study to Classify Corn Silage for High or Low Mycotoxin Contamination by Using near Infrared Spectroscopy

Mycotoxins should be monitored in order to properly evaluate corn silage safety quality. In the present study, corn silage samples (n = 115) were collected in a survey, characterized for concentrations of mycotoxins, and scanned by a NIR spectrometer. Random Forest classification models for NIR calibration were developed by applying different cut-offs to classify samples for concentration (i.e., μg/kg dry matter) or count (i.e., n) of (i) total detectable mycotoxins; (ii) regulated and emerging Fusarium toxins; (iii) emerging Fusarium toxins; (iv) Fumonisins and their metabolites; and (v) Penicillium toxins. An over- and under-sampling re-balancing technique was applied and performed 100 times. The best predictive model for total sum and count (i.e., accuracy mean ± standard deviation) was obtained by applying cut-offs of 10,000 µg/kg DM (i.e., 96.0 ± 2.7%) or 34 (i.e., 97.1 ± 1.8%), respectively. Regulated and emerging Fusarium mycotoxins achieved accuracies slightly less than 90%. For the Penicillium mycotoxin contamination category, an accuracy of 95.1 ± 2.8% was obtained by using a cut-off limit of 350 µg/kg DM as a total sum or 98.6 ± 1.3% for a cut-off limit of five as mycotoxin count. In conclusion, this work was a preliminary study to discriminate corn silage for high or low mycotoxin contamination by using NIR spectroscopy.

Different Resistance to DON versus HT2 + T2 Producers in Nordic Oat Varieties.

Over recent decades, the Norwegian cereal industry has had major practical and financial challenges associated with the occurrence of Fusarium head blight (FHB) pathogens and their associated mycotoxins in cereal grains. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common Fusarium-mycotoxins in Norwegian oats, however T-2 toxin (T2) and HT-2 toxin (HT2) are also commonly detected. The aim of our study was to rank Nordic spring oat varieties and breeding lines by content of the most commonly occurring Fusarium mycotoxins (DON and HT2 + T2) as well as by the DNA content of their respective producers. We analyzed the content of mycotoxins and DNA of seven fungal species belonging to the FHB disease complex in grains of Nordic oat varieties and breeding lines harvested from oat field trials located in the main cereal cultivating district in South-East Norway in the years 2011–2020. Oat grains harvested from varieties with a high FHB resistance contained on average half the levels of mycotoxins compared with the most susceptible varieties, which implies that choice of variety may indeed impact on mycotoxin risk. The ranking of oat varieties according to HT2 + T2 levels corresponded with the ranking according to the DNA levels of Fusarium langsethiae, but differed from the ranking according to DON and Fusarium graminearum DNA. Separate tests are therefore necessary to determine the resistance towards HT2 + T2 and DON producers in oats. This creates practical challenges for the screening of FHB resistance in oats as today’s screening focuses on resistance to F. graminearum and DON. We identified oat varieties with generally low levels of both mycotoxins and FHB pathogens which should be preferred to mitigate mycotoxin risk in Norwegian oats.

Ochratoxin A and Sterigmatocystin in Long-Ripened Grana Cheese: Occurrence, Wheel Rind Contamination and Effectiveness of Cleaning Techniques on Grated Products.

A survey on the occurrence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and sterigmatocystin (STC) in grated cheese products obtained from hard grana-type cheeses was carried out, where 107 grated products were collected in retail outlets and analysed. OTA and STC were found in 48.6% and 94.4% of the samples, in a range from <LOD to 25.05 µg kg−1 and from <LOD to 6.87 µg kg−1, respectively. STC was detected in all the OTA-contaminated samples. The OTA and STC occurrence in cheese is due to environmental contamination during ripening, leading to fungal growth and mycotoxin production on the cheese surface. This statement was confirmed by analysing the surface of 16 hard grana cheese rinds, which resulted contaminated by both OTA and STC, with concentration ranging from 3 to 370 µg kg−1. This finding demonstrates that rind inclusion increases the mycotoxin concentration in grated cheeses. The mycotoxin level significantly decreased from the surface (0–1.5 mm) to inner parts of cheese rinds (1.5–4.5 mm). Industrial wheel-cleaning techniques can represent a useful treatment to reduce both toxins in grated cheese products.

Factors during Production of Cereal-Derived Feed That Influence Mycotoxin Contents.

Mycotoxins are naturally present in cereal-based feed materials; however, due to adverse effects on animal health, their presence in derived animal feed should be minimized. A systematic literature search was conducted to obtain an overview of all factors from harvest onwards influencing the presence and concentration of mycotoxins in cereal-based feeds. The feed production processes covered included the harvest time, post-harvest practices (drying, cleaning, storage), and processing (milling, mixing with mycotoxin binders, extrusion cooking, ensiling). Delayed harvest supports the production of multiple mycotoxins. The way feed materials are dried after harvest influences the concentration of mycotoxins therein. Applying fungicides on the feed materials after harvest as well as cleaning and sorting can lower the concentration of mycotoxins. During milling, mycotoxins might be redistributed in cereal feed materials and fractions thereof. It is important to know which parts of the cereals are used for feed production and whether or not mycotoxins predominantly accumulate in these fractions. For feed production, mostly the milling fractions with outer parts of cereals, such as bran and shorts, are used, in which mycotoxins concentrate during processing. Wet-milling of grains can lower the mycotoxin content in these parts of the grain. However, this is typically accompanied by translocation of mycotoxins to the liquid fractions, which might be added to by-products used as feed. Mycotoxin binders can be added during mixing of feed materials. Although binders do not remove mycotoxins from the feed, the mycotoxins become less bioavailable to the animal and, in the case of food-producing animals, to the consumer, lowering the adverse effects of mycotoxins. The effect of extruding cereal feed materials is dependent on several factors, but in principle, mycotoxin contents are decreased after extrusion cooking. The results on ensiling are not uniform; however, most of the data show that mycotoxin production is supported during ensiling when oxygen can enter this process. Overall, the results of the literature review suggest that factors preventing mycotoxin production have greater impact than factors lowering the mycotoxin contents already present in feed materials.

Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris on the Mycotoxin Concentrations and the Hygienic Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.) Silage.

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) extracts to decrease mycotoxin contents and improve the hygienic quality of maize (Zea mays L.) silage. Under laboratory conditions, maize silage samples were fermented with oregano (OE), thyme (TE), oregano and thyme mixture (MIX), and two commercial inoculants. After 90 days of fermentation, silos were opened and silage samples were taken for evaluation of mycotoxin concentrations and for hygienic quality analysis: assessment of fermentation parameters, the content of biogenic amines, and microbiological status. It was determined that the mycotoxin concentrations decreased differentially: ochratoxin A concentration was below the detection limit after treatment with the TE and MIX extracts, the lowest zearalenone and deoxynivalenol concentrations were achieved with the OE extract treatment, T-2 toxin concentration was significantly lower after treatment with the TE extract, and HT-2 toxin concentration was lower after treatment with the MIX extract. The lowest content of biogenic amines in maize silage was established with the MIX extract. Concerning the silage hygienic quality, the best results of fermentation parameters and microbiological status were also achieved with the MIX extract. The present study indicated that oregano and thyme herbal plant extracts can be used to decrease mycotoxin concentrations and improve the hygienic quality of maize silage.

Cytotoxic Effects of Alternariol, Alternariol Monomethyl-Ether, and Tenuazonic Acid and Their Relevant Combined Mixtures on Human Enterocytes and Hepatocytes.

Alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl-ether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) are major mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Alternaria and are common contaminants of food products such as fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains. Alternaria mycotoxins are known to cause relevant economic losses and to have a negative impact on human and animal health. EFSA stated in its scientific opinion that data on the toxicity of Alternaria mycotoxins in humans and livestock are generally lacking, precluding proper hazard characterization. This study aimed to fill some knowledge gaps by studying the in vitro cytotoxicity toward human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) and hepatocytes (HepG2). Cytotoxic properties were assessed by flow cytometric analyses of remaining viable cells (i.e., propidium iodide negative) after mycotoxin exposure for 24–48 h versus solvent control. Treatment of cells with single doses of AOH, AME, and TeA resulted in a dose-dependent loss of cell viability for both cell lines. Half maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of the different mycotoxins were comparable for the two cell lines. On HepG2 cells, EC50 values varying between 8 and 16, 4 and 5, and 40 and 95 μg/mL were calculated for AOH, AME, and TeA, respectively. On Caco-2 cells, EC50 values of 19 μg/mL and varying between 6 and 23, and 60 and 90 μg/mL were calculated for AOH, AME, and TeA, respectively. A general relative cytotoxicity ranking of about 1 = 1 >>> 3 was obtained for AOH, AME, and TeA, respectively. Treatment of both cell lines with combined binary and ternary mixtures of AOH, AME, and TeA in a 1:1:3 ratio, also showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. For both cell lines, the binary combination of especially AME and TeA (1:3 ratio) but also of AOH and AME (1:1 ratio) significantly increased the cytotoxicity compared to the single compound toxicity, although mainly at the highest concentrations tested. The ternary combinations of AOH, AME, and TeA induced only a slight increase in cytotoxicity compared to the single mycotoxins, again at the highest concentrations tested.

The application of antagonistic yeasts and bacteria: An assessment of in vivo and under field conditions pattern of Fusarium mycotoxins in winter wheat grain

Bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas, Aureobasidium pullulans yeast-like fungus and yeast Debaryomyces hansenii naturally colonize wheat grain. Selected isolates of these microorganisms, antagonistic against Fusarium spp., can be applied to wheat spikes to complement chemical control methods. The aim of this study was to determine the content of Fusarium mycotoxins in winter wheat grain in vivo and under field conditions, and to analyze the interactions between antagonistic microorganisms and F. culmorum and F. avenaceum pathogens in dual cultures. Seventeen toxic metabolites produced by Fusarium fungi were identified in grain: deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, culmorin, 15-hydroxyculmorin, 5-hydroxyculmorin, HT-2 toxin, nivalenol, nivalenol-3-glucoside, aurofusarin, enniatins, zearalenone, moniliformin, equisetin, and apicidin. Integrated fungicide and biological treatments decreased deoxynivalenol levels in grain in the field conditions from 141.36 to 72.76 μg/kg. Deoxynivalenol was not detected in grain treated with D. hansenii suspension, and culmorin content was 38 times lower than in unprotected grain. Fungicides and integrated treatments involving D. hansenii also decreased enniatin A1 content by 76.61 and 48.17%. In vitro yeasts considerably reduced moniliformin and enniatin concentrations by 7.67–92.87%. Antagonistic microorganisms, which inhibit the growth of Fusarium fungi through antibiosis and competition for nutrients, can effectively reduce the production of selected Fusarium toxins when combined with fungicides in the integrated approach.

Sorption modification of farm animals diets

Fungal contamination of feed ingredients is an important entry point for mycotoxins to increase the risk to animals and humans. Mycotoxicoses are an increasing threat to animal and human health with a high potential to cause significant economic losses in the food and feed industry. Contamination of agricultural crops with mycotoxins depends on physical and chemical factors that affect the production and accumulation of mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolite compounds that persist throughout the food chain due to their resistance to a wide range of environmental factors or manufacturing processes. Developing countries and rural areas dependent on local food production are at higher risk of mycotoxin contamination problems due to inadequate or insufficient implementation of food safety and quality control measures. The use of mycotoxin-contaminated feed is often due to an increased demand for less expensive feed ingredients to meet the growing needs of livestock production, including aquaculture. There are a number of efforts to reduce mycotoxins in raw and processed foods, both in pre-harvest stages, which inhibit toxin production in the field, and in post-harvest remediation strategies, reducing the concentration of mycotoxins in commodities.

Rapid Detection of Deoxynivalenol in Dry Pasta Using a Label-Free Immunosensor.

This work focused on the development and optimization of an impedimetric label-free immunosensor for detecting deoxynivalenol (DON). A monoclonal antibody for DON detection was immobilized on a modified gold electrode with a cysteamine layer and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques were used to monitor the layer-by-layer development of the immunosensor design, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry were employed to investigate the antigen/antibody interaction. The PAMAM dendrimers, allowing to immobilize a large number of monoclonal antibodies, permitted reaching, through the DPV technique, a high sensitivity and a low limit of detection equal to 1 ppb. The evaluation of the possible reuse of the immunosensors highlighted a decrease in the analytical performances of the regenerated immunosensors. After evaluating the matrix effect, the developed immunosensor was used to quantify DON in pasta samples spiked with a known mycotoxin concentration. Taking into consideration the DON extraction procedure used for the pasta samples and the matrix effect related to the sample, the proposed immunosensor showed a limit of detection of 50 ppb, which is lower than the maximum residual limit imposed by European Regulation for DON in dry pasta (750 ppb).

Development of analytical methods to study the effect of malting on levels of free and modified forms of Alternaria mycotoxins in barley

A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) multi-mycotoxin method was developed for the analysis of the Alternaria toxins alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), altertoxin I (ATX I), altertoxin II (ATX II), alterperylenol (ALTP), and altenuene (ALT), as well as the modified toxins AOH-3-glucoside (AOH-3-G), AOH-9-glucoside (AOH-9-G), AME-3-glucoside (AME-3-G), AOH-3-sulfate (AOH-3-S), and AME-3-sulfate (AME-3-S) in barley and malt. The toxin tenuazonic acid (TeA) was analyzed separately as it could not be included into the multi-mycotoxin method. Quantitation was conducted by using a combination of stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) for AOH, AME, and TeA, and matrix-matched calibration for all other toxins. Limits of detection were between 0.05 µg/kg (AME) and 2.45 µg/kg (ALT), whereas limits of quantitation ranged from 0.16 µg/kg (AME) to 8.75 µg/kg (ALT). Recoveries between 96 and 107% were obtained for the analytes when SIDA was applied, while recoveries between 84 and 112% were found for analytes quantified by matrix-matched calibration. The method was applied for the analysis of 50 barley samples and their respective malts from the harvest years 2016–2020 for their mycotoxin content, showing the overall potential of toxin formation during the malting process. The toxins ALTP and ATX I were mainly found in the malt samples, but not in barley.

Determination of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins in Seed of Milk Thistle [Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.] Using Immunoaffinity Column by UPLC-MS/MS.

Milk thistle [Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.] achieved a significant increase in interest over the past few years from local and foreign pharmaceutical corporations. The silymarin complex of constituents extracted from milk thistle achenes provides compelling health benefits primarily thanks to antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effects. However, consuming mycotoxin-contaminated plant material can cause immunosuppression and hepatotoxic problems. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the determination of mycotoxin content in milk thistle. Fusarium toxins as T-2 and HT-2 toxins in grown milk thistle harvested from a breeding station in the Czech Republic during 2020–2021 were studied. The analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins was performed by UPLC-MS/MS after immunoaffinity columns EASI-EXTRACT® T-2 & HT-2 clean up. All analysed samples of milk thistle were contaminated with T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin. The content of T-2 toxin in the samples from 2020 was in the range of 122.7–290.2 µg/kg and HT-2 toxin 157.0–319.0 µg/kg. In 2021, the content of T-2 toxin was in the range of 28.8–69.9 µg/kg and HT-2 toxin was 24.2–75.4 µg/kg. The results show that the climatic conditions of the year of harvesting have a highly statistically significant effect on the content of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in milk thistle.

Effect of Organic and Conventional Cereal Production Methods on Fusarium Head Blight and Mycotoxin Contamination Levels

Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals constitute major problems for animal and human health worldwide. A range of plant pathogenic Fusarium species that can infect cereal plants in the field are considered the most important source of mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin, and HT-2 toxin, in small-grain cereal crops in temperate climates. In this article, we (i) critically review the available knowledge on the impact of contrasting production systems (organic versus conventional) and specific agronomic parameters on the occurrence and concentrations of DON, ZEA, and T-2/HT-2 in small-grain cereals (wheat, oats, barley, and rye), and (ii) discuss Fusarium mycotoxin risks in the context of the need to develop more sustainable cereal production systems. Overall, the available evidence from studies of acceptable scientific quality suggests that the incidence and concentrations of Fusarium mycotoxin are lower in organic compared with conventional cereals. Specifically, 24 comparisons showed lower mycotoxin levels in organic production, 16 detected no significant difference, and only 2 showed higher levels in organic production. When the mean concentrations from all studies were compared, conventionally produced cereals had 62%, 110%, and 180% higher concentrations of DON, ZEA, and T-2/HT-2, respectively, than organic cereals. Overall, published studies on the effects of specific agronomic practices on mycotoxin levels suggest that diverse crop rotations and high soil organic matter content/biological activity are associated with a lower risk of Fusarium mycotoxin contamination, whereas (i) high mineral nitrogen fertiliser inputs, (ii) some fungicides and herbicides, and (iii) minimum or no tillage may increase the risks of Fusarium mycotoxin contamination in cereals. The management of Fusarium head blight and mycotoxins, therefore, requires a preventative, integrated, holistic agronomic approach.

Warm nights increase Fusarium Head Blight negative impact on barley and wheat grains

The disease known as Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating cereal diseases, among which Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium poae have been isolated to be the main etiological agents in cereal crops such as barley and wheat. Currently, global climate change is one of the major concerns worldwide, and temperature is likely to be one of the most affected variables in the future. However, it is unknown how these changes will affect fungal diseases such as FHB. The present research aimed to study the F. graminearum/F. poae-barley/wheat pathosystem under future climatic conditions. The effects of the increase in night temperatures (3 °C) on disease variables, grain quality, and mycotoxin contamination were evaluated under field conditions over three years (2016, 2017, and 2018). For both crops, the results showed that warm nights favoured F. graminearum development over F. poae, reducing grain quality parameters and increasing the mycotoxin concentration significantly. The results obtained along the present work provide a better understanding of the F. graminearum/F. poae-barley/wheat pathosystem and the basis for potential future research related to climate change studies under field conditions directly impacting food quality and safety.

The effect of technological processes on contamination with B-class trichothecenes and quality of spring wheat products from grain harvested at different times

The study aimed to investigate the effect of technological processes on deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) concentrations and quality of spring wheat products from grain harvested at different times. In this study, 408 samples were analysed for DON, 3-ADON and 15-ADON contamination by the HPLC method with UV detection. Delays in harvesting due to cool and rainy weather conditions resulted in increased DON, 3-ADON and 15-ADON levels. The highest DON concentrations were determined in bran. Higher DON concentrations in the bran indicate the protective function of the grain hull. On the other hand, the highest levels of minerals have been found in bran and whole grain flours, highlighting the importance of consuming these milling fractions as a mineral source with sustained health benefits. Our results showed that DON is stable at 170 °C, and high DON levels in whole-meal flour and white flour could not be converted or decomposed during baking. The levels of 3-ADON and 15-ADON in whole-meal flour bread and white flour bread were significantly reduced but not completely removed. The levels of DON and its derivatives 3-ADON and 15-ADON were significantly reduced in starch and gluten produced from contaminated whole meal flour; however, the washing process did not completely eliminate these toxic compounds. The concentrations of mycotoxins in starch and gluten remained relatively high. Negative correlation was found in highly contaminated samples between DON and bread baking properties. Also, inverse relationship was found between high mycotoxin concentrations and mineral element content in white flour.

Effects of Dietary Natural Mycotoxins Exposure on Performance, Biochemical Parameters and Milk Small Molecule Metabolic Pathways of Lactating Cows

The presence of mycotoxins in feed has the potential to cause significant detriment to animal and human health, and even severe economic implications. Previous studies on the effects of mycotoxins mainly focused on the addition of commercially available mycotoxins into feeds in animals. In the present study, corn meal and cottonseed were kept in warm and humid conditions to allow for mycotoxins produced and then used to substitute 50% and 100% of normal corn meal and cottonseed in diets for lactating cows for 14 days. The results showed that aflatoxin M1, deoxynivalenol, aflatoxin B1, and zearalenone were primary mycotoxins in milk from cows fed the diets. Compared with the control group, feeding the diets containing mildewy corn meal and cottonseed reduced feed intake, milk yield, and milk fat, protein and lactose productions (p &gt; 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the acetate and valerate concentrations, acetate to propionate ratio, and the calculated CH4 production in rumen fluid (p &gt; 0.05), whereas, the propionate, butyrate, isovalerate concentrations were affected (p &lt; 0.05) depending on the content and type of natural mycotoxins. Serum creatinine and total glyceride concentrations were influenced with corn meal and cottonseed fully replaced with the mildewy feeds. Metabolic pathways for small molecule metabolites in milk were altered by dietary mycotoxin exposures, and the changes were mainly associated with amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and energy metabolism. However, cows exposed to natural mycotoxins in the diets were still in healthy conditions and had low somatic cell count in milk.

Mycotoxin contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) samples in Hungary, 2012–2017

Mycotoxin contamination of maize often raises risks for human and animal health. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in maize are trichothecenes, fumonisins, and aflatoxin. A total number of 17,011 maize samples were tested by SGS for their mycotoxin content between 2012 and 2017. The toxin results clearly show that the southern areas of the country had higher levels of toxin contamination than the average. According to the dataset, aflatoxin contamination has become regular but the appearance of fumonisins was also more frequent. Deoxynivalenol toxin accumulation in crops can also reach dangerous levels under favorable ecological conditions. The fluctuation between years and regisons is decisively shaped by the weather conditions. However, the two pathogens with less virulence (Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus) must be taken into account and the contribution of insect pests. 72.63% of the total fumonisin concentration was defined as fumonisin B1, 20.34% as fumonisin B2, and 7.03% as fumonisin B3. The correlations between the three fumonisins analogs were higly significant (P = 0.001), and correlation coefficient varied between 0.961 and 0.998 across the six years of evaluation. This is the first complex evaluation of deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and aflatoxin contamination of maize samples in Hungary.