Levels Of Deoxynivalenol Contamination Research Articles

Effects of wheat varieties, fungicides and application time on Fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol contamination control in wheat.

Yield loss and toxin contamination caused by wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) have always been a worldwide concern. Cultivating disease-resistant varieties and fungicide application are effective measures to control FHB. The comprehensive control technology system for FHB and toxin contamination of wheat in Anhui Province needs further improvement. This study compared the control efficacy of different wheat varieties, fungicides and application times on wheat FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination, and the dynamic change of DON accumulation after application. Among the 93 main wheat varieties in Anhui Province, the disease-resistant and low-toxic wheat variety "Ningmai 26" was more suitable for planting in the central part of Anhui Province. At the same time, "Yangmai 22" was used for subsequent experiments. The field efficacy trials of different fungicides showed that 30% prothioconazole oil dispersion (OD) had the highest control efficacy on FHB and DON contamination, reaching 94.33 and 77.49%, respectively. The study on the optimum application time of prothioconazole showed that the 0-20% flowering stage was the key point of DON control. The survey of the dynamic changes of DON accumulation showed that prothioconazole could significantly reduce the level of DON accumulation while inhibiting the accumulation rate of DON. At the same time, the control fungicide carbendazim increased the level of DON contamination. This study will provide excellent germplasm resources for cultivating disease-resistant and low-toxic wheat varieties, and provide a theoretical reference for establishing a collaborative prevention and control system of disease control and toxin reduction. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Co-occurrence of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives in Chinese beer samples

There is a lack of data information on the contamination levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated derivatives in beer sold on the Chinese market. In this work, the DON and its acetylated derivatives content in 75 beer samples from the Chinese market was analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). 25 samples (33.33%) existed the contamination of DON and its acetylated derivatives. In positive beer samples, DON had the highest average concentration of 4.03 μg/L with a proportion of 92%, 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON) was 1.48 μg/L with a proportion of 20%, and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) was 3.77 μg/L with a proportion of 20%. Interestingly, there was a correlation between the contamination of DON and its acetylated derivatives and original gravity in beer on Chinese market. Through calculation, the lowest and highest boundaries of the possible daily intake (PDI) for DON and its acetylated derivatives caused by beer samples were 2.65 and 6.82 ng/kg bw/day respectively, indicating that the DON and its acetylated derivatives content found in Chinese beer can be considered as a safe low level. This study provides data support for the contamination of DON and its acetylated derivatives in Chinese beer.

Mycotoxin monitoring in Shandong province, China reveals health risks for enterohepatic diseases shifted from environment to diet: Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and nivalenol in noodles (2019–2020)

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesHigh levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in foods can raise health risks for enterohepatic diseases. Here we report our investigation into the trichothecenes (DON, 3‐acetyl‐deoxynivalenol, 15‐acetyl‐deoxynivalenol), zearalenone (ZEA) and nivalenol (NIV) showing in the wheats‐processed noodles in Shandong, China (2019–2020).FindingsThe noodles contamination status of DON in Shandong was closed to that in China in the past 10 years: 4663.9 µg/kg at maximum level, and a range of 57.9–618.8 µg/kg by mean. However, the average levels of DON measured in the noodle samples varied largely by city. Highest levels of DON contamination were found in Binzhou: 709.09 (58.8–3220) µg/kg and Weihai: 684.79 (27.6–3850) µg/kg, respectively. Besides, NIV contamination were averagely 46.99 µg/kg in Binzhou, and ZEA contamination up to 31.4 µg/kg in Weihai, pose an increasing threat of liver/intestine inflammation associated with dietary exposure.ConclusionsThe DON contamination status of noodles in Shandong was consistent with our previous investigation in wheats and in recent 10 years in China, that increased health risks for enterohepatic diseases.Significance and NoveltyTo understand the contamination situation of DON, ZEA, and NIV in noodles, so as to assess the health risks for enterohepatic diseases caused by mycotoxin in Shandong province.

Degradation of deoxynivalenol in wheat by double dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma: identification and pathway of degradation products.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) produced during the onset of fusarium head blight not only affects the quality and safety of wheat but also causes serious harm to human and livestock health. However, due to the high stability of DON, it is difficult to eliminate it or reduce it naturally after it has been produced. Cold plasma technology is a non-thermophysical processing technology that has been widely used for microbial inactivation and mycotoxin degradation. In this study, the degradation efficiency of double dielectric barrier discharge (DDBD) cold plasma on DON in aqueous solution and wheat was studied; the structures of degradation products of DON and its pathway were clarified, and the effect of DDBD plasma on wheat quality was evaluated. Double dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma was used for efficient degradation of DON (0.5 ~ 5μgmL^-1) solution and achieved a degradation rate of 98.94% within 25 min under the optimal conditions (voltage 100 V, frequency 200 Hz, duty cycle 80%). Furthermore, 10 degradation products (C15 H24 O5 , C15 H22 O6 , C15 H22 O9 , C16 H22 O7 , C15 H20 O7 , C15 H20 O9 , C15 H18 O8 , C15 H22 O5 , C16 H24 O5 , and C15 H18 O9 ) were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS/MS) combined with Metabolitepilot and Peakview software. The degradation pathway of DON was obtained based on the chemical structures and accurate mass of these products. The DON degradation rate of 61% in wheat was achieved after treatment for 15 min, which slightly affects the moisture content, proteins, and wheat starch. Applying DDBD to wheat could effectively reduce the level of DON contamination, which provides a theoretical basis for applying cold plasma to the degradation of DON in wheat. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Modelling the Effects of Weather Conditions on Cereal Grain Contamination with Deoxynivalenol in the Baltic Sea Region.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most serious diseases of small-grain cereals worldwide, resulting in yield reduction and an accumulation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in grain. Weather conditions are known to have a significant effect on the ability of fusaria to infect cereals and produce toxins. In the past 10 years, severe outbreaks of FHB, and grain DON contamination exceeding the EU health safety limits, have occurred in countries in the Baltic Sea region. In this study, extensive data from field trials in Sweden, Poland and Lithuania were analysed to identify the most crucial weather variables for the ability of Fusarium to produce DON. Models were developed for the prediction of DON contamination levels in harvested grain exceeding 200 µg kg−1 for oats, spring barley and spring wheat in Sweden and winter wheat in Poland, and 1250 µg kg−1 for spring wheat in Lithuania. These models were able to predict high DON levels with an accuracy of 70–81%. Relative humidity (RH) and precipitation (PREC) were identified as the weather factors with the greatest influence on DON accumulation in grain, with high RH and PREC around flowering and later in grain development and ripening correlated with high DON levels. High temperatures during grain development and senescence reduced the risk of DON accumulation. The performance of the models, based only on weather variables, was relatively accurate. In future studies, it might be of interest to determine whether inclusion of variables such as pre-crop, agronomic factors and crop resistance to FHB could further improve the performance of the models.

Effect of Popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) Popping Mode (Microwave, Hot Oil, and Hot Air) on Fumonisins and Deoxynivalenol Contamination Levels.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites that are produced by molds during their development. According to fungal physiological particularities, mycotoxins can contaminate crops before harvest or during storage. Among toxins that represent a real public health issue, those produced by Fusarium genus in cereals before harvest are of great importance since they are the most frequent in European productions. Among them, deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FUM) frequently contaminate maize. In recent years, numerous studies have investigated whether food processing techniques can be exploited to reduce the levels of these two mycotoxins, which would allow the identification and quantification of parameters affecting mycotoxin stability. The particularity of the popcorn process is that it associates heat treatment with a particular physical phenomenon (i.e., expansion). Three methods exist to implement the popcorn transformation process: hot air, hot oil, and microwaves, all of which are tested in this study. The results show that all popping modes significantly reduce FUM contents in both Mushroom and Butterfly types of popcorn. The mean initial contamination of 1351 µg/kg was reduced by 91% on average after popping. For DON, the reduction was less important despite a lower initial contamination than for FUM (560 µg/kg). Only the hot oil popping for the Mushroom type significantly reduced the contamination up to 78% compared to unpopped controls. Hot oil popping appears to provide the most important reduction for the two considered mycotoxins for both types of popcorn (−98% and −58% average reduction for FUM and DON, respectively).

Mycotoxins in red wine: Occurrence and risk assessment

Mycological contamination of food products is a common problem in the food industry, associated with implications for consumer health. Red wine is regarded as an alcoholic beverage with health benefits, notably for the circulatory system. However, in spite of its health-promoting properties, it can also be a source of toxic substances. Wine is a documented source of ochratoxin A, which is one of the ubiquitous, highly toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. It is the only mycotoxin for which a regulatory maximum level in wine has been established. There are no legal regulations on the content of other mycotoxins in wine, as a product with an increased risk of mycological contamination, and so their levels are not monitored. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON) as well as T-2 and HT-2 toxins in dry red wines. The study included 19 wines originating from Spain, France and Poland, from both conventional and organic viticulture. Mycotoxin levels were determined using immunoenzymatic assays (ELISA). The pH values were determined by potentiometric method. In all of the wines included in the study, mycotoxin levels exceeded the applicable limits. The levels of OTA and DON contamination were associated with the country of origin, and ochratoxin A was additionally linked to the farming method and certification status. The content of T-2 and HT-2 toxins was the only parameter to be negatively correlated with pH. In conclusion, wine may provide a source of many mycotoxins, not only OTA but also DON T-2 and HT-2 toxins, which was shown for the first time, and it appears further research is required to establish reference values for various mycotoxins in a wider range of foodstuffs, including wine.

Mycotoxin profiles of animal feeds in the central part of Thailand: 2015-2020.

Background and Aim:Mycotoxin contamination in animal feeds is of considerable concern because it can affect animal health systems. As a result of contamination in the food chain, humans can indirectly come into contact with mycotoxins. The present study aimed to present mycotoxin contamination patterns in animal feeds from 2015 to 2020 and elucidate associations between the type of feed and the type of ingredient.Materials and Methods:Data were summarized from the records of the Kamphaeng Saen Veterinary Diagnosis Center from 2015 to 2020, which comprised the analyses of aflatoxin (AFL), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin (T-2), fumonisin (FUM), and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in feed ingredients, complete feeds, and unclassified feeds. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were used for data analysis.Results:ZEA was prevalent in animal feeds. The prevalence of each mycotoxin was constant from 2015 to 2020. Approximately 20-30% of samples were positive for AFL and FUM. The highest contamination was ZEA, which was found in 50% of the samples, and the occurrence of T-2 and DON was <10%. AFL significantly contaminated complete feeds more than feed ingredients. Feed ingredients were related to mycotoxin contaminations. The highest levels of AFL, FUM, and DON contamination occurred in 2017. The data in this year consisted mostly of soybean, corn, and rice bran.Conclusion:The number of positive samples of all five mycotoxins was constant from 2015 to 2020, but the occurrence of ZEA was the highest. Mycotoxins in feedstuffs are significantly related to the type of feed and the type of ingredient.

Occurrence of major type-B trichothecenes and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside in cereal-based products from Korea

A total of 67 cereal samples consisting of conventionally and organically produced corn, wheat and rice were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to monitor the occurrence of type-B trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON), fusarenon-X (FUS-X)), and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G). The incidence rates were 94%, 88%, 86.5%, 31.3%, 29.8%, and 61.2% for DON, D3G, NIV, 3ADON, 15ADON, and FUS-X, respectively. The highest contamination levels of DON, D3G, NIV, 3ADON, and 15ADON were found in corn, followed by wheat and rice, whereas FUS-X exhibited high contamination in rice. Moreover, significant differences were observed between conventionally and organically produced corn samples, which revealed higher incidence and contamination levels of the target mycotoxins in organic samples rather than in conventional samples. A total of 93.6% of all DON-contaminated samples showed the transformation of DON to its glucosylated form, D3G, with average conversion rates of 14%, 17%, and 28% in rice, wheat, and corn samples, respectively. In addition, the co-occurrence of two or more different mycotoxins was observed in a high percentage of the analyzed samples. Therefore, the results indicated that a vigilant attitude should be adopted to reduce human exposure to all of these toxic compounds.

Natural Occurrence of Maize Gibberella Ear Rot and Contamination of Grain with Mycotoxins in Association with Weather Variables.

Gibberella ear rot (GER) severity (percent area of the ear diseased) and associated grain contamination with mycotoxins were quantified in plots of 15 to 16 maize hybrids planted at 10 Ohio locations from 2015 to 2018. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was quantified in grain samples in all 4 years, whereas nivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15ADON) were quantified only in the last 2 years. Only DON and 15ADON were detected. The highest levels of GER and DON contamination were observed for 2018, followed by 2016 and 2017. No GER symptoms or DON were detected in 2015. Approximately 41% of the samples from asymptomatic ears had detectable levels of DON, and 7% of these samples from 2016 had DON > 5 ppm. Associations between DON contamination and 43 variables representing summaries of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), rainfall (R), surface wetness, and T-RH combinations for different window lengths and positions relative to R1 growth stage were quantified with Spearman correlation coefficients (r). Fifteen-day window lengths tended to show the highest correlations. Most of the variables based on T, R, RH, and T-RH were significantly correlated with DON for the 15-day window, as well as other windows. For moisture-related variables, there generally was a negative correlation before R1, changing to a positive correlation after R1. Results showed that GER and DON can be frequently found in Ohio maize fields, with the risk of DON being associated with multiple weather variables, particularly those representing combinations of T between 15 and 30°C and RH > 80 summarized during the 3 weeks after R1.

NIR spectroscopy and chemometric tools to identify high content of deoxynivalenol in barley

ABSTRACT Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the mycotoxins produced mainly by the Fusarium graminearum species complex in small grain cereals, including barley. This toxin can cause alimentary disorders, immune function depression and gastroenteritis. The negative health effects associated with DON coupled to the increasing concern about green and rapid methods of analysis motivated this study. In this context, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy data were applied for exploratory analysis to distinguish barley with high and low levels of DON contamination (> or <1250 µg/kg according to the European Union threshold), by Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and to verify the performance of Partial Least Squares-Regression (PLS-R) to predict DON concentration in barley samples. Maximum values of specificity and sensitivity were achieved in the calibration set; 90.9% and 81.9% were observed in the cross-validation set for the PLS-DA classification model. PLS-R quantification of DON in barley presented low values of error (RMSEC = 101.94 µg/kg and RMSEP = 160.76 µg/kg). Thus, we found that NIR in combination with adequate chemometric tools could be applied as a green technique to monitor DON contamination in barley.

Fates of deoxynivalenol and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside from wheat flour to Iranian traditional breads

The aims of the present study were to investigate the occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G) in wheat flour samples obtained from Kermanshah, west part of Iran; determine the contamination levels of DON and D3G through the bread making process of different types of bread, including Sangak, Lavash, Sokhari, Barbari and Taftoon manufactured with these flour samples; and estimate exposure to DON and D3G due to consumption of these products. All wheat flour samples contaminated with DON and D3G ranged 85.0–540.2 μg/kg and 10.72–20.1 μg/kg, respectively. DON and D3G concentrations in mixed and fermented dough were similar, but insignificantly higher than flour (P > 0.05). DON and D3G levels were significantly lower in baked breads than in flour (P < 0.05). The mean concentration range of DON and D3G in different types of bread was as follows: Sangak > Lavash > Sokhari > Taftoon > Barbari. The mean reduction rates of DON for Sangak, Lavash, Sokhari, Taftoon, and Barbari breads were 42.5%, 54.9%, 48.7%, 57.1% and 49.3%, respectively. Moreover, the average reduction rates of D3G for Sangak, Lavash, Sokhari, Taftoon, and Barbari breads were 54.57%, 44.88%, 51.36%, 44.20%, and 58.76%, respectively. Our data showed that the mean DON and D3G in Iranian breads was lower than the maximum levels determined by the European Commission, and levels of this mycotoxin in Iranian breads are not worried. However, more effort in needed to reduce DON and D3G, and prevent from cereal contamination with mycotoxins.

Long-Term Occurrence of Deoxynivalenol in Feed and Feed Raw Materials with a Special Focus on South Korea.

The Fusarium fungi produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, which can cause disease and harmful effects in grains, livestock, and humans. Deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin, is one of the Fusarium mycotoxins that is known to cause vomiting in livestock. This study shows the occurrence of deoxynivalenol in feedstuffs (compound feed and feed ingredients) between 2009 and 2016 in South Korea. A total of 653 domestic samples were collected at five time points, including 494 compound feed samples and 159 feed ingredient samples. DON contamination levels were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with pretreatment using an immunoaffinity column (IAC). The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were estimated at 1–10 µg/kg and 3–35 µg/kg, respectively. Two compound feeds (two gestating sow feed samples) out of 160 pig feed samples exceeded the European Commission (EC) guidance value, while no feed ingredient samples exceeded the EC or South Korean guidance values. There were statistically significant differences in the mean contamination levels of compound feed and feed ingredients that indicated a decreasing trend over time.

The Impact of Deoxynivalenol on Pigeon Health: Occurrence in Feed, Toxicokinetics and Interaction with Salmonellosis.

Seed-based pigeon diets could be expected to result in exposure of pigeons to mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Ingestion of low to moderate contamination levels of DON may impair intestinal health, immune function and/or pathogen fitness, resulting in altered host-pathogen interactions and thus different outcome of infections. Here we demonstrate that DON was one of the most frequently detected mycotoxins in seed-based racing pigeons feed, contaminating 5 out of 10 samples (range 177–1,466 μg/kg). Subsequently, a toxicokinetic analysis revealed a low absolute oral bioavailability (F) of DON in pigeons (30.4%), which is comparable to other avian species. Furthermore, semi-quantitative analysis using high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that DON-3α-sulphate is the major metabolite of DON in pigeons after intravenous as well as oral administration. Following ingestion of DON contaminated feed, the intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to significant DON concentrations which eventually may affect intestinal translocation and colonization of bacteria. Feeding pigeons a DON contaminated diet resulted in an increased percentage of pigeons shedding Salmonella compared to birds fed control diet, 87 ± 17% versus 74 ± 13%, respectively. However, no impact of DON was observed on the Salmonella induced disease signs, organ lesions, faecal and organ Salmonella counts. The presented risk assessment indicates that pigeons are frequently exposed to mycotoxins such as DON, which can affect the outcome of a Salmonella infection. The increasing number of pigeons shedding Salmonella suggests that DON can promote the spread of the bacterium within pigeon populations.

Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol in feed ingredients and complete feed from different Province in China

BackgroundThe current study was carried out to provide a reference for monitory of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds were collected from different Province in China from 2013 to 2015.MethodsA total of 443 feed ingredients, including 220 corn, 24 wheat, 24 domestic distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS), 55 bran, 20 wheat shorts and red dog, 37 imported DDGS, 34 corn germ meal and 29 soybean meal as well as 127 complete feeds including 25 pig complete feed (powder), 90 pig complete feed (pellet), six duck complete feed and six cattle complete feed were randomly collected from different Province in China, respectively, by high-performance chromatography in combined with UV or fluorescence analysis.ResultsThe incidence rates of AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feed ingredients and complete feeds were 80.8, 92.3 and 93.9 %, respectively. The percentage of positive samples for DON ranged from 66.7 to 100 %. Domestic DDGS and imported DDGS presented the most serious contamination AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination levels of feeds ranged from 61.5 to 100 %, indicated that serious contamination over the studied 3-year period.ConclusionThe current data provide clear evidence that AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feed ingredients and complete feeds in different Province in China is serious and differs over past 3-year. The use of corn, domestic DDGS, imported DDGS and corn germ meal, which may be contaminated with these three mycotoxins, as animal feed may triggered a health risk for animal. Feeds are most contaminated with DON followed by ZEN and AFB1. Mycotoxins contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds should be monitored routinely in China.

Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol in feed ingredients and complete feed from central China

ABSTRACTBetween 2012 and 2014, 2528 feed ingredient and complete feed samples were collected from central China. Numbers of 2083, 255 and 190 samples were analysed for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON), respectively, by high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with UV or fluorescence detection. The incidence rates of AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feed ingredients and complete feeds were 33.9%, 90.2% and 77.4%, respectively. The percentage of positive samples for AFB1 ranged from 13.1% to 97.1%. Cottonseed meal presented the most serious contamination by AFB1. ZEN and DON contamination levels of feeds ranged from 50% to 100%, indicating serious contamination over the studied 3-year period. This study demonstrates that AFB1, ZEN and DON contamination of feeds in central China is serious and differs over the years. Feeds are mostly contaminated with ZEN, followed by DON and AFB1.

Prevalence of Selenium, T-2 Toxin, and Deoxynivalenol in Kashin-Beck Disease Areas in Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of selenium, T-2 toxin, and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) areas and provide information for understanding the high prevalence of KBD in Qinghai Province. A total of 183 subjects were chosen in a KBD-prevalent county (Guide County) and a non-KBD county (Huangzhong County) in Qinghai Province, northwestern China, and the samples of wheat flour, soil, drinking water and blood, urine, and hair of children were collected from these residents. The selenium concentrations from all these sources were determined using atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. The levels of T-2 toxin and DON contamination in the wheat flour samples were assayed using HPLC-MS/MS. The average selenium content in the soil, drinking water, and wheat flour samples from KBD areas were 26.93 ± 10.06 μg/kg, 0.097 ± 0.038 μg/L, and 9.50 ± 7.17 μg/kg, respectively. Among these, the selenium levels in the drinking water and wheat flour samples from the KBD endemic county were significantly lower than those from the non-KBD county. For the selenium nutrient status, only the hair selenium concentration of children from the KBD endemic county was significantly lower than that from the non-KBD county. The contents of T-2 toxin in all wheat samples were below the detection limit (0.4 μg/kg). The levels of DON contamination in wheat flour samples from KBD and non-KBD children's households within the KBD endemic county were relatively higher, with average levels of 302 ± 49 and 280 ± 48 μg/kg, respectively. The DON level of wheat flour samples from the children's households in the non-KBD county was significantly lower than that from the KBD endemic county. These results suggest that the lower selenium status in Guide County still remains. While the selenium nutritional status of the local children has improved to some extent, partly due to the introduction of food produce from nonlocal areas. DON contamination in the wheat flour may be involved in the fluctuating high prevalence rates of KBD in children in the KBD endemic Guide County in Qinghai Province.

Development of a rapid method for the quantitative determination of deoxynivalenol using Quenchbody

Quenchbody (Q-body) is a novel fluorescent biosensor based on the antigen-dependent removal of a quenching effect on a fluorophore attached to antibody domains. In order to develop a method using Q-body for the quantitative determination of deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin produced by some Fusarium species, anti-DON Q-body was synthesized from the sequence information of a monoclonal antibody specific to DON. When the purified anti-DON Q-body was mixed with DON, a dose-dependent increase in the fluorescence intensity was observed and the detection range was between 0.0003 and 3 mg L−1. The coefficients of variation were 7.9% at 0.003 mg L−1, 5.0% at 0.03 mg L−1 and 13.7% at 0.3 mg L−1, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.006 mg L−1 for DON in wheat. The Q-body showed an antigen-dependent fluorescence enhancement even in the presence of wheat extracts. To validate the analytical method using Q-body, a spike-and-recovery experiment was performed using four spiked wheat samples. The recoveries were in the range of 94.9–100.2%. The concentrations of DON in twenty-one naturally contaminated wheat samples were quantitated by the Q-body method, LC-MS/MS and an immunochromatographic assay kit. The LC-MS/MS analysis showed that the levels of DON contamination in the samples were between 0.001 and 2.68 mg kg−1. The concentrations of DON quantitated by LC-MS/MS were more strongly correlated with those using the Q-body method (R2 = 0.9760) than the immunochromatographic assay kit (R2 = 0.8824). These data indicate that the Q-body system for the determination of DON in wheat samples was successfully developed and Q-body is expected to have a range of applications in the field of food safety.

Relationship of deoxynivalenol content in grain, chaff, and straw with Fusarium head blight severity in wheat varieties with various levels of resistance.

A total of 122 wheat varieties obtained from the Nordic Genetic Resource Center were infected artificially with an aggressive Fusariumasiaticum strain in a field experiment. We calculated the severity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and determined the deoxynivalenol (DON) content of wheat grain, straw and glumes. We found DON contamination levels to be highest in the glumes, intermediate in the straw, and lowest in the grain in most samples. The DON contamination levels did not increase consistently with increased FHB incidence. The DON levels in the wheat varieties with high FHB resistance were not necessarily low, and those in the wheat varieties with high FHB sensitivity were not necessarily high. We selected 50 wheat genotypes with reduced DON content for future research. This study will be helpful in breeding new wheat varieties with low levels of DON accumulation.

Occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat flours in Guilan province, northern Iran.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of several mycotoxins produced by certain Fusarium species that frequently infect wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley and other grains in the field or during storage. Guilan, Golestan and Mazandaran areas are located in the North Iran with favorite conditions for Fusarium growth. DON affects animal and human health causing vomiting, acute temporary nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, and fever. In this study, a total of 96 wheat flour samples of different types were collected during summer 2013 from six flour mills in Northern Iran. All samples were analyzed for DON by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DON was detected in 80 out of 96 wheat flour samples (83.33%), at levels ranging from 23 to 1270 µg/kg. The maximum contamination level of DON (1270 μg/kg) was found in whole flour while the minimum value (23 μg/kg) was registered in debranned flour. The mean of contamination was 630.53 µg/kg. According to results obtained, incidence and contamination levels of DON, seem to be a serious problem for public health. Therefore, cereal and cereal based foods should be controlled for the presence of toxins, storage conditions and moisture content, which is considered a major factor in the growth of the Fusarium fungi.