Mycotoxin Levels Research Articles

67 Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Forage-Based Feeds from US and Canada

Abstract Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that contaminate a variety of feedstuffs and are detrimental to animal health and productivity. The risk of broad-spectrum mycotoxin exposure is elevated for ruminants due to the complexity of their diets. This study investigated the occurrence and contamination levels of mycotoxins in forage-based feeds including corn silage, haylage (including various cuttings of multiple forage sources), and straw samples from across the US and Canada. Samples were screened for the six major mycotoxin groups: aflatoxins, type A trichothecenes, type B trichothecenes (B-Trich), fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A via LC-MS/MS technique. Samples submitted for clinical health or performance concerns were excluded from the data set. The B-Trich occurred most frequently (95% positive) among 92 corn silage samples harvested in 2019 followed by ZEN (34%) and FUM (9%). Mean contamination levels (parts per billion, ppb) on dry matter basis were 2,788 ppb, 456 ppb, and 194 ppb, respectively. Only 4% of silage samples were below the limit of detection (LOD) for all mycotoxins evaluated. Among 20 haylage samples from 2019 crop year, B-Trich were the most frequently detected, with 50% of samples positive at a mean concentration of 3,222 ppb. Twenty-one 2019 straw samples were submitted for analysis, with 100% testing positive for some level of B-Trich (mean 2,001 ppb) and 81% ZEN positive with an average of 640 ppb. Seventy-one percent of straw samples were positive for both B-Trich and ZEN. Preliminary mycotoxin survey results from US and Canada suggest B-Trich and ZEN are the most frequently occurring major mycotoxins in 2019 forage-based feed samples. Based on the frequency and levels of mycotoxin contamination identified in the current data set, continued analysis of forage-based feeds is warranted as mycotoxins pose a potential risk to the health, performance, and reproductive success of ruminants.

PSXI-8 Corn stover feedlot diets with elevated mycotoxins and binder effect on cattle performance

Abstract Weather conditions often dictate the quality of corn, corn silage, and corn stover harvested for livestock feed. When growing and/or harvest conditions are wet, mycotoxin producing fungi can flourish. Mycotoxin levels were determined to be elevated in the fall 2018 corn crop (Table 1). A 3 x 2 factorial experiment was initiated to observe effects of a mycotoxin binder, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (Engage-M, United Animal Health, Sheridan, IN), on cattle performance. Three treatment diets with elevated mycotoxin levels were amended with Engage-M fed at 0 or 14 g hd-1 d-1. Steers (n = 72, 12 pens total) were fed during Grow (21 d) and Finish (51 d) phases. During the Grow phase a 52% corn silage, 20% DDGS, and 8% supplement basal diet was fed and treatments were an additional 20% diet DM included as corn silage (CSIL), conventional corn stover (CST), or single-pass bale stover (SPB). Cattle fed Engage-M during Grow phase had numerically higher daily gains, 1.35 kg d-1, compared to no binder, 1.26 kg d-1 (P = 0.17). During the Finish phase, all cattle were fed similarly (72.1% rolled corn, 12% corn silage, 8.9% DDGS, 7% supplement diet DM). Cattle fed Engage-M tended (P = 0.09) to have increased daily gains, 2.07 kg d-1, compared to no binder, 1.9 kg d-1. Dry matter intake was similar for both treatments during the Finish trial, 12.9 kg hd-1 d-1 (P = 0.83), suggesting the increase in cattle performance was due to improved utilization of feed and not feed intake. The Finish phase feed to gain ratio was 6.25 vs. 6.83 (P = 0.06) with and without Engage-M, respectively. The trend was for cattle fed Engage-M to be 9.2% more efficient. The present study suggests that feeding Engage-M may increase cattle performance when diets have elevated levels of zearalenone and vomitoxin.

61 Impact of broken kernels and foreign matter content of corn on nutrient and energy composition and mycotoxin levels

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to determine the impact of elevated broken kernels and foreign material content (BCFM) on energy and nutrient content and mycotoxin levels of corn delivered to a commercial feed mill in southern Minnesota. Corn was sourced from Central Region Cooperative (Sleepy Eye, MN) to meet BCFM specifications: medium (M), averaging 4.9% BCFM and high (H), averaging 7.9% BCFM. Each of 20 deliveries of M were individually sampled at the time of delivery; half was cleaned using a 2.4 mm screen. The clean (CC) and the uncleaned (UC) corn were assayed for moisture, ash, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and phosphorus. The net energy content was determined using pooled samples of CC and UC using NIR (Cargill, Elk River, MN; Dutch Net Energy formula, CVB). Twenty-six deliveries of H were processed as above, except that the fines (CF) were retained, and CC, CU and CF were assayed for deoxynivalenol and zearalenone. The nutrient data and mycotoxin data were analyzed using ANOVA in which delivery was the experimental unit. There were no differences (P > 0.10) between CC and UC for moisture (14.2 vs 14.1 % for CC and UC, respectively), ash (1.1 vs 1.1%), crude protein (6.6 vs 6.6%), ether extract (3.2 vs 3.1%), neutral detergent fiber (8.9 vs 8.4%), and phosphorus (0.2 vs 0.2%). The net energy of CC and UC were both 2.63 Mcal/kg. The CF contained the highest levels of DON (2,856 vs 425 vs 138 ppb for CF, UC and CC, respectively; P < 0.01) and the highest levels of zearalenone (385 vs 61 vs 15 ppb; P < 0.01). In conclusion, cleaning corn with 4.9% BCFM provided no benefit in terms of nutrient and energy levels. Cleaning corn with 7.9% BCFM reduced mycotoxin content and therefore health risks.

77 The effect of naturally occurring levels of multiple mycotoxins on growth performance and carcass parameters of grow-finish pigs

Abstract Mycotoxins may not be an issue every year, but the proper environmental conditions can cause a spike in contaminated grains and cause severe economic impact on pork producers. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of naturally occurring infections of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins (DZF) on growth performance and carcass parameters in grow/finish pigs. One hundred pigs (BW 34.0 ± 0.9 kg; L337 × Camborough, PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments with 10 split-sex pens/treatment. The control diet (CTL) contained low levels of DZF and the CTL+DFZ diet contained high levels of DZF. Diets were fed in 4 phases over the 126-d experiment period. The CTL diet contained 1.6, 1.6, 1.8 and 1.2 mg deoxynivalenol/kg and CTL+DZF contained 9.2, 6.9, 5.8 and 3.8 mg deoxynivalenol/kg in the 4 diet phases, respectively. The CTL contained 0.30, 0.32, 0.51 and 0.32 mg zearalenone/kg and 0.7, 0.8, 0.8 and 0.9 mg total fumonisins/kg; CTL+DFZ contained 0.59, 0.72, 0.86 and 0.57 mg zearalenone/kg and 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 0.9 mg total fumonisins/kg for phases one through four, respectively. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (9.4) with treatment, sex, and their interaction as fixed effects. Compared to CTL, feeding CTL+DFZ decreased final BW (130.3 vs 120.5 kg; P< 0.001), ADG (0.95 vs 0.79 kg/d; P< 0.001), ADFI (2.73 vs 2.49 kg/d; P=0.016), and G:F (0.35 vs 0.32; P=0.043). Feeding CTL+DFZ decreased HCW (92.3 vs 89.4 kg; P=0.024) and increased dressing percentage (70.9 vs 74.3%; P=0.009) and tended to reduce loin depth (7.0 vs 6.8 cm; P=0.057) compared to CTL. Diet did not affect backfat depth or lean percentage (P >0.10). In conclusion, diets naturally contaminated with multiple mycotoxins reduced growth performance and adversely affected carcass parameters; pigs did not adapt over time to the mycotoxins.

60 Occurrence of Mycotoxins in 2019 US Corn-based Feed Ingredients

Abstract Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that are detrimental to animal health and productivity. This study investigated occurrence and contamination levels of mycotoxins in the 2019 US corn harvest, including corn grain and corn byproduct feed ingredients (distillers dried grains, gluten feed, etc.). Corn samples from the 2019 harvest and corn DDGS and other byproducts from October 2019 through April 2020 were screened via the LC-MS/MS technique for the presence of six major mycotoxin groups: aflatoxins, type A trichothecenes, type B trichothecenes (B-Trich), fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN) and ochratoxin A. Parameters of the main toxins found were compared to the two prior harvest years using the Kruskal-Wallis Test (Prism7, GraphPad, La Jolla, CA) and are presented in Table 1. Mean toxin count per sample in corn grain was similar in 2019 as 2018, with just over two toxins per sample. Mean B-Trich level (parts per billion, ppb) was elevated in 2019 from 2017. Fumonisin contamination increased in 2019 compared to 2017, and prevalence was similar to 2018. Zearalenone contamination and prevalence were similar in 2019 compared to 2018 levels. Co-contamination in corn byproduct feeds was steady, averaging nearly three toxins per sample. Mean B-Trich contamination was higher than the 2017 crop, and FUM contamination was higher in 2019 than 2017 and 2018. Zearalenone levels in 2019 byproducts are the highest seen in the past three years. Preliminary results of the 2019 corn-based feed ingredients survey suggest mycotoxin occurrence and contamination levels are approaching those observed in the challenging 2018 crop. Furthermore, there are continued concerns for co-contamination and greater ZEN contamination that may impose negative effects on growth, health and reproductive performance in ruminants.

Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of analytical methods for the determination of aflatoxins in milk and dairy products (review information)

The dairy industry of Ukraine is developing dynamically, its needs for the quality of raw materials are growing significantly. Detection of mycotoxins in raw milk is one of the main indicators of its safety. The high degree of toxicity of mycotoxins is a threat to the health of the lactating animal, so a large number of them are excreted in milk. If we talk about ruminants, the vast majority of mycotoxins are utilized by microorganisms of the pancreas, which does not occur in monogastric animals, so the list of mycotoxins in their milk can be much wider than the secretion of mammalian mammals. To date, the maximum permissible levels (MRLs) of mycotoxins in raw milk and dairy products have been established. Thus, a comprehensive determination of the content of mycotoxins in the secretion of the breast has not only technological but also important diagnostic value. Milk sample preparation is the most important step in the determination of mycotoxins and consists of sampling, extraction and purification from impurities. For the extraction of aflatoxins, the method of liquid extraction with acetonitrile or chloroform is used. Purification of extracts is carried out on immunoaffinity columns, cartridges with special sorbents or using certain manufacturers (MycoSep®).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection are used to determine aflatoxin B1 and M1 in raw milk of cows. However, all these methods have a number of disadvantages, namely: long and expensive sample preparation and insufficiently high selectivity. Currently, the complex determination of mycotoxins in various matrices by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) and the use of modified QuEChERS sample preparation is gaining popularity. The advantage of this technique is the combination of faster and cheaper sample preparation of QuEChERS samples with highly selective LC-MS/MS chromatography. Key words: mycotoxins, raw milk, analytical methods, QuEChERS.

Mycotoxin Contamination of Selected Organic Enrichment Materials Used in Pig Farming

Abnormal behavior, such as tail biting, is a fundamental problem in pig husbandry worldwide, and the application of enrichment materials, particularly organic materials, is one of the most promising preventive and curative measures. However, the potential health risks posed by these materials, such as being an additional source of mycotoxins, have not been sufficiently studied to date. Therefore, 21 different organic enrichment materials were tested for mycotoxin contamination with a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry multi-mycotoxin method. Concerning the legally regulated mycotoxins in the EU, aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A were not detected in any of the tested materials. Fumonisin B2 was detected in straw meal made of wheat, rye, and triticale, but the level (0.014 mg/kg) was very low. The level of deoxynivalenol in maize pellets (5.01 mg/kg) and maize silage (2.12 mg/kg) exceeded the guidance value for pig feed. Zearalenone was present at high levels in maize pellets (1.21 mg/kg), hay (0.30 mg/kg), and maize silage (0.25 mg/kg). Maize products showed high levels of mycotoxins presenting a health risk for pigs and cannot be recommended as enrichment material.

The fate of mycotoxins during secondary food processing of maize for human consumption.

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring fungal metabolites that are associated with health hazards and are widespread in cereals including maize. The most common mycotoxins in maize that occur at relatively high levels are fumonisins (FBs), zearalenone, and aflatoxins; furthermore, other mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A are frequently present in maize. For these toxins, maximum levels are laid down in the European Union (EU) for maize raw materials and maize-based foods. The current review article gives a comprehensive overview on the different mycotoxins (including mycotoxins not regulated by EU law) and their fate during secondary processing of maize, based on the data published in the scientific literature. Furthermore, potential compliance with the EU maximum levels is discussed where appropriate. In general, secondary processing can impact mycotoxins in various ways. Besides changes in mycotoxin levels due to fractionation, dilution, and/or concentration, mycotoxins can be affected in their chemical structure (causing degradation or modification) or be released from or bound to matrix components. In the current review, a special focus is set on the effect on mycotoxins caused by different heat treatments, namely, baking, roasting, frying, (pressure) cooking, and extrusion cooking. Production processes involving multiple heat treatments are exemplified with the cornflakes production. For that, potential compliance with FB maximum levels was assessed. Moreover, effects of fermentation of maize matrices and production of maize germ oil are covered by this review.

Fusarium and mycotoxin content of harvested grain was not related to tillage intensity in Norwegian spring wheat fields

To mitigate the risk of erosion and nutrient runoff, reduced tillage has become more prevalent in Norway. Within within recent decades, there have been some years with relatively high occurrence ofFusarium head blight and mycotoxins in Norwegian cereal grain. This is thought to have been caused by an increased inoculum potential (IP) ofFusarium spp. due to larger amount of crop residues remaining on the soil surface, in combination with weather conditions promoting fungal growth and infection of cereal plants. The objective of this work was to elucidate the influence of different tillage practices on the IP ofFusarium spp. and the subsequentFusarium-infection and mycotoxin contamination of spring wheat grain at harvest. Tillage trials were conducted at two locations in southeast Norway (Solør and Toten) over three years, 2010-2012. Residues of wheat from the previous year were collected in spring.Fusarium avenaceum andFusarium graminearum were the most commonFusarium species recorded on wheat straw residues. IP was calculated as the percentage of the residues infested withFusarium spp. multiplied by the proportion of the soil surface covered with residues. The IP ofFusarium spp. was lower in ploughed plots compared to those tilled with harrowing only. Ploughing in spring resulted in a similarly low IP as autumn ploughing. In contrast, harrowing in autumn generally reduced IP more than did spring harrowing. The mycotoxin levels in the harvested wheat were generally low, except for deoxynivalenol at high levels in Solør 2011. Despite a lower IP of ploughed versus harrowed plots, this was not reflected in the content ofFusarium and mycotoxins in harvested grain. TheFusarium species that dominated in the residues examined in this study were the same as those detected in the harvested grain, supporting the finding that residues are an important source of inoculum.

The Effect of Agrotechnical Factors on Fusarium Mycotoxins Level in Maize

The occurrence of diseases in the cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) leads to the loss of grain yield and the simultaneous deterioration of its quality. Fungi of the genus Fusarium spp. pose the greatest threat to maize cultivation. These fungi occur at all stages of the plant’s development, causing Fusarium seedling blight, root rot, foot rot, and ear rot, including grains. Therefore, the aim of the conducted field studies was to determine the influence of selected agriculture factors on mycotoxin contents in maize grain and ear core. Moreover, it should be noted that the presence of mycotoxins in food products in terms of legal regulations is quite a fundamental barrier both in domestic and international trade. The field experiment was carried out at the Department of Agronomy of Poznań University of Life Sciences, on the fields of the Experimental and Educational Unit in Swadzim, Poland, in 2013–2014, in four field replicates. The study involved the following factors: soil sowing preparation method, types of variates, and fertilization method, all of which shape mycotoxin accumulation. The results indicated that the main effects of years were significant for all observed traits for both the core and grain. The concentrations of deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, and zearalenone were higher in 2014 than in 2013 for both core and grain. The concentrations of fumonisin B1 and fumonisin B2 were higher in the first year of study for core and grain. The direct sowing of maize significantly affects plants’ health status, expressed by an increase in mycotoxin accumulation. Traditional hybrid SY Cooky characterized higher values of observed traits than “stay-green” hybrid Drim (except fumonisin B2 for cob). The positive effect of the row method of NP fertilizer application is based on a decrease in mycotoxin content.

Exposure of school children to aflatoxins and fumonisins through maize-based diets in school meals programme in Salima district, Malawi

Exposure to aflatoxins and fumonisins contaminated food poses threats to human health,including causation of cancer, immunosuppression, impaired growth, respiratory problems, diarrhea, among others.This study was carried out to evaluate the levels of aflatoxins and fumonisins in maize-based porridge and the estimated intake levels of the contaminants among school going children in selected primary schools in Salima District,Malawi.A total of 496 children and 124 food handlers from 31 primary schools within three Extension Planning Areas(EPAs) under the School Meals Programmes were involved. Consumption and meal preparation data were collected from the respondents using pre-tested questionnaires. Reveal Q+ Kits were used to quantify aflatoxins and fumonisins in sampled meals. Monte Carlo risk simulation using @RiskPalisade software(UK)was used to generate exposure data.All porridge samples had varying detectable levels of mycotoxins. However,there were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the aflatoxins and fumonisins levels for samples from different EPAs indicating the endemic presence of mycotoxins within the district. Over 95% of the schools used maize as the main ingredient in preparing the porridge with relatively high quantities consumed 610 grams/child/day equivalent to 0.019 kg/kg body weight/day regardless of the gender (χ2 = 5.624, P = 0.286)or the age (r = 0.033, P = 0.459)of the respondents. The levels of aflatoxins and fumonisins in the samples ranged from 2.13 to 33.37 μg/kg and <0.3to1.0 ng/kg, respectively.The mean and the 95thpercentile intake levels for aflatoxins ranged from0.2 -0.60ng/kg body weight/dayand6 –9.2 μg/kg body weight/day for fumonisins,which exceeded the recommended safety levels for children according to standards of European Food Safety Authority (2007) and Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Committee on Food Additives (2008), respectively.The consumption of maize-based porridge was found to expose school-going children to unacceptable levels of mycotoxins whose effects on their health, education and well-being remain unknown. There is a need to educate food handlers on mycotoxins intoxication and proper postharvest handling practices of maize-based foods to prevent exposure.Furthermore, diversification to reduce over reliance on maize-based diets should be promoted.

The expedient application of microbial fermentation after whole-wheat milling and fractionation to mitigate mycotoxins in wheat-based products

The effect of whole milling and fractionation of wheat grains from the 2017 and 2018 harvests on the mycotoxin transfer into milling products and the influence of microbial fermentation of such products on mycotoxin levels were analysed. Additionally, the identification and occurrence of fungal contamination in grains with different mycotoxin contamination levels was evaluated. The mycotoxin contents were determined by chromatography (HPLC-TOF-HRMS). The distribution of mycotoxins in wheat wholemeal fractions depended on wheat kernel contamination level. The flour fractions contained zearalenone (ZEN) from 59 to 92%, and deoxynivalenol (DON) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G) at levels on average 60% of those in unprocessed wheat grains. The highest contents of enniatin B (ENNB) (84–86%) and ENNB1 (80–99%) were distributed within the flour fractions. Prolonged sourdough fermentation (48 h) allowed a reduction in DON content in the sourdough by 44–69% and a removal of 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), alternariol (AOH), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G), toxins H-2 and HT-2, while the enniatin removal levels were in a range 5–70%, with the complete removal of only ENNB1. The study on the retention of mycotoxins during secondary grain processing (sourdough fermentation) is important for the risk assessment of wheat-based products.

A mycotoxin-deactivating feed additive counteracts the adverse effects of regular levels of Fusarium mycotoxins in dairy cows

Little is known about the effects of commonly found levels of Fusarium mycotoxins on the performance, metabolism, and immunity of dairy cattle. We investigated the effects of regular contamination levels, meaning contamination levels that can be commonly detected in dairy feeds, of deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FB) in total mixed ration (TMR) on the performance, diet digestibility, milk quality, and plasma liver enzymes in dairy cows. This trial examined 12 lactating Holstein dairy cows using a 3-period × 3-treatment Latin square design. The experimental period was 21 d of mycotoxin exposure followed by 14 d of washout. During treatment periods, cows received one of 3 diets: (1) CTR (control) diet of TMR contaminated with 340.5 µg of DON/kg of dry matter (DM) and 127.9 µg FB/kg of DM; (2) MTX diet of TMR contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins at levels higher than CTR but below US and European Union guidelines (i.e., 733.0 µg of DON/kg of DM and 994.4 µg of FB/kg of DM); or (3) MDP diet, which was MTX diet supplemented with a mycotoxin deactivator product (i.e., 897.3 µg of DON/kg of DM and 1,247.1 µg of FB/kg of DM; Mycofix, 35 g/animal per day). During washout, all animals were fed the same CTR diet. Body weight, body condition score, DM intake, dietary nutrient digestibility, milk production, milk composition and rennet coagulation properties, somatic cell count, blood serum chemistry, hematology, serum immunoglobulin concentrations, and expression of multiple genes in circulating leucocytes were measured. Milk production was significantly greater in the CTR group (37.73 kg/d) than in the MTX (36.39 kg/d) and the MDP (36.55 kg/d) groups. Curd firmness and curd firming time were negatively affected by the MTX diet compared with the other 2 diets. Furthermore, DM and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were lower after the MTX diet than after the CTR diet (67.3 vs. 71.0% and 42.8 vs. 52.3%). The MDP diet had the highest digestibility coefficients for DM (72.4%) and neutral detergent fiber (53.6%) compared with the other 2 diets. The activities of plasma liver transaminases were higher after the MTX diet than after the CTR and MDP diets. Compared with the CTR diet, the MTX diet led to slightly lower expression of genes related to immune and inflammatory functions, indicating that Fusarium mycotoxins had an immunosuppressive effect. Our results indicated that feed contaminated with regular levels of Fusarium mycotoxins adversely affected the performance, milk quality, diet digestibility, metabolic variables, and immunity of dairy cows, and that supplementation with mycotoxin deactivator product counteracted most of these negative effects.

Ochratoxin A and citrinin in green coffee and dietary supplements with green coffee extract

The aim of this study was to determine the degree of mold contamination and mycotoxin levels in commercially available green coffee products and dietary supplements with green coffee extract. The study included 34 samples from green coffee products: raw beans (n = 16), ground coffee (n = 15) and instant coffee (n = 3), as well as 22 samples from dietary supplements in form of capsules (n = 19), tablets (n = 2) and sachets (n = 1). Total mold count was determined with spread-plate method. Anamorphic mold were identified based on their microscopic morphology and the type of sporulation. Concentrations of mycotoxins, ochratoxin A and citrinin, were quantified by means of HPLC-fluorescence detection. Molds, typically Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., were found in 94% of green coffee beans, 100% of ground and instant coffee samples, and 55% of dietary supplement samples. None of the samples contained detectable levels of citrinin. Ochratoxin A (0.4 ng/g) was detected in only one sample of raw green coffee beans, but in up to 40% and 67% of ground and instant coffee samples, respectively. Mean concentrations of ochratoxin A in ground and instant coffee samples were 3.28 ng/g and 4.09 ng/g, respectively, and maximum concentrations amounted to 6.65 ng/g and 7.44 ng/g, respectively. Ochratoxin A (mean concentration 9.60 ng/g, maximum level 31.4 ng/g) was also detected in up to 58% of the supplement capsules, but in none of tablets and sachets.

Molecular detection of mycobiota and the associated mycotoxins in rice grains imported into Saudi Arabia

Rice is a staple food consumed across the world and its purity is essential to manage human health. However, fungal mycotoxins are one of the real challenges for maintaining the purity of rice intended for human consumption. The present study was designed to detect the fungal isolates present in the imported rice cultivars obtained from the local markets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the mycotoxins they produce using molecular approaches. The morphological analysis and PCR-based sequencing of ITS-rDNA specify that the isolates in the contaminated rice belonged to Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. The phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of ITS-rDNA regions of the isolates confirmed that the Aspergillus isolates were homological to A. flavus and A. nidulans. Whereas, the Penicillium isolates were homological to P. commune and P. chrysogenum. The identification of mycotoxins using LC-MS revealed that the isolates of the genus Aspergillus produced aflatoxin and ochratoxin. The isolates of Penicillium genus produced citreoviridin and citrinin. The levels of mycotoxins varied among each variety of the rice samples tested in total. Ochratoxin was produced at the least concentration (184.7 µg/kg) in the contaminated samples. Citrinin (23170.5 µg/kg) was produced at higher volumes in comparison to other mycotoxins. These levels of mycotoxin contamination are alarming and raise significant queries regarding the purity of the imported rice grains throughout the period of harvest and storage. Therefore, the development of practical control is required for consumer safety.

Mycotoxin carry-over in breast milk and weight of infant in exclusively-breastfed infants

The aim was to evaluate the levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) in human milk, and to investigate the relation between selected mycotoxin levels in breast milk and infantile growth in exclusively-breastfed infants under four months. Mycotoxin analysis was performed with commercial ELISA kits. Infants were weighed, and z scores of weight-for-age (WAZ) were calculated with WHO standards. The first quartile of the mycotoxin levels was classified in subgroups as low-level, the last quartile as high-level, and between them as middle-level. The subgroups of AFM1, OTA, and DON had similar infants’ WAZ. When cases without maternal smoke exposure were selected and WAZ at birth, infant age, and gender were adjusted, higher infant WAZ on admission was detected in high-ZEN subgroup (p = 0.033). Further cohort studies in exclusively-breastfed infants and absence of maternal smoke exposure could clarify the effect of ZEN on infant growth.

Occurrence and Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Fumonisin B1, Fumonisin B2 and Deoxynivalenol in Nixtamalized Maize in Mexico City.

Fumonisins (FB1+FB2) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species that might be present in maize and maize products. Knowledge on their occurrence in nixtamalized maize from Mexico together with an accompanying risk assessment are scarce, while nixtamalized maize is an important food in Mexico. This study presents the occurrence of FB1 + FB2 and DON in nixtamalized maize samples collected in Mexico City and analyses their distribution and resulting estimated daily intake for Mexican consumers by a probabilistic approach using a two-dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation. The results obtained reveal that for FB1 + FB2, 47% of the Mexican men and 30% of the Mexican women might exceed the provisional tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 2 µg/kg bw/day for fumonisins and for DON, 9% of men and 5% of women would be exceeding the PMTDI of 1 µg/kg bw/day, corresponding to the high consumers. The results raise a flag for risk managers in Mexico, to consider regulations and interventions that lower mycotoxin levels in nixtamalized maize for human consumption.

A Comparative Study on Deoxynivalenol Mycotoxin Level in Wheat Flour and Bread Samples

Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins found in cereal products. Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the DON contamination level in raw wheat flour and bread. Methods: In this analytical study with cross-sectional design, a total of 44 wheat flour and bread samples (Lavash flour and bread, and Barbari flour and bread) were collected. The DON level was measured using ELISA method. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software by using ANOVA and t-test considering a significance level of P≥0.05. Findings: The Mean±SD total DON level in the flour and bread samples was 0.03±0.04 and 0.12±0.21 µg/kg. The mean DON level in the Lavash and Barbari flour samples was 0.01±0.02 and 0.01±0.01 µg/kg, and in the Lavash and Barbari bread samples as 0.04±0.03 and 0.16±0.27 µg/kg, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the DON levels between flour and bread samples (P≥0.05). Conclusion: The presence of DON in the studied samples was observed, but its contamination level was lower than the permissible limit.

Co-Occurrence and Levels of Mycotoxins in Fish Feeds in Kenya.

This study determined the presence, levels and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in fish feeds in Kenya. Seventy-eight fish feeds and ingredients were sampled from fish farms and fish feed manufacturing plants and analysed for 40 mycotoxins using high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Twenty-nine (73%) mycotoxins were identified with 76 (97%) samples testing positive for mycotoxins presence. Mycotoxins with the highest prevalences were enniatin B (91%), deoxynivalenol (76%) and fumonisin B1 (54%) while those with the highest maximum levels were sterigmatocystin (<30.5–3517.1 µg/kg); moniliformin (<218.9–2583.4 µg/kg) and ergotamine (<29.3–1895.6 µg/kg). Mycotoxin co-occurrence was observed in 68 (87%) samples. Correlations were observed between the fumonisins; enniatins B and zearalenone and its metabolites. Fish dietary exposure estimates ranged between <0.16 and 43.38 µg/kg body weight per day. This study shows evidence of mycotoxin presence and co-occurrence in fish feeds and feed ingredients in Kenya. Fish exposure to these levels of mycotoxins over a long period of time may lead to adverse health effects due to their possible additive, synergistic or antagonist toxic effects. Measures to reduce fish feed mycotoxin contamination should be taken to avoid mycotoxicosis in fish and subsequently in humans and animals through residues.

MYCOTOXINS IN MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS

The article gives an overview of modern opinions about the ways of possible contamination of milk and dairy products by mycotoxyn. The key indicator of the presence of mycotoxins in milk and dairy products is the level to which micromycetes affect productive livestock’s feed. Yet, mycromycetes and mycotoxines do not always occur together: some test samples can contain certain micromycetes, but no mycotoxines. Mycotoxines are synthesised by micromycetes only under certain favourable conditions. The multi-chambered stomach ecosystem of lactating cows utilises most mycotoxins occurring in food. Only a small amount of those is excreted in milk. However, some mycotoxins can bind to milk caseins. In this case, cheese and other dairy products can contain far higher amounts of mycotoxins than at the initial stage of milk production. The paper compares the maximum permissible levels of mycotoxins in milk and in dairy products according to the regulations of Ukraine and the EU. It presents the mycotoxins isolated from secretions of mammary glands of humans and productive animals, and describes their effect on the body’s physiology. It also provides a structural diagram of how mycotoxins contaminate milk and dairy products following the path “Animal feed – dairy products.” We suggest four-stage assessment of the risks of mycotoxin contamination of milk and dairy products: Stage I – identifying the producer of mycotoxin (molecule, metabolites in feed, milk, and dairy products). Anamnesis; Stage II – constructing a sequence diagram. Inspecting all production stages to identify the main ways and periods of contamination, determining and describing the symptoms of contamination; Stage III – assessing how the intensity and duration of exposure to a mycotoxin and its metabolites are likely to effect on the body. Modelling the influence of mycotoxins on the body; Stage IV – assessing the risk and determining measures to eliminate or minimise it. Risk scenario forecast