Estimation of multi-mycotoxin contamination in South African compound feeds

A total of 92 commercial compound feeds from South Africa were investigated for various mycotoxins. The data reveal the highest incidence of feed contamination for fumonisins (FB) (range: 104-2999 µg/kg) followed by deoxynivalenol (DON) (range: 124-2352 µg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range: 30-610 µg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxins 2012-10, Vol.4 (10), p.836-848
Main Authors: Njobeh, Patrick B, Dutton, Mike F, Åberg, Annica Tevell, Haggblom, Per
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aflatoxins - analysis
Animal Feed - analysis
Animal Feed - microbiology
Animals
Cattle
Chromatography, Liquid - methods
Feeds
Food Contamination - analysis
Food Microbiology
Fumonisins - analysis
Fungi
Health
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins - analysis
Ochratoxins - analysis
South Africa
T-2 Toxin - analogs & derivatives
T-2 Toxin - analysis
Tandem Mass Spectrometry - methods
Trichothecenes - analysis
Zearalenone - analysis
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Summary:A total of 92 commercial compound feeds from South Africa were investigated for various mycotoxins. The data reveal the highest incidence of feed contamination for fumonisins (FB) (range: 104-2999 µg/kg) followed by deoxynivalenol (DON) (range: 124-2352 µg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range: 30-610 µg/kg). The incidence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AF)-contaminated samples were generally low, i.e., 4% and 30% of samples with levels ranging between 6.4 and 17.1 µg/kg (mean: 9.9 µg/kg) for OTA and 0.2 to 71.8 µg/kg (mean: 9.0 µg/kg) for AF. No samples contained T-2 toxin or HT-2 toxin. However, all samples analyzed were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin with a majority containing several mycotoxins. In particular, 3 of 4 positive samples mainly cattle feeds that had relatively high contents of OTA (ranging from 7 to 17.1 µg/kg) also contained high amounts of AF (>27.5 µg/kg) together with FB, DON and ZEA. Apart from a few samples, the levels of mycotoxins may be regarded as safe for livestock production in South Africa. However, the persistent co-occurrence of mycotoxins in samples, especially those at high concentrations, i.e., AF and OTA, together with other mycotoxins studied, may elicit synergistic or additive effects in animals. This should raise concern as multiple contaminations may pose a risk to livestock production and health.
ISSN:2072-6651
2072-6651
DOI:10.3390/toxins4100836