1370
Worldwide occurrence of mycotoxins in feeds and feed components in the year 2013
In 2013, a follow-up on the worldwide BIOMIN mycotoxin survey (started in 2004) covering the most important mycotoxins in feedstuffs was conducted. Information was collected concerning the presence of mycotoxins in commodities most commonly used for feed production. A total of 4,218 samples (mainly corn/corn silage, soybean meal, wheat, finished feed and other grains) sourced in America, Europe and Asia were analyzed for the presence of mycotoxins including aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FUM) and ochratoxin A (OTA).
Samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Only single commodities were analyzed by ELISA. More complex matrices which could interfere with the ELISA method such as DDGS and finished feed were tested by HPLC. For the purpose of data analysis, the quantification limits (LOQ) of the test method for each toxin were implemented.
In the more than 4,000 samples analyzed worldwide, Afla were present in 30%, ZEN in 37%, DON in 59%, FUM in 55% and OTA in 23%. Average contamination levels of all positive samples were 10 ppb for Afla, 49 ppb for ZEN, 458 ppb for DON, 778 ppb for FUM and 2 ppb for OTA. In total, only 19% of the samples were tested negative for the presence of the five investigated mycotoxins. Thirty six percent of all samples contained one mycotoxin and 45% of the samples showed a co-contamination with two or more mycotoxins.
Results of this survey highlight the necessity of mycotoxin testing prior to the feeding of animals. More than 80% of the samples were positive for at least one mycotoxin. The presence of more than one mycotoxin in almost half of the samples draws attention to the multi-mycotoxin contamination. The results underline the necessity of constant monitoring of mycotoxins in feedstuffs and a proper mycotoxin risk management.
Keywords:
mycotoxins, worldwide survey