No abstract

Twenty-one Fusarium moniliforme-contaminated feed samples associated with outbreaks of confirmed and suspected mycotoxicoses in various animal species were collected from farms in the State of Paraná, Brazil, and analyzed for the fumonisins. Fumonisins Bi (FBi) and B2 (FB2) were detected in 20 and 18 of the 21 feed samples, respectively, at concentrations of 0.2-38.5 ug g-1 FBi and 0.1-12.0 µ% g"1 FB2. In addition, duckling toxicity and fumonisin levels were determined in corn cultures of 26 F. moniliforme isolates from the feed samples. With the exception of one isolate, all were acutely toxic to ducklings and contained 65-4420 #ig g"1 FBi and 5-1380 µ% g"1 FB2. The results constitute the first report on the natural occurrence of the fumonisins in animal feeds from Brazil. * Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis.

Aims:  Considering the agronomic and industrial damage that is caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum, as well as the serious health risks it poses to humans and animals exposed to F. graminearum‐produced mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), this study evaluated the ability of different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to inhibit fungal development and remove DON in vitro. Methods and Results:  The antagonistic effects of strains and commercial cultures of LAB were evaluated against F. graminearum IAPAR 2218 by the agar diffusion method. Additionally, the influence of the culture media, pH and the presence of lactic and acetic acid on these effects was tested. The capacity to remove DON by viable cells and heat‐inactivated cells was analysed in liquid media and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All isolated strains and commercial cultures inhibited the fungus and removed DON. The pH and culture media concentration did not influence these abilities, but heat inactivation had a strong effect on the ability of bacteria to remove mycotoxin. Conclusions:  The isolated bacteria are able to inhibit F. graminearum growth and remove DON in vitro. Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study suggests potential application of the isolated LAB strains in the inhibition of F. graminearum IAPAR 2218 and DON removal in vitro.

Since animal intoxication related to corn-based feed is frequently observed in the State of Paraná, Brazil, natural contamination by fumonisins in 48 corn samples (39 from the State of Paraná, and 9 from the Brazilian tropical states, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias) harvested in 1990-1991 was investigated, along with fungal flora. The total mould count ranged from 6.3 x 10(2) to 5.5 x 10(7) cfu/g, and Fusarium moniliforme and Aspergillus species belonging to section Flavi were detected in 41 and 33 samples, respectively. Regarding the samples from the State of Paraná, F. moniliforme was present in 33 samples at a count of 1.0 x 10(2) to 1.6 x 10(7) cfu/g and Aspergillus spp. in section Flavi in 27 samples at 1.0 x 10(2) to 1.0 x 10(6) cfu/g. HPLC analysis of fumonisins in the corn showed that fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) were positive for 97.4% and 94.8% of samples respectively. All the corn from North Paraná was positive for fumonisins, with average FB1 levels of 4.79 micrograms/g and average FB2 levels of 3.95 micrograms/g: the Central-West region had average levels of 3.30 and 2.52 micrograms/g, and the Central-East had average of 3.25 and 2.34 micrograms/g, respectively. Except for one negative sample all the corn samples from the Central Region were positive for fumonisins, averaging FB1 levels being 5.45 micrograms/g and FB2 levels being 5.09 micrograms/g. Out of eight samples from the tropical state of Mato Grosso do Sul, F. moniliforme was detected in seven and Aspergillus spp. in section Flavi in five samples with average FB1 levels of 10.59 micrograms/g and average for FB2 levels of 10.31 micrograms/g. The samples from Goias were also contaminated with these two fungi, with the FB1 contamination being 5.83 and the FB2 contamination 3.62 micrograms/g.