Deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and Fusarium graminearum contamination of cereal straw; field distribution; and sampling of big bales

Abstract

Sampling of straw bales from wheat, barley, and oats was carried out after harvest showing large variations in deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) levels. In the wheat field, DON was detected in all straw samples with an average DON concentration of 976 μg/kg and a median of 525 μg/kg, while in four bales, the concentrations were above 3000 μg/kg. For ZEN, the concentrations were more uniform with an average concentration of 11 μg/kg. The barley straw bales were all positive for DON with an average concentration of 449 μg/kg and three bales above 800 μg/kg. In oat straw, the average DON concentration was 6719 μg/kg with the lowest concentration at 2614 μg/kg and eight samples above 8000 μg/kg. ZEN contamination was detected in all bales with an average concentration of 53 μg/kg with the highest concentration at 219 μg/kg. Oat bales from another field showed an average concentration of 16,382 μg/kg. ZEN concentrations in the oat bales were on average 153 μg/kg with a maximum at 284 μg/kg. Levels of Fusarium graminearum DNA were higher in oat straw (max 6444 pg DNA/mg straw) compared to straw from wheat or barley. The significance of mycotoxin exposure from straw should not be neglected particularly in years when high levels of DON and ZEN are also detected in the feed grain. With a limited number of samples preferably using a sampling probe, it is possible to distinguish lots of straw that should not be used as bedding material for pigs.

Urinary deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) as biomarkers of DON and ZEA exposure of pigs

“…The diagnosis of DON and ZEA intoxication in pigs is usually based on the analysis of feed and straw. However, DON and ZEA contamination of straw and feed, particularly of fibrous bulk feed such as silage, is not even (Borreani et al 2005;Gutzwiller 2006;Häggblom and Nordkvist 2015), thus limiting the validity of fibrous feed and straw analysis. Biomarkers for mycotoxin exposure may be useful for the verification of the clinical diagnosis of mycotoxicosis in pigs having access to fibrous feed or straw, for epidemiological studies and for testing the efficacy of mycotoxin binders.…”

Discrimination between zeranol and zearalenone exposure using hair analysis. Application to an adverse analytical finding case

“…Animals can be exposed to zearalenone when certain mycotoxin‐producing species of the fungi Fusarium colonize cereals and/or pasture. Zearalenone contamination of cereals, including corn and wheat, is spreading throughout the world . The main ingredients that are subject to mycotoxin contamination include corn, wheat, barley, rye, milo, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), screening pellet, wheat bran, and oat bran.…”

“…Zearalenone contamination of cereals, including corn and wheat, is spreading throughout the world. [5][6][7] The main ingredients that are subject to mycotoxin contamination include corn, wheat, barley, rye, milo, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), screening pellet, wheat bran, and oat bran. Zearalenone is difficult to remove once generated, because of its high thermal stability.…”

Developments in mycotoxin analysis: an update for 2017-2018

“…The increase in attention and interest in addressing the challenges with sampling various commodities for mycotoxin analysis continued over the past year. Several articles have been published since the previous review that describe sampling methods or guidance to mitigate the effects of heterogeneous distribution of mycotoxins in various matrices, ranging from grain (Whitaker et al, 2015a,b), flour (Armorini et al, 2015), pistachios (Wesolek and Roudot, 2016), to bales of hay and silage (Häggblom and Nordkvist, 2015;McElhinney et al, 2016) and pit silage (McElhinney et al, 2016).…”

“…Work by Häggblom and Nordkvist (2015) described the variability of deoxynivalenol (DON) and ZEA in hay bales from individual fields. From a logistical point of view, they remarked that sampling of hay is challenging due to the heterogeneity from the irregular shape, varying density, and wide range of particle sizes of this material.…”