Fungi and selected mycotoxins from pre- and postfermented corn silage

Abstract

Aim: To determine fungal genera, Aspergillus and Fusarium species and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1) contamination from pre‐ and postfermented corn silage produced in the most important region of Argentina where silage practice is developed. Methods and Results: Sampling of corn silos was performed manually through silos in transects at three levels: upper, middle and low sections. AFB1 and FB1 were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography, zearalenone by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and DON by gas chromatography. Over 90% of the samples showed counts higher than 1 × 104 CFU g−1. Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were the prevalent species. Some tested samples were contaminated with AFB1, ZEA, DON and FB1. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the presence of fungi and AFB1, ZEA, DON and FB1 contamination in corn silage in Argentina. Significance and Impact of the Study: This manuscript makes a contribution to the knowledge of mycotoxins in Argentinean silage in particular because the environmental conditions in this country differ from those of most reports. The comparison of pre‐ and postfermentation silage is also outstanding. Therefore, information on fungi and mycotoxins present in silage – an increasingly popular commodity – is useful to estimate potential risk for animal and human health.

Incidence of Mycotoxins (AFB1 and AFM1 ) in Feeds and Dairy Farms from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

“…The results of differences in DM%, pH and a W values for seasonal samples are comparable to those obtained by Keller et al 33 in Brazil and González Pereyra et al 34 in Argentina.…”

Mycotoxins and Mycotoxigenic Fungi in Poultry Feed for Food-Producing Animals

“…According to the mycological quality criterion 56% (26/46) samples could be qualified as good, 7% (3/46) as regular, and 37% (17/46) as bad (on DRBC). In Argentina there is information about the mycobiota and natural occurrence of mycotoxins in feedstuff [19–24, 32, 36, 37]. However these reports on poultry feed refer mostly to Córdoba and Entre Rios provinces (central area of the country).…”

Physiological behaviour of gliotoxigenicAspergillus fumigatus sensu strictoisolated from maize silage under simulated environmental conditions

“…Aspergillus fumigatus is a widely distributed saprophytic fungus that can be found in the soil or decaying organic matter where it performs an essential role in the carbon and nitrogen cycle. Previous studies have shown the prevalence of Aspergillus species in silage and finished feed for cattle in feedstuffs (González Pereyra et al 2008, 2011Pereyra et al 2008;Keller et al 2012;Alonso et al 2013).…”

“…If this process does not occur in the proper conditions it could lead to the growth of yeasts that increase the pH followed by an increase in temperature. If the pH increases above the critical limits, the development of other microorganisms that spoil the silage such as Aspergillus species, one of the most common genera isolated in silage, can occur (Weissbach 1996;El-Shanawany et al 2005;Garon et al 2006;González Pereyra et al 2008;Alonso et al 2013). Aspergillosis is defined as the tissue damage caused by fungi of the genera Aspergillus (Vanden Bossche 1988).…”