Simultaneous Occurrence of Mycotoxins Citrinin and Ochratoxin A in Popcorn Grains and Their Biological Effect on some Physiological Blood Parameters

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of verifying the simultaneous occurrence of mycotoxin Citrinin (CIT) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) in popcorn grains consumed on a wide range throughout Iraq. It is enhanced by studying the biologically combined effects of these toxins compared to their effect separately. The results of the chromatographic analysis using HPLC technology to detect the simultaneous occurrence of mycotoxins Citrinin and Ochratoxin A in the analyzed samples showed that all samples were contaminated with Ochratoxin A, while 17 samples were contaminated with both of mycotoxins out of 18 main samples, and in varying proportions, The highest incidence and concentration of Ochratoxin A 100% was with a concentration of 31.795 μg/kg for sample T8, followed by CIT 94.4% with 17.868 μg/kg for sample Q7, However, the lowest concentration of 4.066 μg/kg, 12.161 μg/kg for Citrinin and Ochratoxin A were detected in samples T8 and D17 respectively. While the results vevealed different effects on the physiological blood parameters of chicks, exposure to mycotoxins CIT and OTA alone or simultaneously caused a decrease in white bood cells (WBC), monocytes (MON), lyphocytes (LYM), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hematatocrit (HCT) and platelet (PLT), while the two treatments OTA and OTA+CIT caused a decrease in hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and granulocyte (GRA) While CIT caused an increase compared to control treatment, the results were reflected in both mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). When combining CIT and OTA, the treatment showed synergistic or antagonistic effects compared to their effects individually, which differed depending on the treated cells.