Survey of Aspergillus and Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in raw materials and poultry feeds from Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

The aims of the present work were: (1) to determine both mycobiota in raw materials and finisher poultry feed, as well as the ability to produce aflatoxin B1 by A. flavus strains, and (2) to evaluate the natural co-occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), gliotoxin, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin in poultry feed by LC-MS/MS. Nineteen percent of raw materials and 79% of finisher poultry feed samples exceeded the maximum allowed total fungal count (1 × 10(4) CFU g(-1)) to ensure hygienic quality. Aspergillus flavus was the only species belonging to section Flavi which was isolated while Fusarium verticilliodes was the prevalent species. Forty-seven percent of A. flavus strains were aflatoxin B1 producers and the highest frequency of aflatoxigenic strains was isolated from finisher poultry feeds. Principal component analysis showed that corn grains are closely related with total fungal and Fusarium counts. This positive relationship suggests that total fungal and Fusarium spp. counts in poultry feed might come mainly from corn grains. Regarding poultry feeds, in ground finisher type, Aspergillus spp. counts increased as water activity (aw) diminished. A positive relationship among aw, total fungal and Fusarium spp. counts was observed in both ground finisher and ground starter feed. Several mycotoxins were monitored in feeds by applying the LC MS/MS technique. One hundred percent of poultry samples were contaminated with FB1, and the highest levels were detected in pelleted finisher poultry. AFB1, gliotoxin, DAS, HT-2 toxin, and T-2 toxin were not detected in any poultry feed. The scarcity of available mycotoxicological studies from Argentinean poultry feed using a multitoxin analysis technique enhances the contribution of the findings of this report.

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).…”

“…However these reports on poultry feed refer mostly to Córdoba and Entre Rios provinces (central area of the country). With respect to the hygienic quality of poultry feed the last report from Córdoba province [24] was informed that 79% of finisher poultry feed samples exceeded the maximum allowed total fungal count to ensure hygienic quality. In Entre Rios province, 120 pelleted poultry feed samples were analyzed and total fungal count was below the established value (1 × 10 4  UFC/g) [25].…”

“…Aflatoxin B1 was the most prevalent mycotoxin. The last study [24] indicates that A. flavus was the only species belonging to section Flavi which was isolated while Fusarium verticillioides was the prevalent species. In Entre Rios province A. flavus and A. parasiticus were the aflatoxigenic species isolated.…”

“…In Córdoba province several mycotoxins were monitored in feeds. One hundred percent of poultry samples were contaminated with fumonisins B1, but aflatoxin B1 and T2- toxin, in between other selected mycotoxins, were not detected in any poultry feed [24]. On the other hand, cooccurrence of fumonisin B1, T2-toxin, and HT-2 was detected in 100% of the samples of poultry feed analyzed in Entre Rios province, with mean levels from 4502 to 5813, 19.6 to 30.3, and 6.7 to 21.6 ppb, respectively.…”

Effect of γ-irradiation on fumonisin producing Fusarium associated with animal and poultry feed mixtures

“…A study by Pereyra et al (2011) reported high prevalence of F. verticillioides and A. flavus in the raw materials and finished feeds intended for fattening pigs, and HPLC detection revealed that all the samples were positive for fumonisin B1. Monge et al (2012) reported the cooccurrence of A. flavus and F. verticillioides in the raw materials and poultry feeds of Cordoba, Argentina.…”