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Mycotoxins- Contamination in Indian Feed and raw material

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India

Published: November 9, 2010
By: S Gomathy, S Rajagopal, R Kannan and V Velan (Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt. Ltd.)
Abstract

Kemin India has conducted a detailed survey to understand the mycotoxin prevalence pattern in poultry feed and feed raw materials from various regions in India. The study was carried out from Jan 2010 to July 2010 and comprised of 400 samples. The study revealed that, 393 out of 400 samples tested were contaminated with one or more mycotoxin i.e. 98% of sample collected was contaminated with mycotoxin. Study has also revealed that all the major mycotoxins are prevalent in Indian Sub-continent including Fursarium Mycotoxin which is normally noticed in temperate countries like Europe, South America and New Zealand.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has drafted a maximum tolerance level for individual mycotoxin in poultry feed3. These safety levels were taken in to consideration for evaluating the degree of contamination of mycotoxins in the feed. The key findings of this study are, Aflatoxin continues to be the most prevalent mycotoxin - 40% of samples above the tolerance limit of 20 ppb, followed by ZEN, which was found to be higher than 250 ppb in 28% of samples and then T2 toxin at 100 ppb in 20% of samples. In this study Citrinin toxin was not found in any samples and Ochratoxin A was found only 6% of the samples.

Introduction

The three major fungi families which cause Mycotoxicosis in poultry are Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. They produce mycotoxins namely Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Citrinin, T2 toxin, Zearalenone (ZEN) & Deoxyvalenol (DON, Vomitoxin) 1, 2. The severity of the toxins is characterized by their ability to induce a toxic response in human and animals when food or feed containing them is consumed4. There are more than 300 mycotoxins identified so far, and in that, above said 7 major mycotoxins are causing severe economic loss to the Poultry industry. In general Aspergillus and penicillum are believed to be prevalent in tropical countries like India.

Mycotoxin management is a major challenge in the poultry industry as it works toward improving bird performance and feed efficiency. For many years, Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin and T-2 Toxins were considered to be the most common mycotoxins in tropical countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Recently, however, the prevalence of Fusariaum mycotoxins, such as DON (Vomitoxin), Fumonisin and Zeralenone, has become apparent, requiring new methods for mycotoxin management programs. Many studies have been conducted so far to understand the prevalent pattern of mycotoxins in South Asian region but there is no in-depth study conducted in Indian sub-continent.

Kemin conducted a survey to understand the contamination pattern of different mycotoxins in Indian Sub-continent and the samples were analysed by our Customer Laboratory Service (CLS) - a well-equipped laboratory located at Chennai, India to provide unique value added services to its customers. The data collected from the analysis has been compiled in this report to understand the prevalence of various mycotoxins and their ill effects on feed and food safety.

Maximum tolerance limit of mycotoxins

There is no safe level of mycotoxins11 however as per FDA the maximum permitted level of Aflatoxin is 20 ppb. For other mycotoxins EFSA has arrived at the maximum tolerance limit based on Individual mycotoxin contamination in the feed. The permissible levels are applicable only for single toxin contamination and not for multiple toxin contamination in feed. The multiple toxins, which are commonly noticed in animal feed has synergistic effects and cause more damage to poultry than an individual toxin.

Table 1: Maximum tolerance limit of different mycotoxins for Poultry - A proposal cited by EFSA(12)3, 12

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 1

Materials and Methods

The feed and raw material like Maize (30 samples), Soya (13 samples), and others like De-oiled Ground Nut Cake, De-oiled Rice Bran etc. were received from various geographical areas over the course of a six month period. The samples were analysed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for the presence of mycotoxins in comparison with the standard toxins obtained from Sigma Aldrich. The analysis was carried out by IUPAC (SOP) & AFAQCL method for Aflatoxin Ochratoxin, Citrinin and T2 toxins. DON (Vomitoxin) 15 and Zearalenone were analysed by HPLC procedure. (13, 15 & 16)

Result and Discussion

The Mycotoxin audit was conducted with 400 feed and raw material samples collected from all over the Indian sub-continent and data were analysed as per the below mentioned three major categories.
 Percentage of samples contaminated with one or the other Mycotoxins
 Region wise analyses were carried out to understand the presence of single or multiple mycotoxin
 Degree of contamination with respect to EFSA tolerance limit at different regions

Presence of Mycotoxins in feed samples and feed raw materials

In the total of 400 samples, the Feed and Raw material distribution was 285 and 115 respectively. In case of feed samples 98% of samples were found to be contaminated with one or more number of Mycotoxins. In the raw material samples 89% of samples were found to be contaminated with one or more Mycotoxins. In total 400 samples including raw materials 96% of samples were found to be contaminated with one or more Mycotoxins.

Graph 1: % of samples contaminated with one or the other mycotoxins

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 2

Presence of multiple toxins in feed and feed raw materials

The trend analysis was carried out to understand the number of Mycotoxins prevalent in the feed and raw material samples. As can be seen in the graph below it has been found that more 78% of feed and raw material samples in the Indian sub-continent were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin.

Graph 2: Presence of multiple toxins in feed and feed raw materials

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 3

Region wise Mycotoxin Prevalance

Feed and RM samples received from various regions for mycotoxin analysis is given below.
A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 4

The percentage of feed and RM contaminated with mycotoxin found to be very high in Western Region - 94% followed by East -89% , than South -76% and then North 68%.

The Fusarium Mycotoxin contamination found to be higher in western region sample, In case of North, Aflatoxin was found to be the major mycotoxin. In Eastern region T2 toxin was predominant in majority of the samples and in South it is Aflatoxin along with ZEN mycotoxin which is majorly prevalent.

The different enviornmental and storage conditions could be the reason for the difference in the mycotoxin contamination levels, as well as for the presnce of different mycotoxins in different regions.

Graph 3: Mycotoxin prevalence in Western India

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 5

Graph 4: Mycotoxin prevalence in Northern India

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 6

Graph 5 Mycotoxin prevalence in Eastern India

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 7

Graph 6: Mycotoxin prevalence in Southern India


A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 8

Degree of Mycotoxin contamination with respect to EFSA tolerance limit at different regions

Contamination level of individual mycotoxins which was higher than the safety limit is plotted below in Graphs 7 to 11 and the trend analysis was carried out.

The mycotoxin contaminaiton all over India is plotted in Graph 7. The data indicates that Aflatoxin continue to be the major Mycotoxin in India followed by Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination which was high in feed and raw material samples. The ZEN contamination level was plotted based on two levels, the tolerance limit at 250 ppb may impact the performance of the Poultry and more than 1000 ppb contamination will impact severe damage to the reproductive organs of the Animal. 8

The Trichothecene mycotoxin - T2 was found in more than 20% of the feed and raw material samples at higher limit of 100 ppb.

Graph 7: Samples above the maximum tolerance limits in India

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 9

Regionwise Mycotoxin Contaminants above the Permissible level

Fusarium Mycotoxins like ZEN and T2 toxins were found higher in the feed and raw material samples of Western Region. Particlularly ZEN Toxin contaminiation found to be in 70% of sample at higher level than the safe level and 15% of samples were above the tolerance limit of 1000 ppb.

Graph 8: Samples above the maximum tolerance limits in the Western region

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 10


The prevalance of different mycotoxins in Northern region were plotted in the below Graph 9. From the graph, it is very clear that Aflatoxin is continuing to be the major threat to the Poultry farmers in the North. On an average, 40% of samples were contaminated with Aflatoxin exceeding the tolerance limit of 20 ppb.


In the total of 124 feed and raw material which have higher contamination levels, 104 samples were in the range of 20 to 40 ppb and 20 samples were higher than 40 ppb. This may be because of poor storage and screening methods. The ZEN and T2 mycotoxins were also present in the samples collected from Northern part of Indian Sub-continent.


Graph 9: Samples above the maximum tolerance limits in the Northern region

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 11

In Eastern region the Trichothecene mycotoxin - T2 found to be very high in the feed and raw material samples. The high humidity conditions prevaling in the east may favor the growth of Fusarium fungi - Fusarium sporotrichioide.


Graph 10: Samples above the maximum tolerance limits in the Eatern region

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 12


The higher prevalence of Aflatoxin was observed in Southern Indian feed and raw material samples.

Graph 11: Samples were above the maximum tolerance limits in the Southern region

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 13

In general, samples from Western and Southern regions were found highly contaminated with DON (Vomitoxin) mycotoxins, with 46% of samples testing positive for Fusarium fungi toxin. More than 12% of samples were contaminated with more than 1000 ppb of Vomitoxin. An average of, 10% samples were contaminated with over 1000 ppb of DON in the entire Indian sub-continent feed and raw materials.

The presence of Ochratoxin was only to the extent of 6% in overall analyzed feed and raw material samples. The Citrinin toxin contamination was not observed in any of the 400 samples collected in this audit program.

Mycotoxin prevalence in Raw material samples

The Maize (29 samples), maize gluten (7 samples) and GN DOC (10 samples) samples were highly contaminated with Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin was present in maize and SF DOC samples. The Fusarium fungi mycotoxin like ZEN was present in most of the raw materials sampled, including: DORB, rice polish, soya doc, DDGS and maize. Soya, rice polish and maize samples were contaminated with T2 mycotoxin. Maize and maize gluten samples were contaminated with DON (Vomitoxin).

Mycotoxin prevalence above the critical limit on a monthly basis

A Comprehensive Mapping of Mycotoxin Prevalence in India - Image 14

Presence of Aflatoxin and Zearalenone is seen throughout all the six months whereas prevalence of T2 toxin is not seen after the month of April.

Conclusions

Mycotoxins are continue to remain as the major threat to the poultry farmers in Indian sub-continent. The present study revealed the contamination of different mycotoxins in Indian feed and raw material samples as single or in combination. Earlier it was understood that Indian tropical conditions may not have Fusarium mycotoxins contamination (ZEN, DON & Fumonisin). But the change in climate condition and prevalent of strong summer and strong winter would have encouraged the proliferation of Fusarium fungi and then the presence of Fusaraium mycotoxins in Indian raw materials and feeds The mycotoxin audit have revelaed that Aflatoxin continue to be a major mycotoxin in Indian subcontinent. The important finding in this survey is the presence of high level Fusarium mycotoxins in the Western, Eastern and Southern regions of Indian Subcontinet. This necessiate a comprehensive single solution which has got broad specturm mycotoxin binding efficacy against not only commonly know mycotoxin of Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Citrinin but also against ZEN, DON, and T2 toxins.


REFERENCES:

1. Danicke S, 2002. Prevention and control of mycotoxins. - World's Poultry Science, 58: 452-475.
2. D'mello, J.P. F., Placinta, C. M. and McDonald, A. C. M. 1999. Fusarium mycotoxins: a review of global implications for animal health, welfare and productivity. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 80: 183-205.
3. FDA - maximum tolerance level of Mycotoxins (www.FDA.gov)
4. Fink-Gremmels, J., 1999: Mycotoxins: their implications for human and animal health. - Veterinary Quarterly, 21: 115-120
5. Fink-Gremmels, J. and Georgiou, N. A., 1996: Risk assessment of mycotoxins for the consumer.
6. Ennen G., Kuiperh. A. and Valentina. (eds.), Residues of Veterinary Drugs and Mycotoxins in Animal Products: 159-174.
7. ICMSF (International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Food), 1996. Toxigenic fungi: Aspergillus. - In: Microorganisms in Food 5: Characteristics of Microbial Pathogens: 347-381. - London
8. Jay, J. M., 2000. Modern Food Microbiology. - Maryland
9. Effect of zearalenone on female White Leghorn chickens. Appl Environ Microbiol39: 1026-1030
10. Kirby -1987 - Poultry Science
11. Phillips, T.D. 1999. Dietary clay in the chemoprevention of aflatoxin-induced disease. Toxicol. Sci. 52 (Suppl): 118-126
12. Steyn, P. S. 1998: The biosynthesis of mycotoxins. - Revue de Medicine Veterinaire, 149: 469-478
13. Eriksen G.S. and Pettersson H. (2004). Toxicological evaluation of trichothecenes in animal feed. Animal Feed Science and Technology 114:205-239
14. T.K Sundaram, A.Natarajan, D.chandrasekaran K.Mani .Feed Analytical techniques Centre of advanced studies in poultry science& animal feed analytical and quality control laboratory - Veterinary college and research institute 2001
15. John L. Richard*, Glenn A. Bennett*, P. F. Ross and P. E. Nelsons Analysis of Naturally Occurring Mycotoxins in Feedstuffs and Food' J Anim Sci 1993. 71:2563-2574
16. Filip Kotal and Zuzana Radova A Simple Method for Determination of Deoxynivalenol in Cereals and Flours - Department of Food Chemistry and Analysis, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic Czech J. Food Sci. Vol. 20, No. 2: 63-68
17. Pieter S. Steyn Multi Mycotoxin analysis- National Chemical Research Laboratory, Council for Scientific and Industrial Pure & Appl. Chern., Vol.53, pp.891-902.1981
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Authors:
Dr.v.velan
Kemin Industries, Inc
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R Kannan
Kemin Industries, Inc
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Vishwambar Navale
National Chemical Laboratory (NCL)
3 de septiembre de 2020
Nice work done by team, really helps to understand the situation of mycotoxin contamination in Indian food and feed. Moreover it is necessary to do the mycotoxin management with concern to food safety and consumers health.
Biamen Mbatkam
27 de octubre de 2022
Very good work. Please l need to now if some sample have the influence to mycotoxines contamination. For exemple comparing Soya to ground nuit cake. Il there is différence what Can be influence ? Thank you to your response
Ramachandran
17 de junio de 2011

VERY NICE AND VERY USEFUL ARTICLE. EXCUSE ME SIR, CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON MYCOTOXIN RESEARCH AND DETOXIFICATION METHODS FOLLOWING IN INDIA?

Bishor
Bishor
11 de noviembre de 2010

Very nice and relevant article.In india most of food and feed manufacturers need a good solution to test the aflatoxin contamination in raw materials. with this concept in mind we have introduced a rapid field level aflatoxin test kit. This test can be used for screening the raw materials(chilly powder, grains or feed ingredients) at procurement site and this do not need any instruments. Specific cutoff can be adjusted in the kit and the samples which are above the cutoff value can be rejected. This test has now been implemented by many of the leading food and feed manufacturers in Kerala.

Dr V I Bishor
ubio Biotechnology Systems Pvt Ltd, Cochin, Kerala, India

Arshaq Ramzee
10 de noviembre de 2010

A good work about Mycotoxin in India and authors and Kemin deserve all praise for compiling data on the toxins issue in India.

Dr S. Chandrasekar
Neospark Drugs and Chemicals Pvt.Ltd
9 de noviembre de 2010

Excellent work done by the authors. Though the information already available as qualitatively but this work revealed the quantitative details of the situation in India.

And I would like to add that, according to Mycopathologia and IJPS, poultry feed samples in India were also contaminated with Fumonisin and Citrinin as well as 30% of Aflatoxin positive samples had CPA also. These are mainly immunosuppressive and affecting the mineral utilization.

In the recent past quarter roughly about 15% and above feed ingredients were shown positive for Thirum and few other fungicide residues. Mainly in Souther AP, TN, Southern KA and Eastern region shown this response. And not much information about North and West.

Any how, It is premitive comprehensive work from the industry under subcontinental conditions alone. It favours the development of subsequent work by the industry.

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