Corn and Finished Feed Multi-Mycotoxin Survey 2015

Mycotoxins are a large family of toxic fungal metabolites which occur worldwide in various cereals and other feed commodities. During the whole chain from field to feeding, mycotoxins can be produced by molds in plant material. There are numerous mycotoxins which are very toxic to farm animals and may cause different diseases. Therefore they are responsible for reducing animal production.

To test the occurrence of multiple mycotoxin metabolites, a method based on Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry was used (LC-MS/MS method, Spectrum 380®). As the sensitivity of this test method has improved, it can test many more mycotoxins (e.g. masked mycotoxins) in addition to the main mycotoxins aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FUM), T-2 toxin (T-2) and ochratoxin A (OTA).

In 2015, a total number of 108 corn and 367 finished feed samples were analyzed from over 30 countries around the world.

Among the most common mycotoxin metabolites in finished feed samples found are zearalenone (97%) and the penicillium toxin emodin (96%), detected in nearly all samples at an average of 134 ppb and 33 ppb respectively. Also Type B trichothecenes were detected in a high amount: deoxynivalenol occurred in 92% and nivalenol in 63% of all finished feed samples. In total, 78% of all finished feed samples contained between 30 and 50 mycotoxins and their metabolites. Considering corn samples, the Fusarium metabolites moniliformin (91% occurrence) and beauvericin (90% occurrence) represent the most common toxins. Type B trichothecenes like DON-3-glucosid and nivalenol were detected in 66% and 57% of all corn samples at an average of 261 ppb and 51 ppb, respectively. Two-thirds of all corn samples contained between 20 and 40 different metabolites. Fusarium toxins such as deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins occur in all samples. Ochratoxins represent the least occurring mycotoxins; since it only being identified in less than 1% of all tested corn samples.

The multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS method offers more detailed results than common testing methods. Looking at the results it can be said that zearalenone is the most occurring mycotoxin in finished feed samples and moniliformin the most frequently occurring metabolite in corn samples.

Nevertheless, in total, Fusarium toxins represent the main group of frequently occurring mycotoxins in both types of feed. Though more advanced technologies such as LC-MS/MS allow for more detailed investigation and detection of mycotoxins, more research is needed to assess the effects of these mycotoxins and metabolites on pigs.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.