Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019

Published: October 19, 2021

By: Carlos Augusto Mallmann 1, Adriano Olnei Mallmann 2 and Denize Tyska 1 / 1 Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; 2 Pegasus Science, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Introduction

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most cultivated cereals around the world. It has a relevant role in economy and society due to its high nutritional value and productive potential [1,2]. Brazil is the third major producer of corn, after the United States and China [3]. Most Brazilian states are corn producers, but the largest volume of the cereal is harvested in the mid-west, the southeast and the south regions. Considering the 2018/2019 corn harvest, the leading state was Mato Grosso (31.3%), followed by Paraná (16.7%) and Goiás (11.5%) [4]. The main destination of this commodity is the domestic market, with the animal feed sector being its largest consumer [5].

Brazilian climatic conditions in association with harvest, storage and transport issues, can cause fungal growth and mycotoxin production [6-8]. Corn is widely attacked by fungi and mycotoxins because it is a highly nutritious substrate for their development [9-11]. The main mycotoxins found in Brazilian corn are those of the Aspergillus genus that produce aflatoxins (AFBs), and those of the Fusarium genus which produce fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) [12,13]. Several studies have investigated these toxic substances due to their global economic impacts and toxic effects in humans and animals [14].

Mycotoxins can cause several deleterious health effects, mainly due to their anabolic, estrogenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties [15]. There are approximately two dozen known FUM; however, FB1, FB2 and FB3 stand out for their toxic effects in humans and animals [16,17]. FB1 is the most toxic and abundant of them all, representing about 70% of the total concentration of FUM in naturally contaminated food and raw materials, followed by FB2 and FB3 [18]. In horses, FUM cause hemorrhagic‐liquefactive brain lesions (equine leuko encephalomalacia) [19], while in swine they trigger pulmonary edema [20]. In humans, these toxins are associated with eso phageal cancer [21,22].

AFBs (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) are currently the most important mycotoxins [23] for inducing a drop in animal performance, in addition to their carcinogenic, teratogenic, hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive risk [24,25]. As a result, AFB1 was classified in class 1 of human carcinogens by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [26]. ZEN and its biotransformation products are well known for their impact on reproduction parameters, especially in sows [27,28]. Growing animals may show flaws in reproductive parameters and decreased semen quality [29]. DON is associated with digestive problems, causing vomiting, refusal to eat and lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as interference with zootechnical parameters [30,31].

Due to their negative impacts, monitoring of these toxic substances must be continuous. There are several sensitive, specific and reliable analytical methods used in the detection of mycotoxins in feed and food, such as Liquid Chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) [32,33]. Currently, optical methods, such as Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) [34,35], have made great headway for being agile and non-destructive technologies [34]. In view of the above, the present investigation aimed to assess the prevalence and average of mycotoxins in Brazilian corn through NIR prediction along 2019.

Materials and Methods

Three thousand and sixty-nine corn samples from ten states of Brazil were predicted throughout 2019. The spectra originated from routine samples predicted through the Olimpo platform, a web service of Pegasus Science Lt da [36], connected to different NIR equipment located in various Brazilian laboratories and industries. The samples were previously ground in a sampler miller with a sieve size of 1mm, homogenized and then read on the NIR equipment.

Subsequently, the corn samples were predicted for the presence and concentration of FUM (B1 and B2), AFB1, DON and ZEN. These assessments resulted in 6,134 predictions of FUM (B1 and B2), 3,069 of AFB1, 3,029 of DON and 2,971 of ZEN, amounting to 15,203 analyses. The LOQ (in µg kg-1) for FB1, FB2, AFB1, DON and ZEN were 200, 200, 5, 350 and 30, respectively. The statistical evaluations were carried out by applying descriptive statistics (mean, range and prevalence) using the Stat graphics® Centurion XV software (Statgraphics Centurion 15.2.11, Manugistics Inc., Rockville, MD).

Results and Discussion

Fumonisins B1+B2 (FUM)

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 1

The most prevalent mycotoxin was FUM, being detected in 98.2% of the samples. Its annual average was 2,092 µg kg^-1, and the average in positive samples was 2,130 µg kg^-1. FUM levels were slightly lower in May and December, around 1,700 µg kg^-1, when compared to June and July, around 3,000 µg kg^-1 (Figure 1).

In Goiás and Rio Grande do Sul states, the highest average concentrations were identified in the positive samples: 2,950 and 2,898 µg kg^-1 in 69 and 691 samples, respectively (Figure 2).

The climate in Brazil is particularly favorable to the development of fungi of the Fusarium genus, which grow and produce FUM still in the field, with its high prevalence known from previous years [37,38]. FUM have received constant attention from researchers and Brazilian agribusiness; although not as toxic as AFBs, they have a higher prevalence in corn. Several studies have reported 90-100% prevalence of FUM in Brazilian raw corn [39-42]. The present data show that more than 90% of the Brazilian corn was contaminated by FUM in 2019. Nonetheless, variations in concentration levels were observed throughout the year.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)

The second most incident mycotoxin was AFB1, being detected in 20.3% of the samples. The mean AFB1 concentration and its weekly prevalence are shown in Figure 3. The annual mean was 1.8 µg kg^-1, and the average in positive samples was 8.9 µg kg^-1. The prevalence was slightly lower in winter (from June 21 to September 23), but the average concentration did not decrease significantly (Figure 3).

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 2

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 3

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 4

Figure 4 illustrates the average concentration in positive samples with different origin by state and their respective prevalence. The highest prevalence was detected in Mato Grosso state: 263 samples had a positivity of 61.4% with average and positive mean of 5.1 and 8.3 µg kg^-1, respectively. The prevalence of AFB1 was inconstant in 2019, with occasional occurrence in the samples of some clients for a few weeks (Figure 4).

The current results are in agreement with earlier reports for Brazilian corn and corn-based products, in which a low frequency of aflatoxin contamination was detected [43-46]. So, this mycotoxin has historically had a low prevalence. AFB1 is produced by fungi of the Aspergillus genus, which has the characteristic of producing the toxin in the grains during the physiological maturation phase [47], harvest, transport, pre-cleaning, drying and storage, when the conditions of humidity, temperature and oxygen concentration are favorable (24). Infrastructure and care during the storaging stage have significantly improved in Brazil, which has caused aflatoxin levels to drop dramatically in the past two decades.

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

DON was detected in 9.6% of the samples, being the third most common mycotoxin in this survey. Its annual average was 39 µg kg^-1, and the average in positive samples was 411 µg kg^-1. In some weeks of September and December, the concentration was greater than 100 µg kg^-1, and there was a prevalence of 20% (Figure 5).

The highest prevalence was identified in the Federal District and in Santa Catarina state: 75 and 61% in 4 and 20 samples, respectively. The average concentration in all samples of these two states was 310 and 238 µg kg^-1, respectively (Figure 6).

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 5

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 6

The low prevalence, ranging from 0 to 20% in more than 90% of the weeks of 2019, is normal for Brazilian corn; according to several studies, DON does not usually affect this cereal at concentrations above 1000 µg kg^-1 [46,48]. A higher prevalence was occasionally identified in certain weeks in the samples of some clients. Reports using quantification limits below 350 µg kg^-1 have shown a higher prevalence of DON, unlike other institutions that use official methodologies in which the prevalence of DON in Brazilian corn is generally in the range of 10% [49].

The toxic effects of DON in animals are related to digestive disorders and immunosuppression, thus justifying its monitoring and control. However, the greatest risk of DON occurrence is in Brazilian winter cereals such as wheat, barley and its derivatives [50].

Zearalenone (ZEN)

The annual mean of ZEN and the average in positive samples were 6 and 58 µg kg^-1, respectively, so it was the least prevalent mycotoxin in this survey (5.9%). Its prevalence was greater than 20% in some weeks of January and August. The highest average concentration was in the week between June and July (Figure 7).

In Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Santa Catarina states, 28, 263 and 20 samples were analyzed, respectively; no concentration of ZEN above 30 µg kg^-1 was identified. Minas Gerais state had a higher prevalence (33%), but only 6 samples were analyzed (Figure 8). The prevalence of ZEN may be associated with colder climate conditions, as fungi producing ZEN grow at higher temperatures but need oscillations with mild temperatures to activate their secondary metabolism and produce the toxin [51,52]. Historically, ZEN has a higher prevalence in Brazilian corn, ranging from 20 to 30%; however, a lower prevalence was observed in 2019. Toxicologically, ZEN is especially important in pigs and cattle; its occurrence is often associated with reproductive disorders in these species [53,54], so its monitoring is required.

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 7

Survey of Mycotoxin in Brazilian Corn by NIR Spectroscopy-Year 2019 - Image 8

Conclusion

Mycotoxins’ monitoring in corn must be permanent, as heterogeneity of the concentration may vary widely among batches of grains. The use of NIR to predict mycotoxins allows for a quick feedback, and a larger and more frequent amount of analyses may be performed, ensuring greater safety in the use of the cereal in animal and human nutrition.

The most important and prevalent mycotoxins in Brazilian corn presented different profiles of occurrence in 2019. The main findings of the present survey were the high prevalence of FUM, the fluctuating prevalence of AFB1, the point prevalence of DON, and the low prevalence of ZEN. The risk that each mycotoxin offers to the production system can be measured through continuous monitoring of the raw materials used in feed and food production. Besides the average concentration and prevalence of the mycotoxins, aspects related to each animal species such as sensitivity to a given mycotoxin, age and sex, as well as environmental, sanitary, genetic and nutritional factors, must be taken into account.

This article was originally published in Global Journal of Nutrition & Food Science 3(1): 2020.GJNFS.MS.ID.000552. DOI: 10.33552/GJNFS.2020.03.000552. This is an Open Access article licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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