Mould contamination and co-occurrence of mycotoxins in maize grain in Croatia

Acta Pharm. 2005 Dec;55(4):349-56.

Abstract

Maize grain samples (n=15) collected during the autumn of 2002 were analyzed for the presence of moulds and mycotoxins fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), zearalenone (ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Mycological analysis showed that all samples were contaminated with Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp., while Aspergillus spp. were found in 5 samples. F. proliferatum and F. verticilloides, the producers of fumonisins, were found in 14 and 8 samples, respectively, while F. graminearum, the producer of ZEA, was present in all samples. The most frequent mycotoxins were FB1 (15/15) and ZEA (12/15), followed by OTA (7/15), while FB2 was found in only two samples. Seven samples were contaminated with two mycotoxins, seven with three, and one sample with only one mycotoxin. The concentrations (mean+/-SD) of FB1, ZEA, and OTA in positive samples were 459.5+/-314.6, 1.70+/-0.80, and 1.40+/-0.55 microg kg-1, respectively, and the concentrations of FB2 in two samples were 68.4 and 3084.0 microg kg-1. In general, such low mycotoxin concentrations are not a significant source of exposure to humans, but they may contribute to exposure from other commodities. A few samples with extreme values indicate that strict control is needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification
  • Croatia
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Fumonisins / analysis
  • Fungi / isolation & purification*
  • Fungi / pathogenicity
  • Fusarium / isolation & purification
  • Mycotoxins / analysis*
  • Ochratoxins / analysis
  • Penicillium / isolation & purification
  • Rain
  • Seasons
  • Zea mays / chemistry
  • Zea mays / microbiology*
  • Zearalenone / analysis

Substances

  • Fumonisins
  • Mycotoxins
  • Ochratoxins
  • ochratoxin A
  • fumonisin B1
  • Zearalenone