DON, F-2 and T-2 mycotoxin assay of plant-based feedstock raw materials using the ELISA method

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Authors: Helga Tima, Eleonóra Kecskésné Nagy, Anita Rácz, Gabriella Kiskó, Csilla Mohácsiné Farkas


1. Summary


In our study, plant-based raw materials, used for feeding different animal species, are investigated, using a competitive ELISA method. The raw materials most commonly used for feeding (soy and alfalfa pellets, as well as wheat, barley and maize) were used in the tests. Of Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (F-2) and T-2 toxins were measured. Measurement results were evaluated using the mathematical- statistical program RStudio. In our experiment, we found that all three mycotoxins tested could be detected in all of the samples, but the values were not quantifiable with acceptable precision in each case.

The average detected DON toxin result was an order of magnitude greater than the results of the other toxins. It has been shown in our study that the presence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2 poses a serious food and feed safety risk, since they are present in feedstock raw materials, even though only in small amounts. Today, these mycotoxins are present together in more and more cases, greatly increasing the above-mentioned risk.


2. Introduction


Contaminants of natural origin include mycotoxins, produced by microscopic fungi, which are secondary metabolic products of molds. The human and animal health significance of mycotoxins are outstanding [1]. Because of the climate change currently taking place, the risk of toxin occurrence on the food chain is of great importance. Based on the resolutions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UN and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the research program named VAHAVA (Változás-Hatás-Válaszadás, change-effectresponse), and the National Climate Change Strategy adopted by the Parliament: „increased effects of climate change are expected in the Carpathian Basin” [2].

This process can affect adversely the domestic agriculture due to the expected loss in yields, may have a negative effect on food and feed safety because of the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, and can also have an indirect effect on human and animal health. Global climate change can promote the growth of mycotoxin-producing molds [2].



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