Transformation of Selected Fusarium Toxins and Their Masked Forms during Malting of Various Cultivars of Wheat

This study investigated the impact of malting of six wheat cultivars inoculated with Fusarium culmorum on the dynamics of content changes of selected Fusarium toxins. The grains of all the tested cultivars showed a high content of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and their derivatives, whereas nivalenol (NIV) and its glucoside were found only in the Legenda cultivar. Our experiments confirmed that the malting process of wheat grain enables the secondary growth of Fusarium, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The levels of toxins in malt were few-fold higher than those in grain; an especially high increase was noted in the case of ZEN and its sulfate as the optimal temperature and pH conditions for the biosynthesis of these toxins by the pathogen are similar to those used in the grain malting process. This is the first paper reporting that during the malting process, biosynthesis of ZEN sulfate occurs, instead of glycosylation, which is a typical modification of mycotoxins by plant detoxication enzymes.

Species of the genus Fusarium and Fusarium toxins in the grain of winter and spring wheat in Poland

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Fusarium species and mycotoxins in wheat grain from harvest in 2009 and 2010 in Poland. Samples from different locations were analyzed for the content of DNA of Fusarium species and mycotoxins. In 2009, DNA of F. graminearum and F. poae was present in all samples, F. culmorum in 82% of samples, and F. avenaceum in 55% of samples. In 2010, the highest content of DNA was found for F. graminearum followed by F. avenaceum, F. poae and F. langsethiae. The amount of F. culmorum DNA was very low. The most frequently occurring species were F. poae and F. graminearum, however, the amount of F. poae DNA was lower. In 2009, deoxynivalenol was detected in all samples. In 2010, the average content of deoxynivalenol was lower than in 2009. Nivalenol was detected at very low concentration in both years. Significant correlations between content of F. graminearum DNA and deoxynivalenol concentration in the grain and between content of F. poae DNA and nivalenol concentration in the grain in 2009 were found.

Updated Review of the Toxicity of Selected Fusarium Toxins and Their Modified Forms

Mycotoxins are one of the most dangerous food and feed contaminants, hence they have significant influence on human and animal health. This study reviews the information reported over the last few years on the toxic effects of the most relevant and studied Fusarium toxins and their modified forms. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolites can induce intracellular oxidative stress, resulting in DNA damage. Recent studies have also revealed the capability of DON and its metabolites to disturb the cell cycle and alter amino acid expression. Several studies have attempted to explore the mechanism of action of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in anorexia induction. Among other findings, two neurotransmitters associated with this process have been identified, namely substance P and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). For zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites, the literature points out that, in addition to their generally acknowledged estrogenic and oxidative potentials, they can also modify DNA by altering methylation patterns and histone acetylation. The ability of the compounds to induce alterations in the expression of major metabolic genes suggests that these compounds can contribute to the development of numerous metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.

Occurrence of Alternaria and Other Toxins in Cereal Grains Intended for Animal Feeding Collected in Slovenia: A Three-Year Study

In recent years, the less-studied Alternaria mycotoxins have attracted increasing interest due to the lack of survey data and their ability to cause toxic effects in animals and humans. To fill the gap, the aim of this three-year survey was to investigate the presence and co-occurrence of Alternaria and other mycotoxins in a total of 433 cereal grain samples from Slovenian farms and agricultural cooperatives from 2014 to 2016. Using the multi-mycotoxin method, 14 mycotoxins were determined. In 53% of 433 analysed samples, contamination with at least one mycotoxin was found. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) were present in 32% and 26% of cereal grain samples, respectively, whereas alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TEN), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3- and 15-AcDON), and zearalenone (ZEN) were present in fewer than 15% of the samples. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was found in one rye sample, while diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), HT-2 and T-2 toxin, and fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2) were not detected. The highest maximum and median concentrations of Alternaria toxins were determined in spelt in 2016 (TeA, 2277 µg/kg and 203 µg/kg, respectively), and those of Fusarium toxins in wheat in 2015 (DON, 4082 µg/kg and 387 µg/kg, respectively). The co-occurrence of two or more mycotoxins was found in 43% of the positive samples. The correlations between Alternaria toxins were very weak but statistically significant (r: 0.15–0.17, p: 0.0042–0.0165). A well-known correlation between Fusarium toxins DON and ZEN was weak and highly significant (r = 0.28, p < 0.0001).

Food Safety and Climate Change

Mycotoxins are chemical compounds produced mainly by mounds of genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium on various grains and agricultural commodities at different stages in the field, before harvest, post-harvest, during processing, packaging, distribution, and storage. The production of mycotoxins depends on several environmental factors such as temperature and moisture. This chapter gives an overview about the major mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and Fusarium toxins), masked mycotoxins, and emerging mycotoxins. The toxicity of these mycotoxins and their negative economic impact was also discussed together with the effect of climate change on their production. A section on mycotoxins regulations by international agencies and organisms (WHO, FAO, EU, etc.) was discussed. Finally, the different strategies to reduce or eliminate the toxic effects of mycotoxins in contaminated foods and feeds by using chemical, physical, and biological/biotechnological methods or innovative approaches were explained.

Incidence of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Wheat and Maize from Albania

In this study, ten Fusarium toxins were analysed in wheat and maize commodities from Albania. In total, 71 samples of wheat and 45 samples of maize were collected from different producing regions. The analytical procedure consisted of a simple one-step sample extraction followed by the determination of toxins using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Fusarium toxins were found in 23% of the analysed wheat samples and in 78% of maize samples. In maize samples, most often fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) were found. They were present in 76% of samples. They were detected in all positive samples except in one with concentrations ranging from 59.9 to 16,970 μg/kg. The sum of FB1 and FB2 exceeded the EU maximum permitted level (4000 μg/kg) in 31% of maize samples. In wheat samples, the only detected Fusarium mycotoxin was deoxynivalenol (DON), present in 23% of samples. In one sample with the concentration of 1916 μg/kg, the EU maximum permitted level (1250 μg/kg) was exceeded. This is the first report on the presence of Fusarium toxins in wheat and maize grains cultivated in Albania.

Maize and Grass Silage Feeding to Dairy Cows Combined with Different Concentrate Feed Proportions with a Special Focus on Mycotoxins, Shiga Toxin (stx)-Forming Escherichia coli and Clostridium botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) Genes: Implications for Animal Health and Food Safety

A feeding experiment was carried out with late-lactating cows over 12 weeks to evaluate the feeding value of a basic diet with maize and grass silage (MS, GS) when combined with varying portions of concentrate in the ration (20% and 60% on a dry matter basis) and to test the effects on health and performance, the transfer of important Fusarium toxins to blood and milk, the total and Shiga toxin (stx)-forming E. coli counts, and the presence of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) genes in rectal fecal samples. MS was contaminated by a broader spectrum of fungal and other metabolites compared to GS. MS contained higher concentrations of the important Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN). Blood and milk levels of DON and ZEN residues generally reflected the differences in exposure at a low level. Feeding of MS with 60% concentrate feed induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) associated with a marked drop in dry matter intake, fat corrected milk yield and a fat to protein ratio in milk of lower than 1. The SARA-associated higher ruminal LPS concentration did not affect the circulating concentrations of haptoglobin as an indicator of systemic inflammation. Lower rumen pH values in both MS-fed groups were associated with lower pH values, higher absolute E. coli counts and increased proportions of stx-positive E. coli in rectal feces. BoNT genes A, B, C, D, E and F remained undetectable in any of the fecal samples suggesting that feedstuffs were virtually free of the corresponding C. botulinum strains. In conclusion, maize feedstuff (silage, grains, starch-containing byproducts)-dominated rations for dairy cows should be avoided to reduce adverse effects on health and food safety.

Mycotoxilogical monitoring. Part 2. Wheat, barley, oat and maize grain

Results of mycotoxicological survey of representative samples of feed and procured wheat, barley, oat and maize grain batches are demonstrated. The samples were submitted by the Veterinary Service officials, livestock farmers and feed mill operators, agricultural producers, specialized commercial business operators and farm owners in seven Federal Districts of the Russian Federation in 2009-2019. Similar amounts of wheat and barley grain samples were received from the Central, Volga, Ural and Siberian Federal Districts. The amount of wheat samples delivered from the Southern Federal District prevailed over the number of barley samples, and the maize samples were mostly delivered from the regions of the Central Federal District. Fusarium toxins including T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins of group B as well as alternariol, ochratoxin A, citrinin, aflatoxin В1, sterigmatocystin, cyclopiazonic acid, mycophenolic acid, ergot alkaloids and emodin were detected and measured according to the validated competitive ELISA procedure. Generalization of the results demonstrated domination of fusarium toxins and active involvement of alternariol in the contamination of all types of feed grains as well as high occurrence of emodin in ear cereals and increased occurrence of T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A in barley. Shift of medians and 90%-percentile of the basic contaminants to lower values as compared to mean and maximal ones was reported thus being indicative of their possible accumulation at the levels outside the typical range. The highest levels of T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A as well as 90%-percentile values exceeded the acceptable levels. The maize grains demonstrated the whole complex of the tested fusarium toxins with the prevalence of T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins; and the maximal amounts of these mycotoxins by several times exceeded the accepted regulatory levels. Diacetoxyscirpenol, aflatoxin В1, sterigmatocystin, cyclopiazonic acid and ergot alkaloids are classified as rare feed grain contaminants. High prevalence of alternariol and emodin known as “diarrhea factor” as well as maize grain contamination with mycophenolic acid (mycotoxin having an immunosuppressive effect) are for the first time reported in this paper. These data support the need of their introduction in the group of regulated substances significant for public health. Original monitoring data systematized and summarized in the paper are given in electronic format in section Additional materials.Part 1: Veterinary Science Today. 2020; 1 (32): 60–65. DOI: 10.29326/2304-196X-2020-1-32-60-65.

Fusarium species and Fusarium mycotoxins in grain of barley in Poland in 2009 and 2010. Short communication

Grain samples of spring barley from the 2009 and 2010 harvest were analysed for the content of DNA of Fusarium species and Fusarium toxins (type B trichothecenes). Samples originated from different fields in Radzików, Central Poland. Qualitative and quantitative determination of Fusarium species in the grain was performed using a real-time PCR. Fusarium toxins in the grain were analysed by gas chromatography. Seven Fusarium species were detected in barley grain. The dominating species were F. avenaceum, F. graminearum and F. poae. The presence of F. culmorum, F. langsethiae, F. sporotrichioides and F. tricinctum was also detected. The concentration of trichothecene toxins in grain (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol) was low. The highest correlation coefficient of deoxynivalenol vs. Fusarium DNA was found for F. graminearum. Regarding nivalenol, the highest correlation coefficient was with F. poae DNA.