Fungi and selected mycotoxins from pre- and post- fermented corn silage.

M.L. GONZALEZ PEREYRA; ALONSO VERONICA; SAGER RICARDO; MORLACO MARIA BELEN; MAGNOLI CARINA; ASTORECA ANDREA; ROSA CARLOS ALBERTO DA ROCHA; CHIACCHIERA STELLA; DALCERO ANA

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

Wiley-Blackwell

Año: 2008 p. 1132 - 1145

1364-5072

Aim: To determine fungal genera, Aspergillus and Fusarium species and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1) contamination from pre- and postfermented corn silage produced in the most important region of Argentina where silage practice is developed. Methods and Results: Sampling of corn silos was performed manually through silos in transects at three levels: upper, middle and low sections. AFB1 and FB1 were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, zearalenone by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and DON by gas chromatography. Over 90% of the samples showed counts higher than 1 x 104 CFU g-1. Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were the prevalent species. Some tested samples were contaminated with AFB1, ZEA, DON and FB1. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the presence of fungi and AFB1, ZEA, DON and FB1 contamination in corn silage in Argentina. Significance and Impact of the Study: This manuscript makes a contribution to the knowledge of mycotoxins in Argentinean silage in particular because the environmental conditions in this country differ from those of most reports. The comparison of pre- and postfermentation silage is also outstanding. Therefore, information on fungi and mycotoxins present in silage – an increasingly popular commodity – is useful to estimate potential risk for animal and human health.