Mycotoxicological quality of different commercial extruded dog food in Argentina.

FERNÁNDEZ JURI M.G.; BRESSAN F.; ASTORECA A.; BARBERIS C.; GASPAR DE CAMPOS S.; CAVAGLIERI L.R.; DALCERO A.; MAGNOLI C.

Revista Brasilera de Medicina Veterinaria

Editora Pan Americana

Año: 2009 vol. 31 p. 272 - 281

The aims of this work were to isolate and identify the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium species in commercial extruded dog foods. Likewise, the natural occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) and the capacity to produce these mycotoxins by Aspergillus section Flavi, Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains were evaluated. Two hundred and sixteen samples of extruded commercial dog food of different quality from markets located in Córdoba, Argentina were collected. Standard puppy food samples show the highest fungal counts in both culture media (P<0.0001). Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus species were found in all samples analyzed. Fusarium verticillioides strains were isolated from all puppy dog samples and from standard and premium adult dog food samples. Fifty percent of A. flavus strains isolated from puppies and adult food samples were able to produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and all A. parasiticus strains isolated were AFB1 and AFG1 producers. All F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum strains assayed were FB1 producers. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 20 and 40% of premium and super premium puppy food samples, respectively. Only 18% of standard adult samples were contaminated with this toxin. The percentage of samples contaminated with fumonisin B1 varied from 40 to 50% from puppy food samples, and 47 to 75% from adult food samples. The high frequency of AFB1 and FB1 producer strains in commercial dog foods indicate the risk of contamination with these mycotoxins if dog foods are stored in inadequate environmental conditions during marketing stage.