Fungal and mycotoxins contamination of cow feeding stuffs in Argentina.

CAVAGLIERI, L; GONZALEZ, PEREYRA, L; PEREYRA , CARINA; MAGNOLI, CARINA; CHULZE, S.N; DALCERO, A.M

Accra-Ghana

Congreso; Myco-Globe: Reducing Impact of Mycotoxins in Tropical Agriculture; 2005

European Commission- Tropical Institute

Molds capable of producing mycotoxins present in raw materials will contaminate the final products into which they are incorporated, such as mixed feeds. Mycotoxin Feed contamination can produce detrimental effects on animal health and production. Commercial feedstuffs production in Argentina is an important component in the modern animal husbandry. At present there is scarce information available on fungal contamination and mycotoxins occurrence. The aims of this work were to determine the mycoflora and to evaluate aflatoxins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol natural occurrence in feedstuffs for cow used in feedlots. Both silage and finished cow feed samples were collected. The total fungal counts were done. The isolation frequency of Aspergillus and Fusarium species was determined in DRBC, DG18 and Nash Snyder media. The aflatoxins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol incidence was determined by TLC and HPLC. Fungal counts were higher than 1 x 105 CFU g-1. Among Aspergillus species isolated A. fumigatus, A. terreus and A. versicolor were found. Aspergillus and Fusarium species were isolated in high frequency followed by Penicillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium and Geotrichum species among others. The aflatoxins levels ranged from 0.005 to 0.042 ppm whereas zearalenone levels varied from 1.20 to 3.06 ppm. Deoxynivalenol contamination was less frequent. Storage practices must be evaluated to establish the toxicological risk in cow feedstuffs.