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

M.L. GONZÁLEZ PEREYRA; V.A. ALONSO; R. SAGER; M.B. MORLACO; C.E. MAGNOLI; A. ASTORECA; C.A.R. ROSA; S.M. CHIACCHIERA; A.M. DALCERO; L.R. CAVAGLIERI

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2008 vol. 104 p. 1034 - 1041

1364-5072

Aim: to determine fungal genera, Aspergillus and Fusarium species and aflatoxinB1, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1 contamination from pre- and post- fermented 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 3 levels: upper, middle and low sections. Aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography, zearalenone by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and deoxynivalenol 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 post- fermentation 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.