Surveillance of toxigenic fungi and ochratoxin A in feedstuffs from Córdoba province, Argentina

MAGNOLI C.,; HALLAK C.; ASTORECA, A.L.; PONSONE, L; CHIACCHIERA SM.; PALACIO G.; DALCERO, A.

VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Año: 2005 vol. 29 p. 431 - 435

0165-7380

The aim of this work was to evaluate the incidence of potential ochratoxigenic mycoflora and ochratoxin A (OA) in poultry, pig and rabbit feeds. Eighty poultry, pig and rabbit feed samples were taken at random from factories located from Córdoba province, Argentina, over a period of eight months. Isolation and quantitative enumeration of fungal propagules were done on DRBC and DG18 media. The predominant species were A. candidus, A. flavus, A. terreus, A. parasiticus, P. implicatum P. minioluteum, P. crustosum; and P. citrionigrum. The distribution of section Nigri species, varied according to the feedstuffs analyzed. The frequency of A. niger var. niger was noticeably high in poultry feed samples on DRBC medium. The Nigri section species was present at moderate mean colony counts (CFU g-1) from three feeds. Mycotoxin analysis of these samples showed that OA was detected in 15%, 10% and 12% of pig, poultry and rabbit feed samples, respectively. The mean levels detected ranged from 15 and 25 ngg-1 from three feeds. The presence of ochratoxigenic species of Nigri section and OA in feeds indicates the risk of potential exposure of poultry, pigs and rabbits through the ingestion of feeds.