an examination of cereals and feeds for aflatoxins
TRANSCRIPT
An Examination of Cereals and Feeds for AflatoxinsAuthor(s): Brenda WheelerSource: Irish Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Apr., 1969), pp. 172-174Published by: TEAGASC-Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25555520 .
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172 IRISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, VOL. 8, NO. 1, 1969
AN EXAMINATION OF CEREALS AND FEEDS FOR AFLATOXINS
Abstract: Thirty-nine samples of oats, 20 cultures of Aspergillus flavus isolated from cereals, 16 groundnut meals, 23 groundnut-containing feeds and 24 miscellaneous feed samples were examined for anatoxins Bi, Gi, B2 and G2. When anatoxins were present they were estimated quantitatively.
Anatoxins were detected in 13 of the groundnut meals and 2 of the groundnut-containing feeds, but in none of the other samples. Anatoxins Bi, Gi, B2 and G2 were present in 13, 7, 10 and 3 of the groundnut samples respectively; the range (and mean) figures in ppm were 0.06 to 0.30 (0.14), 0.04 to 0.15 (0.07), 0.02 to 0.09 (0.04) and 0.03 to 0.05 (0.04). The two groundnut-containing feeds con tained anatoxin Bi only, the level being 0.02 ppm.
Aspergillus flavus occurs widely and certain strains of the fungus may produce a group of toxins called anatoxins. These are potent carcinogens (1,2, 3), the most dangerous
being aflatoxin Blf which is particularly toxic to ducklings, turkey poults and young animals.
Aspergillus flavus has been identified on stored cereals in this country (4, 5), and it was therefore important to examine the incidence of aflatoxins on cereals and feeds
available in Ireland. The following types of sample were examined for aflatoxins Bi,
Gi, B2 and G2: Irish and imported oats, Aspergillus flavus moulds cultured from oats
and barley using Austwick's method (6), groundnut meals, groundnut-containing
pig and poultry feeds and miscellaneous feed samples. The oats were from
different farms, mainly in the south of Ireland, where they had been stored for periods of 1 to 12 months. The Aspergillus flavus moulds were obtained from Dr. Q. D.
MacGarvie, An Foras Taluntais, Oak park, Carlow, and were accompanied by two
toxin-producing control moulds cultured in the same way. The remainder of the
samples had been received at the Service Department, Dunsinea.
TABLE 1: Results of examination of samples for contamination
with aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus
No. No. examined No. Total no. contaminated for
A.flavus contaminated Sample type examined with aflatoxins contamination with A.flavus
Irish oats 26 0 23 8 Imported oats 13 0 13 5
Groundnut meals 16 13 ? ?
Groundnut-containing pig feeds 12 0 2 2 Groundnut-containing
poultry feeds 11 2 1 1 Miscellaneous 24 0 1 1 A. flavuscultures 20 0 ? ?
Total 122 15 40 17
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COMMUNICATIONS TO THE EDITOR 173
TABLE 2: Distribution and concentration of anatoxins B1? G\, B2 and G2 in 13 groundnut meals
No. of samples Aflatoxin contaminated Range (ppm) Mean (ppm)
Bi 13 0.06 to 0.30 0.14 Gi 7 0.04 to 0.15 0.07
B2 10 0.02 to 0.09 0.04 G2 3 0.03 to 0.05 0.04
TABLE 3: Classification of aflatoxin Bj contamination of groundnut samples according to the Tropical Products Institute, London, recommendation (9)
No. of groundnut Aflatoxin B, Concentration of meal samples classification aflatoxin Bi (ppm) in each class
Very high > 1 ? High 0.25 to 1 1
Medium 0.05 to 0.25 12 Low or negative < 0.05 3
Samples were analysed for aflatoxins by Eppley's method (7). This method, origin ally recommended for groundnut products, was satisfactory for the analyses reported here. It has since been incorporated into a method for screening a variety of products for two other toxins as well as aflatoxins (8). The method estimates 1.0 X 10?3 ppm aflatoxins. Some of the samples were analysed for Aspergillus flavus contamination.
The type and number of samples examined for aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus
contamination, as well as the results, are given in Table 1. The distribution and con
centration of aflatoxins Bi, G\, B2 and G2 in the 13 contaminated groundnut meals
are given in Table 2. The two contaminated poultry feeds contained 0.02 ppm aflatoxin Bi.
A classification of aflatoxin contamination according to the Tropical Products
Institute, London (9), Table 3, shows that the groundnut meals examined were moder
ately contaminated with aflatoxin B1; 1 was 'high,' 12 were 'medium' and 3 were 'low'
or 'negative.'
Although only a small number of samples were examined, the results indicate that
groundnut contamination could be a potential hazard for pigs and poultry in this
country. The subject deserves further study.
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174 IRISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. VOL. 8, NO. 1, 1969
Acknowledgments: The author thanks Miss Louie Lavery for technical assistance, Dr. R. K. Wilson for helpful advice, Dr. L. A. Goldblatt, U.S.D.A., A.R.S., New
Orleans, Louisiana, for aflatoxin standards and Dr. Q. D. MacGarvie, An Foras
Taluntais, Oakpark, Carlow, for mycological examination of samples.
Brenda Wheeler
An Foras Taluntais, Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry Department, Dunsinea, Castleknock, Co. Dublin
REFERENCES
1. Butler, W. H. 'Mycotoxins in foodstuffs: proceedings of a Symposium held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, March 18-19,1964.' Editor: G. N. Wogan. M. I. T. Press, Cambridge,
Mass, 291p., 1965. 2. Wogan, G. N., Bact. Rev. 30: 460, 1966. 3. Schoental, Regina, Ann. Rev. Pharmac. 7: 343, 1967. 4. MacGarvie, Q. D., Res. Rep. PI. Sci. Crop Husb. Div., An Foras Taluntais, Dublin, p. 83, 1966. 5. Spillane, P. A., Ir. J. agric. Res. 6: 123, 1967. 6. Austwick, P. K. C, in 'The Genus Aspergillus' by K. P. Raper and Dorothy I. Fennell. Williams
and Wilkins, Baltimore, 686p., 1965. 7. Eppley, R. M., J. Ass. off. analyt. Chem, 49: 1218, 1966. 8. Eppley, R. M., ibid. 51: 74, 1968. 9. Raymond, W. D., Fd Technol., Champaign 20: 54, 1966.
Received October 10, 1968
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