Agalactia and feed refusal are classical signs of poisoning by rye ergot (C purpurea), but this is the first time that sorghum ergot has been associated with a similar syndrome.

Aflatoxin B1 is a toxigenic and carcinogenic compound produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. An approach to prevent aflatoxin contamination in feed was carried out by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) and Rhizopus oligosporus (Ro). Aspergillus flavus was cultured together with Sc, Ro and their combination (ScRo) in chicken feed. The aflatoxin B1 content was observed at day 0, 5, 10 and 15. The result showed that aflatoxin B1 contaminations in feed were reduced by Sc, Ro and ScRo addition. The highest reduction of aflatoxin B1 content was shown at day 5 for all treatments with Sc, Ro and ScRo. The best activity of reducing aflatoxin B1 was shown by Ro. Although the ability of reducing aflatoxin B1 of Sc, Ro or ScRo was not significantly different, Sc or Ro gave the better result than ScRo and they are better used individually.

Abstract. Assay methods for the alkaloids of sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) are described and compared. Sorghum ergot bodies (sclerotia/sphacelia) from various regions of Queensland and New South Wales were collected in 1997 and 2001 and assayed by spectrophotometry, thin layer chromatography, or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All contained dihydroergosine (DHES) as the main alkaloid component (about 80%), with smaller amounts of dihydroelymoclavine and festuclavine. The preferred method of assay for infected sorghum and mixed feeds involved extraction into dichloromethane:methanol:ethyl acetate:ammonium hydroxide (50:5:25:1) using an ultrasonic bath. After solvent removal, the extract was dissolved in diethyl ether and partitioned into 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. After adjusting the pH to 8-10 with ammonium hydroxide, the alkaloids were extracted into dichloromethane, the solvent evaporated, and the residue dissolved in methanol. HPLC separation was on a C18 column, 150 by 3.9 mm, run isocratically at 40°C, with acetonitrile : 0.1% ammonium acetate:methanol (31:50:20) as the mobile phase. Detection was either by UV at 280 nm or by fluorescence with excitation at 235 nm and absorbance at 340 nm. Levels of quantitation for DHES in sorghum approached 0.1 mg/kg (UV) and 0.01 mg/kg (fluorescence). Method recoveries for DHES in the range of 0.025-7 mg/kg averaged 75%. The total alkaloid content of ergot bodies (sclerotia/sphacelia) from different batches of grain varied from 100 to 7900 mg/kg (0.79%). Within batches, there was much less variation in the alkaloid content of ergot bodies, but larger ergots tended to contain more alkaloid than smaller ergots, and those infected with Cerebella species contained even less; this probably related to the ratio of sclerotial/sphacelial tissue present. Honeydew also contained DHES (1-10 mg/kg) and might contaminate clean grain at significant levels. Tests on 4 farms showed that substantial amounts of ergot bodies and alkaloids were removed during grain harvesting. . B l a n e y e t a l .

The mycotoxin, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), was detected at concentrations as high as 9 ppm in 21 of 26 corn samples from a Bogor poultry feedmill. This is the first demonstration of the natural occurrence of CPA in Indonesia. CPA was always accompanied by other mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, suggesting that the interactive toxicity of these mycotoxins to poultry should be investigated.

The toxicity of sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) was assessed in young pigs over 28 days. Forty-eight pigs of both sexes and 2 breeds (Large White and Duroc) were allocated across 6 grower diets, balanced for fibre and predicted digestible energy, and containing 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.3, 2.5, or 5% ergot sclerotia [the 5% sclerotia diet contained 70 mg alkaloids/kg (>90% dihydroergosine)]. Blood samples taken on Days 0 and 28 were analysed for prolactin and clinical, biochemical, and haematological indices of health. Feed consumption and liveweight were individually monitored. There were no clinical signs of illness attributable to ergotism in the pigs. Blood prolactin concentrations were significantly depressed in pigs receiving 9 mg alkaloids/kg (0.6% sclerotia) and by >80% in pigs receiving 35 and 70 mg alkaloids/kg, clearly indicating a potential to interfere with lactation in sows. Reductions in feed intake and poor feed conversion were observed over the first 7 days with >9 mg alkaloids/kg, but some tolerance developed later. Feed refusal was more pronounced for pigs of the Duroc breed. Over the full trial period, growth was reduced by about 30% in pigs receiving 70 mg alkaloids/kg, as a result of poor feed intake and feed conversion. Digestible energy of diets containing ergot was later found to be lower than predicted, which contributed to this result.

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Every truck load of corn (n = 52) entering and every batch of poultry feed (n = 290) leaving a Bogor feedmill over one year was analysed for aflatoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin. Fifty loads of corn and 274 of the batches of chicken feed contained aflatoxins. Zearalenone was detected in 11 corn samples but was not found in the formulated feed. Ochratoxin A was detected in one corn sample, but not in feed. Corn can account for all of the aflatoxin in the feed since levels were always lower in the finished product. There was no quantitative association between the proportion of bright green-yellow fluorescent, purple or mouldy kernels and the mycotoxin contents of the composite samples. Nevertheless, the absence of abnormal kernels indicates higher quality corn since the highest levels of mycotoxins occurred in the abnormal kernels.

Aflatoxins are group of mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus sp., which is commonly found in agricultural products. Aflatoxins have carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive properties for humans and animals. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic type of aflatoxins in nature compared to the others, such as AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hydroxylated product of AFB, which commonly occurs in milk. Although AFM1 toxicity is lower than AFB1, the risks have been a global concern, particularly for children. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of AFM1 in fresh milk and to evaluate the risks to public health. Fresh milk samples (n = 52) were collected from Magelang and Wonosobo, Central Java. Samples were extracted and cleaned up on SPE cartridges. The AFM1 was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase C18 column under fluorescence detection. The results indicated that the samples contained AFM1 and AFM2 metabolites, as well as AFB1 as the parent compound. AFM1 was detected in 38 samples out of 52 samples (73.1%) and 26 of the positive samples (68.4%) were above the maximum residue limit regulated by FAO (0.5 ng/mL). The concentration of AFM1 in the positive samples ranged between 0.003 ng/mL to 34.202 ng/mL, with an average of 5.061 ng/mL. Apart from AFM1, 2 samples contained AFM2 metabolites (3.8%) and 22 samples contained AFB1 (42.3%) as the parent compound with averaged concentrations of 0.267 ng/mL and 0.032 ng/mL, respectively. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that most of the samples were contaminated by AFM1 and posed health risks to humans, especially children who are more susceptible to aflatoxin toxicity. It is also a concern that the immunosuppressive properties of AFM1 and AFB1 may lead to an increase in sensitivity to infectious diseases.