Analysis, occurrence and control of Ochratoxin A residues in Danish pig kidneys

Abstract

In Denmark, porcine kidneys displaying macroscopic lesions of mycotoxic nephropathy are analysed for Ochratoxin A and the carcass condemned if the concentration exceeds 25 micrograms/kg. Since late 1982 these analyses have been conducted centrally. The reliability of the one-dimensional thin layer chromatographic method is discussed and results from an interlaboratory comparison are presented. From 1980 to 1984 there has been an overall decline in the rate of ochratoxicosis, interrupted in 1983 by a major increase geographically located in the northern half of Jutland. During that year 7639 kidneys were examined; 3% contained more than 150 micrograms/kg and 29% more than 25 micrograms/kg Ochratoxin A, corresponding to a condemnation rate of 15 per 100 000 slaughterings. The early stage of the increased incidence was characterized by kidneys with extremely high levels of the toxin; later most of the samples were negative or near-negative, as affected pigs were presumably fed a toxin-free diet before slaughtering. The efficacy of the control program is discussed in view of the 1983 data.

Ecology of the Ochratoxin A ProducingPenicillium verrucosum:Occurrence in Field Soil and Grain with Special Attention to Farming System and On-Farm Drying Practices

“…Some studies report a year to year variation, which is often correlated to weather conditions at harvest (Buchmann & Hald, 1985;Holmberg et al, 1990aHolmberg et al, , 1990bJfl)rgensen et al, 1996). Others report a geographical variation (Krogh, 1976;Hokby et al, 1979;Buchmann & Hald, 1985;Skaug et al, 1998;Gareis et al, 2000).…”

“…Some studies report a year to year variation, which is often correlated to weather conditions at harvest (Buchmann & Hald, 1985;Holmberg et al, 1990aHolmberg et al, , 1990bJfl)rgensen et al, 1996). Others report a geographical variation (Krogh, 1976;Hokby et al, 1979;Buchmann & Hald, 1985;Skaug et al, 1998;Gareis et al, 2000). As an example, Swedish studies from the 1980s demonstrated that the island of Gotland had a higher percentage of OTA positive samples than the rest of the country (Hult et al, 1984;Breitholtz et al, 1991;Holmberg, 1992), especially after prolonged storage (Holmberg et al, 1990a(Holmberg et al, , 1990b.…”

A survey of cereals, cereal products, feedstuffs and porcine kidneys for ochratoxin a by radioimmunoassay

“…Porcine kidneys displaying macroscopic lesions are analysed for ochratoxin A and the entire carcass is condemned if the ochratoxin A concentration exceeds 25 ftg/kg. In 1983, of 7639 kidneys analysed, 29% contained more ochratoxin A than 25 /*g/kg (Büchmann and Hald 1985). In Sweden, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Poland, high levels of ochratoxin A were also found in porcine kidneys (Rutqvist et al 1977;Pepeljnjak et al 1982;Sandor et al 1982;Golinski et al 1985).…”

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain [CONTAM] related to ochratoxin A (OTA) as undesirable substance in animal feed

“…Several reports have been published on the occurrence of porcine nephropathy and ochratoxin A in damaged kidneys, collected at slaughterhouses in north European countries (Rosseau and van Peteghem, 1989;Büchmann and Hald, 1985;Golinski et al, 1984Golinski et al, , 1985 and review by Krogh, 1991). Ochratoxin A concentrations above 150 µg/kg have occasionally been found in kidneys with signs of ochratoxicosis.…”

“…However, the prevalence of damaged pig kidneys has not always been given, and may vary considerably. In Denmark, the reported frequency of affected kidneys can vary between 10 and 80 cases per 100 000 slaughtered pigs (Büchmann and Hald 1985, and review by Krogh, 1991). These findings suggest that pig feed may contain relatively often ochratoxin A, resulting in tissue accumulation and subsequently kidney damage.…”