Identification of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Selected Imported Pet Food

Abstract

The current study was conducted to analyze the aflatoxins (AF i.e. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in imported pet food. A total of five hundred and ten commercially available imported pet food samples of cat (solid = 240, semi-solid = 90) and dog (solid = 150, semi-solid = 30) were collected from retailers and analyzed by chromatographic technique i.e. HPTLC. Results revealed 45.83% (mean, 3.90 ppb) and 18% (mean, 4.83 ppb) of AFB1 incidence in solid pet foods of cats and dogs, respectively. However, lower levels i.e. 8.88% (mean, 4.60ppb) and 6.66% (mean, 2.80ppb) of AFB1 were observed for semi-solid food samples of cat and dog, respectively. Aflatoxin B2 was found in solid cat food only with an incidence of 12.5% (mean, 0.89 ppb). About 35.33% (mean, 4.5 ppb) and 26.66% (mean, 2 ppb) of OTA were observed in solid and semi-solid dog foods respectively. Similarly, the trend of OTA in cat foods was 15% (mean, 3.87 ppb) and 13.13% (mean, 1.0 ppb) for solid and semisolid foods. Furthermore, co-contamination of AF and OTA were observed in 33.33% and 41.60% samples of dog and cat foods, respectively. It was concluded that natural incidence of mean contaminations was below than European Commission (EC) legislation i.e. 20 ppb and 10 ppb for AF and OTA, respectively. However, co-occurrence of mycotoxins in pet food may exert synergistic deleterious effects even at levels far below the regulatory limits.

Canine Mycotoxicosis–A Comprehensive Literature Review

“…Of the numerous fungal organisms that have mycotoxinproducing capabilities, isolates of the Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium genres are the most widespread, geographically diverse, and the deadliest to affect our companion animals [2]- [4], [7]- [10], [12], [15]- [22].…”

“…theory is controversial as the amount of albumin in the glomerular filtrate of dogs is low) [26]. Moreover, OTA has been shown to alter cell adhesion and gap junction intercellular communications, inciting the programmed cell death pathway leading to apoptosis [7], [22]. OTA also binds to DNA and causes oxidative stress to the cell membrane, inducing tumor formation specifically in rodents and humans and is suspected to have similar effects in dogs [8], [11], [21], [27].…”

“…Interestingly, dogs suffering from neurotoxicosis have a better prognosis than those affected by aflatoxin or ochratoxin [8], [9], [11], [13], [16], [17], [19], [21], [33], [34], [40], [41], [46]. Studies have demonstrated that clinical signs can resolve within a few days, even though there may be lasting signs years after the fact [9], [19], [22], [46]. If therapy continues, and the authors believe it should, a prolonged recovery does not mean a worse prognosis in these cases.…”

“…Mycotoxins, such as tremorgenic mycotoxins, aflatoxins, and ochratoxins, are produced primarily as secondary metabolites by Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. fungi, although Cloviceps and Neotyphrodium spp., among Canine Mycotoxicosis-A comprehensive literature review Kearley et al others, produce mycotoxins as well, under specific environmental circumstances (temperate and humid climates) that produce neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, and reproductive injury [2]- [4], [7]- [10], [12], [13], [15]- [22]. Carcinogenicity in companion animals is suspected but not supported in the literature reviewed [22], [23]; often, levels consumed are too high of a dose with too short of duration for neoplasia to occur [8], [10], [12], [20], [24]- [32].…”

“…fungi, although Cloviceps and Neotyphrodium spp., among Canine Mycotoxicosis-A comprehensive literature review Kearley et al others, produce mycotoxins as well, under specific environmental circumstances (temperate and humid climates) that produce neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, immunosuppressive, and reproductive injury [2]- [4], [7]- [10], [12], [13], [15]- [22]. Carcinogenicity in companion animals is suspected but not supported in the literature reviewed [22], [23]; often, levels consumed are too high of a dose with too short of duration for neoplasia to occur [8], [10], [12], [20], [24]- [32]. That said, with such a high potential for lethality from as little as 0.2 mg/kg consumed in food, mycotoxin contamination in pet food poses a serious health threat to companion animals [4], [11], [21], [33], [34].…”