Indirect Electrochemical Detection of Type-B Trichothecene Mycotoxins

Abstract

Trichothecene mycotoxins in animal feed and human food can cause fatalities in livestock and disease in humans. In addition, these toxins are suspected chemical warfare agents. Therefore, development of a simple and sensitive method for the screening of trichothecenes is important to prevent economic loss and health hazards. A simple and inexpensive method for the detection of type-B trichothecene mycotoxins has been developed in our laboratory. By hydrolyzing the toxin under basic conditions at 80 degrees C for 1 h it is possible to detect the toxin with simple electrochemical techniques. Deoxynivalenol (DON), commonly known as vomitoxin, was used as a representative compound for type-B trichothecenes in this detection scheme. The detection limit for DON using our procedures was determined to be 9.1 microM in solution, corresponding to 0.24 ppm in a 25-g grain sample if the final extraction volume is 2.2 mL. The linear dynamic detection range was determined to be from 0.32 ppm to greater than 32 ppm. In addition to standard solutions, this method was used on rice samples spiked with DON. It was demonstrated that there is no electrochemical interference from rice extract and that 1 ppm of DON in rice samples can be quantified. This method may be ideal for toxin screening in animal feeds or in runoff from sites that produce the compounds as chemical warfare agents. Since the active moiety in DON is common to virtually all type-B trichothecenes, our approach may be ideal for type-specific screening.

Rapid and Easy Detection of Deoxynivalenol on a Bismuth Oxide Screen‐printed Electrode

“…Amperometric detection on glassy carbon electrode has been employed in HPLC methods for the DON and other mycotoxins determination but in this case, a previous photolysis is required . Other electrochemical method reported for DON analysis is based on a previous hydrolytic reaction at high temperature (80 °C) for 1 hour and subsequent measurement by square wave voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode . Most recently, a square wave adsorptive anodic stripping voltammetric method on glassy carbon and carbon paste electrodes has been published for the indirect determination of DON .…”

Scientific Opinion on risks for animal and public health related to the presence of nivalenol in food and feed

“…Of interest is the finding of Hsueh et al (1999) that group B trichothecenes give rise to electroactive compounds after a hydrolysis step performed in basic solution. This offers advantages, in principle, for electrochemical measurements.…”

Novel Studies about the Electrooxidation of a Deoxynivalenol (DON) Mycotoxin Reduction Product Adsorbed on Glassy Carbon and Carbon Paste Electrodes

“…Thus, DON could be reduced by peroxide giving an easily oxidizable product which adsorbs on the electrode surface. Products of the hydrolysis of DON could be oxidized at þ 0.6 V in acidic medium by a diffusion controlled process [25] and could be disregarded as responsible for adsorption peak at about 0.10 -0.15 V found in this work, although a quinone type species that are products of ring opening reaction have been suggested to give peaks at about 0.2 V [25].…”

“…At such rather extreme potentials, however, electrochemical selectivity is compromised and extensive deoxygenation is required. More recently DON was indirectly detected by electrochemical techniques [25]. The mycotoxin was hydrolyzed in basic conditions at 80 8C for 1 h and then its products were oxidized at 0.6 V vs. ECS.…”