Mycobiota and aflatoxins in raw materials and pet food in Brazil

Abstract

Commercial feedstuffs are a basic element in modern pet husbandry in the world. In dogs, the effect of mycotoxins is severe and can lead to death. Few reports on the influence of dietary mycotoxins were found in the scientific literature. The aims of this work were to isolate and identify the mycoflora and to determine the aflatoxins (AFs) natural occurrence in raw materials and ready dry pet food. Therefore, the aflatoxigenic capacity of Aspergillus flavus species was investigated. Aspergillus was the prevalent genera (65-89%) followed by Penicillium and Fusarium spp. Aspergillus flavus was the most prevalent species, followed by Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus versicolor. Aspergillus flavus frequencies ranged from 58% to 86% except in sorghum meal. All samples assayed (except corn grains and ready pet food) showed Fusarium spp. contamination. Corn meal and corn meal and gluten samples had 100% Fusarium verticillioides. Fusarium graminearum was isolated from sorghum meal. Aspergillus flavus strains (75%) isolated from raw materials and 57% from pet food were able to produce AFs. All samples showed AFs contamination percentages over 70%; corn and sorghum meal obtained the highest AFs levels. Ready pet food did not show quantitative levels of the tested toxins. This is the first report of the aflatoxigenic capacity by A. flavus from Brazilian pet food.

Effect of acid lactic bacteria isolated from faeces of healthy dogs on growth parameters and aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus species in vitro

“…Dogs are particularly sensitive to the acute hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects of AFs (Garland and Reagor 2001;Böhm and Razzai-Fazeli 2005;Boermans and Leung 2007). In previous works an important percentage of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus aflatoxin producers strains and samples containing AFB 1 were detected from ready pet foods worldwide (Scudamore et al 1997;Sharma and Marquez 2001;Bueno et al 2001;Gunsen and Yaroglu 2002;Maia and Pereira Bastos de Sequeira 2002;Martins et al 2003;Basalan et al 2004;Leung et al 2006;Campos et al 2008Campos et al , 2009Fernández-Juri et al 2009a, b).…”

Fungal contamination and determination of fumonisins and aflatoxins in commercial feeds intended for ornamental birds in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…In this study, F. verticillioides was the only species of Fusarium found. Campos et al (2008) and Juri et al (2009) analysed feeds used in pets diet also found similar result. Corn is usually the main ingredient of diets intended for horses, as well as birds.…”

Incidence of Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch) and its Association with Green Fungus (Aspergillus flavus Link) in Maize Under Storage at Chitwan and Surkhet Districts of Nepal

“…The Cramer's value (0.73) shows the existence of higher relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Campos et al, (2008) reported similar relation for the infestation of A. flavus is influenced by many factors and can occur at any stage of food production, from pre-harvest to storage and processing.…”