Mycotoxins in Animal Feeds and Toxic Fungi in Queensland 1971–80

Abstract

During the years 1971 to 1980, 355 samples of animal feeds submitted to this laboratory in connection with suspected mycotoxicoses were analysed for aflatoxins. Most major Queensland agricultural crops were represented. Aflatoxins were detected in 67 samples, 45 of which were peanut meals and by-products (55% of all peanut materials analysed). Of 200 Aspergillus flavus isolates cultured on maize meal, aflatoxins were produced by 49%. Ochratoxin A was detected in one sample of another 25 feeds analysed for the compound. Ochratoxin A was produced by 28% of 47 A. ochraceus isolates, and two Fusarium equiseti isolates produced zearalenone. The present situation with regard to mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis in Queensland is briefly reviewed.

Risk management for mycotoxin contamination of Australian maize

“…Mycotoxins are toxic products of secondary metabolism produced by a range of fungi on a wide variety of substrates. Past investigations into Australian maize, as well as data collected by millers and manufacturers, have identified aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes (including nivalenol and deoxynivalenol) and zearalenone in Australian maize (Blaney 1981;Connole et al 1981;Blaney et al 1984;Blaney et al 1986;Blaney 1999;2004;Blaney et al 2006). This is of concern because of the risk they pose to human and animal health (Pitt & Tomaska 2001;Council for Agricultural Science & Technology 2003;Whitlow Jnr & Hagler Jnr 2003).…”

Simultaneous occurrence of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and aflatoxin in 1982 scabby wheat from the midwestern United States

“…74%) found here is almost totally at variance with previous studies and surveys which failed to find confirmable aflatoxins in 1,481 samples of wheat from 6 crop years in the northern, midwestern, and southeastern United States (24)(25)(26). Surveys in Canada (20), Egypt (8), Australia (5), and England (17) also failed to find any detectable aflatoxin. A single contrary report by Lafont and Lafont (14), who found aflatoxin ranging from 0.24 to 225 ng/g in 15 of 32 commercial lots of French wheat, appears to have prompted extensive research on the fate of aflatoxin during the making of bread from wheat (6, 21).…”

Cycloechinulin, a Trp-Ala-derived alkaloid from the fungusAspergillus ochraceus

“…Aspergillus ochraceus, an Australian isolate D2306 (Connole et al, 1981), was grown on Sabourauds agar plates (pH 5.9, 298 K, 10±14 d). The mycelial mat was washed with distilled water (4 Â 5 ml).…”