Occurrence of mycotoxins in extruded commercial dog food

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe aim of this study was to determine the presence and the level of contamination of the most important mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B 1 and B 2 , aflatoxin B 1 , B 2 , G 1 and G 2 , ochratoxin A and zearalenone) in 48 samples of extruded dry dog food found in the Italian market (24 samples from standard economy lines, 24 of premium lines). Analyses were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Although the concentrations of the mycotoxins in all samples proved to respect the European legislation with regards to animal feed, the analyses revealed a substantial presence of deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and ochratoxin A, with values above the limit of quantification (5 g/kg) in 100%, 88% and 81% of the samples, respectively. In contrast, aflatoxins and zearalenone contamination proved to be very modest, with 88% and 75% of the samples, respectively, showing concentrations below the corresponding limit of quantification (5 g/kg for aflatoxins and 10 g/kg for zearalenone). Moreover, despite a very heterogeneous contamination, the concentration of fumonisins and ochratoxin A was significantly higher in standard foods than in premiumones (491 vs. 80.2 g/kg dry matter for fumonisin B 1 ; 113 vs. 38.5 g/kg dry matter for fumonisin B 2 ; 599 vs. 103 g/kg dry matter for total fumonisins; 23.8 vs. 13.0 g/kg dry matter for ochratoxin A; P<0.001). Furthermore, a simultaneous presence of different mycotoxins (at concentrations higher than their limit of quantification) was observed in most of the pet foods analyzed; in particular, 19% of the samples were contaminated by no fewer than two different types of mycotoxins, 52% by three, 25% by four and 2% by all the mycotoxins evaluated. These results revealed the need for further investigation into the potential risk deriving from chronic exposure to low doses of the different types of mycotoxins that pet species are subject to today.

Exposure assessment of dogs to mycotoxins through consumption of dry feed

“…Co‐occurrence of FBs and ZEA, of ZEA and AFs, of FBs and AFs and of FBs, ZEA and AFs was detected in 68, 66, 51 and 50% of samples respectively (Table ). There are some reports regarding the co‐occurrence of mycotoxins in dry dog feed . In this study, co‐occurrence of FBs and ZEA (Table ) was higher than that reported by Böhm et al , who showed a co‐occurrence of these mycotoxins in 33% of feed samples intended for dogs ( n = 76).…”

“…Mean FB levels (Table 1) were lower than those reported by Böhm et al, 21 Gazzotti et al, 22 Mwanza et al 24 and Souza and Scussel 38 but higher than those obtained by Martins et al 23 In Austria, Böhm et al 21 analyzed 76 dog feed samples and detected fumonisins (FB 1 + FB 2 ) in 42% of samples, with a mean of 178 μg kg −1 and a maximum level of 568 μg kg −1 . Gazzotti et al 22 detected fumonisins (FB 1 and FB 2 ) in 8% of standard (n = 24) and 17% of premium (n = 24) dog feed samples, with mean levels of 599 and 103 μg kg −1 respectively. Mwanza et al 24 analyzed 60 dog feed samples in South Africa and detected fumonisins (FB 1 and FB 2 ) in 98% of samples, with levels ranging from 5.20 to 4653.8 μg kg −1 (mean 1556 μg kg −1 ).…”

“…Mwanza et al 24 detected ZEA in 96% of samples (n = 60), with a mean value of 354 μg kg −1 . Gazzotti et al 22 detected ZEA in 25% of dog feed samples (n = 48), with levels ranging from 10.4 to 42.4 μg kg −1 . AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 and AFG 2 were detected in 68, 1, 4 and 2% of feed samples (n = 100) respectively (data not shown).…”

“…Mwanza et al detected ZEA in 96% of samples ( n = 60), with a mean value of 354 µg kg −1 . Gazzotti et al detected ZEA in 25% of dog feed samples ( n = 48), with levels ranging from 10.4 to 42.4 µg kg −1 .…”

“…Mycotoxin occurrence in commercial feeds for dogs has been reported by several researchers, but there are few data on the natural exposure degree of dogs to mycotoxins in Brazil.…”