Occurrence of trichothecene mycotoxins in cereals harvested in the Czech Republic

Abstract

A large-scale survey of the natural occurrence of trichothecene mycotoxins in major cereals harvested in the Czech Republic was conducted during the years 1999–2001. In total, 198 cereal samples representing various wheat, barley, and rye cultivars were examined for deoxynivalenol (DON) using gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Four years later, in 2005, the list of target analytes was fairly extended, 65 wheat and barley samples were analysed for seven trichothecene mycotoxins – deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (Fus-X), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (ADONs), HT-2 toxin (HT-2). and T-2 toxin (T-2) by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Trichothecenes represented mainly by DON were detected in almost all grain samples, its mean levels were the highest in the year 1999 which was characterised by very humid conditions during the growing season. The maximum concentration set in Commission Regulation EC (No. 856/2005) for DON (1250 µg/kg) in unprocessed cereals was exceeded only in two of all the samples analysed.

Fusarium mycotoxins in spring barley and their occurrence within the technological chain barley-malt-beer.

“…Mean concentration levels of HT-2 and T-2 toxins in barley are in the range 50-200 μg/kg (sum of toxins) in this crop, however, in some cases, also levels exceeding 1000 μg/kg were reported [15,18,24]. With regard to natural formation of HT-2 toxin from T-2 toxin through de-acetylation, HT-2 toxin represents generally more abundant contaminant.…”

“…Přítomnost tohoto toxinu byla již dříve publikována v ječmeni, pšenici i kukuřici, kdy jeho koncentrační hladiny v testovaných vzorcích představovaly v prů-měru 20 % koncentrace volného DON [11]. V posledních deseti letech je stále větší pozornost věnována dalším dvěma fusariotoxinům ze skupiny trichothecenů typu A, jmenovitě HT-2 a T-2 toxinům, jejichž stále častější výskyt, ale i zvyšující se kontaminace byla potvrzena několika desítkami monitorizačních studií [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…Průměrné hladiny kontaminace HT-2 a T-2 toxinů se v ječmeni běžně pohybují v rozmezí 50-200 μg/kg (suma toxinů), ale byly zaznamenány i koncentrace nad 1000 μg/kg [15,18,24]. Obecně bývá ve vzorcích cereálií častěji detekován HT-2 toxin, což je de-acetylovaný metabolit T-2 toxinu.…”

“…In recent ten years, increasing attention has been paid to the other Fusarium toxins from group of trichothecenes A, HT-2 and T-2 toxins. Increasing incidence and levels have been proved in numerous of monitoring studies [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Fusarium mycotoxins in spring barley and their transfer into malt.

“…The occurence of mycotoxins in cereals harvested in Czech Republic is discussed in detail in survey published by Hajšlová et al (2007) [22]. In this study, 198 samples of cereals, wheat, barley and rye obtained in years 1999-2001 were examined to DON occurrence, later on, in 2005, another 65 samples of wheat and barley were analysed to most abundant trichothecenes (NIV, DON, FUS-X, suma ADONs, HT-2 a T-2).…”