Variation of Fusarium Free, Masked, and Emerging Mycotoxin Metabolites in Maize from Agriculture Regions of South Africa

Abstract

The presence of mycotoxins in cereal grain is a very important food safety issue with the occurrence of masked mycotoxins extensively investigated in recent years. This study investigated the variation of different Fusarium metabolites (including the related regulated, masked, and emerging mycotoxin) in maize from various agriculture regions of South Africa. The relationship between the maize producing regions, the maize type, as well as the mycotoxins was established. A total of 123 maize samples was analyzed by a LC-MS/MS multi-mycotoxin method. The results revealed that all maize types exhibited a mixture of free, masked, and emerging mycotoxins contamination across the regions with an average of 5 and up to 24 out of 42 investigated Fusarium mycotoxins, including 1 to 3 masked forms at the same time. Data obtained show that fumonisin B 1, B 2, B 3, B 4 , and A 1 were the most prevalent mycotoxins and had maximum contamination levels of 8908, 3383, 990, 1014, and 51.5 µg/kg, respectively. Deoxynivalenol occurred in 50% of the samples with a mean concentration of 152 µg/kg (max 1380 µg/kg). Thirty-three percent of the samples were contaminated with zearalenone at a mean concentration of 13.6 µg/kg (max 146 µg/kg). Of the masked mycotoxins, DON-3-glucoside occurred at a high incidence level of 53%. Among emerging toxins, moniliformin, fusarinolic acid, and beauvericin showed high occurrences at 98%, 98%, and 83%, and had maximum contamination levels of 1130, 3422, and 142 µg/kg, respectively. Significant differences in the contamination pattern were observed between the agricultural regions and maize types.

Multi Mycotoxin Determination in Dried Beef Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

“…However, as the meat surfaces dry, there is increased possibility of growth of undesirable fungi, several of which can produce potent mycotoxins, due to the favorable conditions during the drying, storage, and selling process. The presence of fungi on regular food items in Nigeria is not in doubt, since the prevalence of mycotoxins in sub-Saharan Africa has been reported [ 24 , 25 ]. However, there is a dearth of information on multi-mycotoxins in dried beef in Nigeria while a lot of attention is placed on other food products.…”

Feed-Based Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence in Smallholder Dairy Farming Systems of South Africa: The Case of Limpopo and Free State

“…Regarding ZEN, the previously mentioned low incidence rates appear common-place for South African feed and raw materials with the perception that ZEN maybe a minor yet insistent contaminant in these matrices [ 10 , 11 , 27 , 28 ]. The absence of ZEN in grasses, lucerne and silages ( Supplementary Materials Table S2 ) may be attributed to the presence of a less predominantly ZEN producing fungi in these matrices given the specific micro-climates relative to the study.…”

Sphinganine-Analog Mycotoxins (SAMs): Chemical Structures, Bioactivities, and Genetic Controls

“…While the masked mycotoxins are often less toxic than the unmasked forms, they could be easily converted to the unmasked toxin forms, including during food digestion [ 274 , 275 ]. The most representative masked mycotoxins are the modified forms of Zearalenone (ZEN), DON, and fumonisins [ 276 , 277 , 278 , 279 ]. The so-called hidden fumonisins could form non-covalent bonds with food macro-constituents such as those in starch-based products.…”