Mycobiota and aflatoxin B1 in feed for farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Thesafety characteristics of feed used in fish and crustacean aquaculture systems are an essential tool to assure the productivity of those animal exploitations. Safety of feed may be affected by different hazards, including biological and chemical groups. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate fungi contamination and the presence of aflatoxins in 87 samples of feed for sea bass, collected in Portugal. Molds were found in 35 samples (40.2%) in levels ranging from 1 to 3.3 log10 CFU∙g(-1). Six genera of molds were found. Aspergillus flavus was the most frequent, found in all positive samples, with a range from 2 to 3.2 log(10) CFU∙g(-1). Aspergillus niger was found in 34 samples (39.1%), ranging from 1 to 2.7 log(10) CFU∙g(-1). Aspergillus glaucus was found in 26 samples (29.9%) with levels between 1 and 2.4 log(10) CFU∙g(-1). Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp. were both found in 25 samples (28.7%). Fusarium spp. was found in 22 samples (25.3%), ranging from 1 to 2.3 log(10) CFU∙g(-1). All feed samples were screened for aflatoxins using a HPLC technique, with a detection limit of 1.0 µg∙kg(-1). All samples were aflatoxin negative.

Occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in dairy cow feed over 10 years in Portugal (1995-2004).

In Portugal, there is rather little information about the natural occurrence of aflatoxin in feedstuffs. The aim of this work was to report the results of screening the natural incidence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in samples of cattle feed collected from seven dairy cow's farms from Portugal distributed in several locations of the country. One thousand and one samples were taken from 1995 to 2004. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for separation, identification and quantification of the compound. Detection limit was 1 microg/kg. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 374 (37.4%) of the samples. The incidence and mean content of AFB1 was generally low. Levels of aflatoxin B1 above the maximum limit established in Portugal (5 microg/kg) for dairy cattle feed samples were observed in 62 samples (6.2%) with levels ranging from 5.1 to 74 microg/kg. Out of those 62 samples, 3.7% had levels between 5.1 to 10 (mean 7.8); 1.8% had a contamination level of 10.1 to 20 (mean 12.0), and 0.7% exceeded 20.1 microg/kg (mean 50.4). On the last two years (2003-04) none of the samples exceeded the maximum permissible level of the toxin.

Occurrence of aflatoxin B1 in dairy cow’s feed over 10 years in Portugal (1995-2004)

En Portugal es muy escasa la información sobre la presencia natural deaflatoxina en piensos para animales. El objetivo de este trabajo es ladivulgación del estudio sobre la incidencia natural de aflatoxina B1 (AFB1) enmuestras de piensos, recogidas en siete explotaciones ganaderas de bovinoslecheros distribuidas por diversas regiones de Portugal. Se recogieron yanalizaron 1.001 muestras entre el periodo de 1995 a 2004. En la separación,identificación y cuantificación del compuesto, se utilizó la técnica decromatografía líquida de alta resolución (HPLC). El límite de detección fue de1 mg/kg. La aflatoxina B1 fue detectada en 374 (37,4%) de las muestras.La incidencia y el contenido medio de AFB1 fueron en general, bajos.En 62 muestras (6,2%) se observaron niveles de aflatoxina B1 por encima dellimite máximo permitido en Portugal (5 mg/kg), con concentraciones entre5,1 y 74 mg/kg. De las 62 muestras, 3,7% presentaron concentraciones entre5,1 y 10 mg/kg (mediana 7,8); 1,8% tenía una concentración entre 10,1 y20 mg/kg (mediana 12,0), y 0,7% era superior a 20,1 mg/kg (mediana 50,4).En los últimos 2 años del estudio (2003-04) ninguna muestra excedió el límitemáximo permitido para la toxina(AU)

In Portugal, there is rather little information about the natural occurrence ofaflatoxin in feedstuffs. The aim of this work was to report the results ofscreening the natural incidence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in samples of cattle feedcollected from seven dairy cow’s farms from Portugal distributed in severallocations of the country. One thousand and one samples were taken from1995 to 2004. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used forseparation, identification and quantification of the compound. Detection limitwas 1 mg /kg. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 374 (37.4%) of the samples.The incidence and mean content of AFB1 was generally low. Levels of aflatoxinB1 above the maximum limit established in Portugal (5 mg/kg) for dairy cattlefeed samples were observed in 62 samples (6.2%) with levels ranging from5.1 to 74 mg/kg. Out of those 62 samples, 3.7% had levels between 5.1 to 10(mean 7.8); 1.8% had a contamination level of 10.1 to 20 (mean 12.0), and0.7% exceeded 20.1 mg/kg (mean 50.4). On the last two years (2003-04) noneof the samples exceeded the maximum permissible level of the toxin(AU)