title: Ochratoxigenic moulds and ochratoxin A in forages and grain feeds.
abstract: The contamination of forages and grain feeds with ochratoxigenic moulds and ochratoxin A was examined. The investigations were carried out over a period of three years in all seasons. Feeds were found to be contaminated with moulds at a high level throughout the three research years. The highest percentage (95 to 100) of contaminated feed samples was noticed during the second year. Total viable counts of moulds established in 1 g of feed samples ranged from 0.5 to 7.8 x 10(6). Penicillium spp. were dominant in mycopopulations isolated from feeds. Ochratoxin-A producing moulds were present permanently. In the summer period of the second research year as much as 94% of the feed samples were contaminated by ochratoxigenic Penicillium species. P. verrucosum var. cyclopium P. verrucosum var. verrucosum, P. commune and P. chrysogenum, i.e. ochratoxin-producing moulds, were the most prevalent Penicillium species throughout the three-year investigation. Ochratoxin A was found in various feeds in all seasons, except in summer of the first research year. Concentrations of the toxin varied from traces to 400 micrograms/kg. It occurred consistently in the same types of feeds (hay, dried alfalfa, fresh alfalfa, concentrate, pelleted sugar beet pulp, corn silage).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiological Processes and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skrinjar
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Vujicić
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000382:microbiology; D005506:Food Contamination; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A