title: Aflatoxin residues in eggs of laying Japanese quail after long-term administration of rations containing low levels of aflatoxin B1.
abstract: The aim was to evaluate the excretion of residues of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)), aflatoxin B(2a) (AFB(2a)) and aflatoxicol (AFL) in eggs of laying Japanese quail fed rations with low levels of aflatoxin B(1) for 90 days. The quail were randomly assigned into four experimental groups and given prepared rations containing either 0 (controls), 25, 50 or 100 microg AFB(1) kg(-1) feed. Thirty-two eggs per treatment were collected on days 1-7, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 of the aflatoxin treatment period, and submitted to aflatoxin analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Average egg production and feed consumption were not affected ( p > 0.05) by AFB(1). Egg weight was significantly lower ( p<0.05) only for groups exposed to 100 microg AFB(1) kg(-1). Residues of aflatoxins were detected in eggs at levels that ranged from 0.01 to 0.08 microg kg(-1) (AFB(1)), 0.03-0.37 microg kg(-1) (AFM(1)), 0.01-1.03 microg kg(-1)(AFB(2a)) and 0.01-0.03 microg kg(-1) (AFL). Results indicate that the excretion of aflatoxin residues in quail eggs might occur at relatively low concentrations under conditions of long-term exposure of quail to low levels of AFB(1).
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. carlosaf@usp.br
authors.forename: C A Fernandes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: J Fontes
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosmaninho
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butkeraitis
authors.forename: T Alves
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D016607:Aflatoxin M1 / Q000032:analysis; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003370:Coturnix / Q000276:immunology*; D004531:Eggs; D005506:Food Contamination; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D009183:Mycotoxins; C012170:aflatoxicol; D016607:Aflatoxin M1; C029753:aflatoxin B2; D016604:Aflatoxin B1