Fungi and selected mycotoxins from pre- and postfermented corn silage.
OBJECTIVE
To determine fungal genera, Aspergillus and Fusarium species and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) contamination from pre- and postfermented corn silage produced in the most important region of Argentina where silage practice is developed.


RESULTS
Sampling of corn silos was performed manually through silos in transects at three levels: upper, middle and low sections. AFB(1) and FB(1) were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, zearalenone by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and DON by gas chromatography. Over 90% of the samples showed counts higher than 1 x 10(4) CFU g(-1). Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides were the prevalent species. Some tested samples were contaminated with AFB(1), ZEA, DON and FB(1).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the presence of fungi and AFB(1), ZEA, DON and FB(1) contamination in corn silage in Argentina.


CONCLUSIONS
This manuscript makes a contribution to the knowledge of mycotoxins in Argentinean silage in particular because the environmental conditions in this country differ from those of most reports. The comparison of pre- and postfermentation silage is also outstanding. Therefore, information on fungi and mycotoxins present in silage--an increasingly popular commodity--is useful to estimate potential risk for animal and human health.
González Pereyra
M L
ML
Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
Alonso
V A
VA
Sager
R
R
Morlaco
M B
MB
Magnoli
C E
CE
Astoreca
A L
AL
Rosa
C A R
CA
Chiacchiera
S M
SM
Dalcero
A M
AM
Cavaglieri
L R
LR
D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis; D001118:Argentina; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain; D012820:Silage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000032:analysis
D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D014255:Trichothecenes; D015025:Zearalenone; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; C007262:deoxynivalenol