title: A microbiological assay for sterigmatocystin, T-2 toxin and zearalenone.
abstract: A survey was done to find microorganisms useful for assaying sterigmatocystin; T-2 toxin and zearalenone.Staphylococcus aureus was found to be sensitive to T-2 toxin and zearalenone;Bacillus cereus was found to be sensitive to T-2 toxin only; andEscherichia coli was sensitive to sterigmatocystin. The response of the organisms to sterigmatocystin; T-2 toxin and zearalenone was found to be linear between 4 and 100 μg with sterigmatocystin toE. coli; between 2 and 25 μg with T-2 toxin toStaph, aureus andB. cereus; and between 4 and 100 μg with zearalenone toStaph, aureus. The lower limits of sensitivity of the test were 2 μg T-2 toxin and zearalenone, and 4 μg sterigmatocystin. The assay is rapid (15-17 hrs); simple and inexpensive; and can be used to verify the toxicity of samples and to confirm thin layer chromatographic results.
authors.affiliation: Food Technology & Dairying Lab, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tawfek
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Saved
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badawey