title: The occurrence of mycotoxins in wheat from western Romania and histopathological impact as effect of feed intake.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this study has been to evaluate the extent of mycotoxins contamination and their co-occurrence in wheat grain intended for animal feed. A total of 52 wheat samples were collected from the harvest of two consecutive years (2010, 2011) from two counties (Timis and Arad) located in Western Romania and the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and fumonisins (FUMO) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to evaluate the toxicological impact of mycotoxins, naturally contaminated wheat samples were administered in rats feed for one month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mycotoxin with the highest incidence in wheat samples was DON due to agro-climatic conditions typical for the west part of Romania. DON was found in 73.08% of samples harvested in 2010 and the highest level of contamination was 3390 ppb. The incidence of DON in sample from 2011 was lower than those of 2010, with a frequency of occurrence of 19.23%. The occurrence of ZON was in the range 69.23-76.92%, with an average value of 187.74 ppb. The OTA content in wheat was below the maximum tolerable limit established by EU Commission regulation for feed legislation (250 ppb). For FUMO the lowest percentage of positive samples was registered (15.38% in wheat sample harvested in 2010 and 11.54% positive samples in 2011). With respect to the co-occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins, the results proved that ZON was found as a co-contaminant together with DON, especially when climatic conditions for development of fungus are favorable (high air humidity). The differences recorded between investigated localities and their classifications according to the mycotoxin kind and year of harvest were carried out by principal components analysis (PCA). The histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation performed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining technique as well as by assessing the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) revealed significant modification of kidney, liver and spleen cells in the case of DON and FUMO. In terms of toxicity induced by OTA and ZON it was highlighted mixed normal and necrotic areas in liver, while histological assessment revealed normal VEGF expression in kidneys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although none of the analyzed samples exceeding the stipulated maximum limits for cereals used as feed, a high incidence of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species have been recorded (DON and ZON) in wheat samples harvested in Western Romania. Also, histopathological evaluation revealed significant tissue lesions in liver and kidney of rats after one month of feeding with natural contaminated wheat.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Timisoara, Calea Aradului no, 119, Timisoara 300645, Romania. isidoraradulov@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alexa
authors.forename: Cristina Adriana
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dehelean
authors.forename: Mariana-Atena
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Poiana
authors.forename: Isidora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Radulov
authors.forename: Anca-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cimpean
authors.forename: Despina-Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bordean
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tulcan
authors.forename: Georgeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pop