Microbiological and mycotoxicological contamination in Slovenian primary grain production

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the contamination of grains, which are grown and used for animal diets by Slovene farmers. A total of 107 samples were examined for mesofilic aerobic molds and yeasts. The leading contaminants among molds were from Fusarium spp., detected in 73 samples, mostly in maize (50). In accordance with the European Feed Microbiology Organisation criteria, 68% of all tested samples were of the quality level I, with normal microbiological flora, and 9% of samples were estimated as quality level IV and not suitable for animal feed. Using liquid and gas chromatography methods, the presence of various mycotoxins (expressed as 12% of moisture content) was found in 77% of all samples; mostly deoxynivalenol (71%) in concentration of 150–14,420 µg kg⁻¹, followed by zearalenone (32%, 20–640 µg kg⁻¹), fumonisin B1 (31%, 10–4863 µg kg⁻¹), fumonisin B2 (22%, 10–1629 µg kg⁻¹), while HT-2 and T-2 toxins were found in low concentration in two samples, and aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in one sample. By statistical evaluation, significant positive correlations were noted between the presence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone as well as between fumonisin B1 and B2.

Keywords:

• animal feed
• grains
• grains-microbiology
• mycotoxin analyses
• Slovenia