LC-MS/MS based appraisal of multi-mycotoxin co-occurrence in poultry feeds from different regions of Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Mycotoxins, being a threat to animal and human health, contribute significantly towards economic losses in the poultry sector. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based study was conducted on poultry feed samples collected from Punjab, Pakistan to evaluate the prevalence, contamination levels, and co-occurrence of multi-mycotoxins across different processed forms of the feed, types of utilities and sampling regions. All samples were found to be contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). The European Commission (EC) maximum level for AFB1 in complete feedingstuffs in poultry and guidance values for FB1 and zearalenone (ZEN) were exceeded in 73%, 2%, and 14% of the contaminated samples, respectively. The corresponding median values were 39.9 µg/kg, 205 µg/kg, and 34.5 µg/kg. In addition to exceeding contamination levels, a varying co-occurrence of three to fourteen mycotoxins was observed in each of the feed samples that calls for mitigation measures to safeguard the feed and its ingredients.

KEYWORDS:

• LC-MS/MS
• Poultry feed
• Multi-mycotoxins
• Pellets
• Broiler
• Layer
• Grower
• Finisher
• Mash
• Crumbs
• Co-occurrence

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge Mr. Arfan-ur-Rahman (Director Marketing and Operations of A & K Pharmaceuticals, Faisalabad, Pakistan) for support in arranging poultry feed samples from different regions of Punjab province and Dr. Wajiha Iram for technical guidance for this prevalence study.

Contributions

W.R. and M.I. – Planning and supervision, contributing to data analysis and writing the manuscript; A.S. – Conducted the study as a Ph.D student and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript; S.M., M.D.B and S.D.S – Contributed by sample analysis and writing the manuscript, respectively.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

The authors did not receive any fundings.