Determination of fumonisin B1 levels in body fluids and hair from piglets fed fumonisin B1-contaminated diets.

The levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1) residues in plasma, urine, feces and hair from 24 piglets fed FB1-contaminated diets containing 3.1, 6.1 or 9.0 µg FB1.g-1 for 28 days were determined using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The levels of FB1 in plasma, urine, feces and pooled hair (n = 3) samples varied from 0.15 to 1.08 µg.L-1, 16.09-75.01 µg.L-1, 1.87-13.89 µg.g-1 and 2.08-8.09 ng.g-1, respectively. Significant correlations (r = 0.808-0.885; P < 0.001; N = 18) were found between FB1 intake and plasma FB1 on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. However, urinary FB1 correlated with FB1 intake only on days 7 and 14 (r = 0.561-572; P = 0.02; N = 18). A significant correlation (r = 0.509; P = 0.02; N = 24) was also found for the first time between FB1 in hair samples and FB1 intake. Plasma and urinary FB1 are good biomarkers of early exposure of pigs to low dietary FB1 levels, although plasma is recommended to assess prolonged exposure (>14 days). The possibility to evaluate hair as a biomarker of fumonisin exposure was established, although further studies are needed to provide physiologically based toxicokinetics of residual FB1 in the pig hair.

Determination of Aflatoxin B1-Lysine in Pig Serum and Plasma by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a hepatocarcinogen produced by certain Aspergillus species growing on crops. After biotransformation in the liver, AFB1 generates several metabolites, one of which is AFB1 bound to lysine on serum albumin. AFB1-lysine (AFB1-lys) is a digest product of AFB1-albumin and is considered a biomarker of exposure to AFB1 in humans and animals. The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the performance characteristics of a new analytical method for determination of AFB1-lys levels in pig serum, heparinized and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma and to evaluate the interference of these anticoagulants in AFB1-lys quantification. Blank blood samples were obtained from eight crossbreed 91-day-old barrows fed AFB1-free diets. Pooled samples (n = 3) and individual samples of serum, EDTA and heparinized plasma collected from five pigs were enzymatically digested with pronase at 37°C for 4 h. AFB1-lys was isolated by solid-phase extraction and quantified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The analytical method was applied for determination of AFB1-lys in serum and EDTA plasma collected from five 49-day-old crossbreed barrows fed ad libitum diets containing 1.1 mg of AFB1 per kg of feed during 7 days (three animals) or 42 days (two animals). Samples of heparinized plasma were only available from animals intoxicated for 42 days. All animals had lower levels of AFB1-lys in EDTA plasma samples (24.78-37.40 ng/mL), when compared to serum (49.32-252.07 ng/mL-1) or heparinized plasma (176.81 and 264.24 ng/mL-1). EDTA did not interfere in AFB1-lys standard detection, but our findings suggest that EDTA should be avoided during blood collection since it affects the pronase activity in AFB1-albumin adduct digestion and, consequently, causes a reduction in the AFB1-lys levels. Hence, determination of AFB1-lys in serum and heparinized plasma is an approach to assess an individual's exposure of swine to AFB1.