Effect of the combination of crude extracts of Penicillium griseofulvum and Fusarium graminearum containing patulin and zearalenone on rumen microbial fermentation and on their metabolism in continuous culture fermenters.

Six single-flow continuous cultures were used to study the effects of the mycotoxins patulin (PAT) and zearalenone (ZEN) alone or in combination on rumen microbial fermentation. In each of the four 7-d periods, the fermenters were supplemented in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two levels of PAT (0 and 20 mg/l) and three levels of ZEN (0, 5 and 10 mg/l). The treatments did not affect the apparent and true digestibility of organic matter. PAT alone decreased the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (p < 0.01), but in the presence of 5 or 10 mg/l of ZEN, there were no effects of PAT. In contrast, the digestibility of NDF and ADF was decreased at 10 mg/l of ZEN in the absence of PAT (p < 0.05). The pH of the fermenters increased after 2 and 3 d of PAT treatment (p < 0.01). PAT decreased the concentration of total volatile acids (VFA), the molar proportion of acetate and the acetate:proportionate ratio (p < 0.01). The molar concentrations of other VFA were unchanged. Ammonia N (NH3-N) flow increased (p < 0.05) and there was a tendency to a higher NH3-N concentration (p < 0.1) in fermenters with PAT. Total N, non-ammonia N and bacterial N as well as efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and efficiency of N utilisation were not affected by treatments. PAT was nearly completely degraded during incubation. The mean recovery of ZEN, α-zearalenol and ß-zearalenol expressed as a proportion of administered ZEN was less than 50% in effluents from fermenters receiving only ZEN and ZEN plus PAT, respectively. With exception of fibre digestion, the co-administration of PAT and ZEN did not elicit interaction effects on most measured parameters of rumen metabolism.

Mycobiota and mycotoxins in fermented feed, wheat grains and corn grains in Southeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

El trigo (como afrechillo) y el maíz (como grano seco o alimento fermentado) son ingredientes empleados como alimento para el ganado bovino y porcino en la zona sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina). Determinar la micobiota y las micotoxinas presentes en estos alimentos es de suma importancia para establecer técnicas de control de los mismos, optimizar la producción animal y minimizar su toxicidad. Por ende, en el sudeste de la provincia de Buenos Aires se llevó a cabo un estudio para identificar la micobiota y las principales micotoxinas presentes en dichos tipos de alimento. Las muestras fueron sembradas para realizar el recuento, el aislamiento y la identificación de los principales géneros de hongos presentes, y analizadas para detectar las micotoxinas de mayor importancia toxicológica: desoxinivalenol (DON), zearalenona (ZEA), toxina T-2 y aflatoxinas (AFLA). Penicillium (74%), Aspergillus (32%) y Scopulariopsis (21%) fueron los géneros más frecuentes en alimentos fermentados. En muestras de maíz, los géneros más relevantes fueron Penicillium (70%), Fusarium (47%) y Aspergillus (34%), mientras que Penicillium (42%), Fusarium (27%) y Alternaria (25%) fueron los más aislados en el caso del afrechillo de trigo. DON fue detectado en el 59% de las muestras de maíz, en el 45% de las muestras de trigo y en el 38% de las muestras de alimento fermentado. ZEA fue detectada en un 36% de las muestras de maíz, en un 49% de las muestras de trigo y en un 16% de las muestras de alimento fermentado. Las toxinas T-2 y aflatoxina B1 fueron detectadas en un 4% de las muestras de maíz. El 18% de las muestras de alimentos fermentados mostraron contaminación con T-2. Las muestras de alimentos fermentados y de trigo fueron negativas para AFLA(AU)

Wheat (as bran) and corn (as dry grain or fermented feed) are main ingredients of feedstuffs used in local cattle and pig farms in the South of the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Therefore, determining mycobiota and mycotoxins in wheat and corn is of prime importance for developing feed management techniques to optimise animal production and to minimize toxicity. Then, a mycological survey was carried out in the Southeastern part of the Buenos Aires Province, in order to identify the mycobiota and the main mycotoxins present in fermented feed, wheat grain and corn grain samples. Samples were cultured for fungal quantification, isolation and identification, and analysed for deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin and aflatoxins (AFLA). Penicillium (74%), Aspergillus (32%) and Scopulariopsis (21%) were the prevalent genera in fermented feed. Penicillium (70%), Fusarium (47%) and Aspergillus (34%) were the most frequent fungi isolated from corn. Penicillium (42%), Fusarium (27%) and Alternaria (25%) were the most frequently recovered genera from wheat. DON was detected in 59% of the corn samples, in 45% of the wheat samples and in 38% of the silage samples. ZEA was detected in 36% of the corn samples, in 49% of the wheat samples and in 16% of the silage samples. T-2 toxin and aflatoxin B1 were each detected in 4% of the corn samples. Eighteen percent of the fermented feed samples showed T-2 contamination. Fermented feed and wheat samples were negative for AFLA(AU)

Mycobiota and mycotoxins in fermented feed, wheat grains and corn grains in Southeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

Wheat (as bran) and corn (as dry grain or fermented feed) are main ingredients of feedstuffs used in local cattle and pig farms in the South of the Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Therefore, determining mycobiota and mycotoxins in wheat and corn is of prime importance for developing feed management techniques to optimise animal production and to minimize toxicity. Then, a mycological survey was carried out in the Southeastern part of the Buenos Aires Province, in order to identify the mycobiota and the main mycotoxins present in fermented feed, wheat grain and corn grain samples. Samples were cultured for fungal quantification, isolation and identification, and analysed for deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin and aflatoxins (AFLA). Penicillium (74%), Aspergillus (32%) and Scopulariopsis (21%) were the prevalent genera in fermented feed. Penicillium (70%), Fusarium (47%) and Aspergillus (34%) were the most frequent fungi isolated from corn. Penicillium (42%), Fusarium (27%) and Alternaria (25%) were the most frequently recovered genera from wheat. DON was detected in 59% of the corn samples, in 45% of the wheat samples and in 38% of the silage samples. ZEA was detected in 36% of the corn samples, in 49% of the wheat samples and in 16% of the silage samples. T-2 toxin and aflatoxin B1 were each detected in 4% of the corn samples. Eighteen percent of the fermented feed samples showed T-2 contamination. Fermented feed and wheat samples were negative for AFLA.