An Examination of Cereals and Feeds for AflatoxinsAuthor(s): Brenda WheelerSource: Irish Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Apr., 1969), pp. 172-174Published by: TEAGASC-Agriculture and Food Development AuthorityStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25555520 .

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172 IRISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, VOL. 8, NO. 1, 1969

AN EXAMINATION OF CEREALS AND FEEDS FOR AFLATOXINS

Abstract: Thirty-nine samples of oats, 20 cultures of Aspergillus flavus isolated from cereals, 16 groundnut meals, 23 groundnut-containing feeds and 24 miscellaneous feed samples were examined for anatoxins Bi, Gi, B2 and G2. When anatoxins were present they were estimated quantitatively.

Anatoxins were detected in 13 of the groundnut meals and 2 of the groundnut-containing feeds, but in none of the other samples. Anatoxins Bi, Gi, B2 and G2 were present in 13, 7, 10 and 3 of the groundnut samples respectively; the range (and mean) figures in ppm were 0.06 to 0.30 (0.14), 0.04 to 0.15 (0.07), 0.02 to 0.09 (0.04) and 0.03 to 0.05 (0.04). The two groundnut-containing feeds con tained anatoxin Bi only, the level being 0.02 ppm.

Aspergillus flavus occurs widely and certain strains of the fungus may produce a group of toxins called anatoxins. These are potent carcinogens (1,2, 3), the most dangerous

being aflatoxin Blf which is particularly toxic to ducklings, turkey poults and young animals.

Aspergillus flavus has been identified on stored cereals in this country (4, 5), and it was therefore important to examine the incidence of aflatoxins on cereals and feeds

available in Ireland. The following types of sample were examined for aflatoxins Bi,

Gi, B2 and G2: Irish and imported oats, Aspergillus flavus moulds cultured from oats

and barley using Austwick's method (6), groundnut meals, groundnut-containing

pig and poultry feeds and miscellaneous feed samples. The oats were from

different farms, mainly in the south of Ireland, where they had been stored for periods of 1 to 12 months. The Aspergillus flavus moulds were obtained from Dr. Q. D.

MacGarvie, An Foras Taluntais, Oak park, Carlow, and were accompanied by two

toxin-producing control moulds cultured in the same way. The remainder of the

samples had been received at the Service Department, Dunsinea.

TABLE 1: Results of examination of samples for contamination

with aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus

No. No. examined No. Total no. contaminated for

A.flavus contaminated Sample type examined with aflatoxins contamination with A.flavus

Irish oats 26 0 23 8 Imported oats 13 0 13 5

Groundnut meals 16 13 ? ?

Groundnut-containing pig feeds 12 0 2 2 Groundnut-containing

poultry feeds 11 2 1 1 Miscellaneous 24 0 1 1 A. flavuscultures 20 0 ? ?

Total 122 15 40 17

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COMMUNICATIONS TO THE EDITOR 173

TABLE 2: Distribution and concentration of anatoxins B1? G\, B2 and G2 in 13 groundnut meals

No. of samples Aflatoxin contaminated Range (ppm) Mean (ppm)

Bi 13 0.06 to 0.30 0.14 Gi 7 0.04 to 0.15 0.07

B2 10 0.02 to 0.09 0.04 G2 3 0.03 to 0.05 0.04

TABLE 3: Classification of aflatoxin Bj contamination of groundnut samples according to the Tropical Products Institute, London, recommendation (9)

No. of groundnut Aflatoxin B, Concentration of meal samples classification aflatoxin Bi (ppm) in each class

Very high > 1 ? High 0.25 to 1 1

Medium 0.05 to 0.25 12 Low or negative < 0.05 3

Samples were analysed for aflatoxins by Eppley's method (7). This method, origin ally recommended for groundnut products, was satisfactory for the analyses reported here. It has since been incorporated into a method for screening a variety of products for two other toxins as well as aflatoxins (8). The method estimates 1.0 X 10?3 ppm aflatoxins. Some of the samples were analysed for Aspergillus flavus contamination.

The type and number of samples examined for aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus

contamination, as well as the results, are given in Table 1. The distribution and con

centration of aflatoxins Bi, G\, B2 and G2 in the 13 contaminated groundnut meals

are given in Table 2. The two contaminated poultry feeds contained 0.02 ppm aflatoxin Bi.

A classification of aflatoxin contamination according to the Tropical Products

Institute, London (9), Table 3, shows that the groundnut meals examined were moder

ately contaminated with aflatoxin B1; 1 was 'high,' 12 were 'medium' and 3 were 'low'

or 'negative.'

Although only a small number of samples were examined, the results indicate that

groundnut contamination could be a potential hazard for pigs and poultry in this

country. The subject deserves further study.

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174 IRISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. VOL. 8, NO. 1, 1969

Acknowledgments: The author thanks Miss Louie Lavery for technical assistance, Dr. R. K. Wilson for helpful advice, Dr. L. A. Goldblatt, U.S.D.A., A.R.S., New

Orleans, Louisiana, for aflatoxin standards and Dr. Q. D. MacGarvie, An Foras

Taluntais, Oakpark, Carlow, for mycological examination of samples.

Brenda Wheeler

An Foras Taluntais, Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry Department, Dunsinea, Castleknock, Co. Dublin

REFERENCES

1. Butler, W. H. 'Mycotoxins in foodstuffs: proceedings of a Symposium held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, March 18-19,1964.' Editor: G. N. Wogan. M. I. T. Press, Cambridge,

Mass, 291p., 1965. 2. Wogan, G. N., Bact. Rev. 30: 460, 1966. 3. Schoental, Regina, Ann. Rev. Pharmac. 7: 343, 1967. 4. MacGarvie, Q. D., Res. Rep. PI. Sci. Crop Husb. Div., An Foras Taluntais, Dublin, p. 83, 1966. 5. Spillane, P. A., Ir. J. agric. Res. 6: 123, 1967. 6. Austwick, P. K. C, in 'The Genus Aspergillus' by K. P. Raper and Dorothy I. Fennell. Williams

and Wilkins, Baltimore, 686p., 1965. 7. Eppley, R. M., J. Ass. off. analyt. Chem, 49: 1218, 1966. 8. Eppley, R. M., ibid. 51: 74, 1968. 9. Raymond, W. D., Fd Technol., Champaign 20: 54, 1966.

Received October 10, 1968

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