Co-occurrence of moulds and mycotoxins in corn grains used for animal feeds in malaysia

Abstract

About 80 corn grain samples used for animal feeds were collected from 10 states in Malaysia in order to determine the mycobiota using agar plate assay and mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1 and fumonisins) by ELISA. Aspergillus flavus (87%), A. niger (83%), F. verticillioides (47%), F. graminearum (43%), F. proliferation (42%), F. equisieti (30%) and Penicillium sp. (5%) were the prevalent fungi in all corn samples. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) could be detected in 65 (81.2%) corn samples ranging from 1.0-135 μg kg-1. The 18 (22.5%) samples, out of 80 had exceeded AFB1 above the international regulatory limits of animal feeds (>20 μg kg-1) ranging from 20.6-135 μg kg-1. Fumonisins were detected in all the corn samples (100%) ranging from 261-2.420 μg kg-1. Although, only 80 samples were analyzed, they were randomly collected from 10 states in Malaysia. Since there is a lack of information from Malaysia and such data are valuable. © Medwell Journals, 2011.