The Initial Detection of Mycotoxins Released and Accumulated in the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus): Investigating the Potential of Carnivores as Environmental Bioindicators

Abstract

This study investigated the presence and levels of five key mycotoxins—aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1), ochratoxin-A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolite alpha-zearalenol (α-ZOL)—in liver samples from 19 golden jackals (Canis aureus) in southern Hungary. Golden jackals, as apex predators with a diverse diet encompassing both plant and animal matter, can serve as valuable bioindicators of environmental mycotoxin contamination. Genetic analysis confirmed the canid samples as coming from golden jackals, excluding the possibility of domestic dogs or hybrid individuals. All samples tested positive for at least three mycotoxins, with multiple mycotoxins frequently co-occurring. DON was detected in 95% of the samples, followed by FB1 (79%) and ZEN (42%). ZOL, AFs, and OTA were present in all samples. Significant differences in mycotoxin concentrations were observed between age groups and sexes for some mycotoxins. Specifically, adult males exhibited higher ZEN concentrations, adult females had higher OTA levels, and females generally showed significantly higher DON concentrations than males. For all investigated individuals, we found significantly higher concentrations of ZEN, alpha-ZOL, and OTA in adult samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, was also measured and correlated with mycotoxin levels. Pareto analysis suggested a correlation between MDA and OTA/ZEN. These findings highlight the exposure of golden jackals to a range of mycotoxins in their natural environments, potentially through both plant and animal food sources, and underscore the potential of these canids as sentinels for mycotoxin contamination in ecosystems.