Monitoring of Mycotoxins in Feed for Dairy Cows and Swine from Muntenia Region, Romania

Mycotoxins have a strong negative impact on crops, animal health and human health. These secondary metabolites are toxic can cause major economic losses and illnesses (Zain, 2011). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of the most prevalent mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), in feed intended for dairy cows and swine from farms located in the Region of Muntenia (Călăraşi, Giurgiu and Teleorman), Romania. 136 samples of fodder and forage intended for cattle and 37 samples for pigs were collected during 2017 2018. Some of the samples were analyzed within the national surveillance program and some on request. AFB1 has been extracted and purified in an immunoaffinity column specific for AFB1. Detection and quantification of toxic secondary metabolites were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). All four mycotoxins were detectable and quantifiable. The level of contamination was generally low. The maximum allowable limits for AFB1, OTA, DON and ZEN were not exceeded. The low level of contamination indicates no potential risks for animal and human health and suggests that the best practices in the management and storage of feed were applied in the studied area.