Natural Incidence of Aspergillus Mycoflora and Mycotoxins in Fresh and Ensiled Maize Fodder
Natural Incidence of Aspergillus Mycoflora and Mycotoxins in Fresh and Ensiled Maize Fodder
Nighat Sultana1,2,*, Shazia Iftikhar1, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif2 and Iffat Tahira2
ABSTRACT
The present study evaluated Aspergillus (A) spp. and mycotoxins in fresh and ensiled maize fodder using a model fermentation system and raw materials from different areas of Punjab, Pakistan. A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus were the most dominant followed by A. terrus and A. ochraceous in fresh and ensiled maize fodder. Total fungal counts ranged from 1×103 to 4×103cfu/ml for all species in both fresh and ensiled maize fodder. Total aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) analysis showed that AFB1was present with high frequency in fresh (37.5%) and ensiled (41.66%) fodder, with an average concentration of 9.49 and 8.36ng/g respectively. Aflatoxin B2 was detected in only two samples (16%) (1.2 and 1.3ng/g), aflatoxin G1 and G2 were not found. Ochratoxin A was found more frequently in fresh (54.16%) than in ensiled (20.86 %) samples with a mean of 8.06 and 4ng/g respectively. Average values for total aflatoxins (TAFs) and OTA were below the permissible limits as per regulation of European commission (EU), i.e. 20ng/g and 10ng/g, respectively.
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