MYCOFLORA AND INCIDENCE OF AFLATOXIN B-1, ZEARALENONE AND DEOXYNIVALENOL IN POULTRY FEEDS IN ARGENTINA

In Argentina, there is rather little information about the natural occ urrence of mycotoxins in feedstuffs. The aim of this work was to deter mine the fungal flora and natural incidence of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)), zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in poultry feeds from 5 fa ctories of Rio Cuarto, Cordoba. Three hundred samples were taken from May 1995 to May 1996. Fungal counts of poultry feeds ranged 10(4) to 1 0(6) CFU g(-1). The lowest counts were obtained on the first months fr om the sampling (May to September 1995) with mean values significantly different from those found at the last of the sampling (October 1995 to April 1996). The most prevalent species isolated of poultry feed sa mples belonged to the genera Penicillium that was present in 98% of th e samples, Fusarium (87%) and Aspergillus (52%). Fusarium species isol ated were: F moniliforme in 73% of the samples, F subglutinans (35%), F graminearum (20%) and within Aspergillus species: A. parasiticus (33 %) and A. flavus (8%) were identified. In poultry feeds aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) was the most significant mycotoxin with levels ranging from 1 7 to 197 ng/g. For deoxynivalenol (DON) the levels ranged from 240 to 410 ng/g. Only three out of 300 samples were contaminated with zearale none (ZEA) in concentrations of 30, 120 and 280 ng/g. These are prelim inary data on this subject in our region.