Ochratoxin A-detection in the serum of Styrian slaughter pigs

Certain climatic conditions and improper storage of cereals may lead to the formation of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OA), which can pose a serious hea lth risk to both humans and animals. In 1995 and 1998 serum samples from pi gs were taken at Styrian slaughterhouses on the basis of a two-stage strati fied sample model and subsequently analysed for their OA content by means o f an ELISA test. 26.0% of the 200 serum samples taken in 1995 displayed OA positive results. The OA content of 2 samples exceeded 1.0 ppb, and the max imum value measured was 1.24 ppb. By extrapolation from the sample to the p opulation of Styrian slaughter pigs the arithmetic mean of OA concentration in the serum was calculated at 0.07 ppb based on a confidence interval (S = 95%) of 0.045 -0.095. 23.0% of the 287 serum samples taken in 1998 produced positive results with regard to OA. In 7 samples the OA content exceeded 1.0 ppb, 2 of them disp layed an OA concentration in excess of 10 ppb (25.59 and 30.36 ppb). Extrap olation from the sample to the population of Styrian slaughter pigs yielded a mean OA contamination of the pig serum of 0.3 ppb based on a confidence interval (S = 95%) of 0.06-0.62.