Mycotoxin patterns in ear rot infected maize: A comprehensive case study in Nigeria

摘要

The levels of mycotoxin contamination in 78 ear rot infected maize sampled from nine states of northern Nigeria were determined by a straight-forward LC-MS/MS-based 'dilute and shoot' approach. Overall, 93 metabolites were identified whereof most can be assigned either to Aspergillus or Fusarium toxins with 37 and 34% occurrence respectively. Fusarium toxins typically occurred in higher concentrations above 320,000 mu g/kg for fumonisin B-1 (FBI) and 1,000,000 mu g/kg for hydrolysed FBI. The fumonisins (FB1, and FB4) were also most widespread, occurring in all samples. Aflatoxin B-1 (mean: 800 mu g/kg) was found in samples from all states, but in 63% of all samples. Less frequently reported aflatoxins (AFM(1) and AFP(1)) were identified at a comparatively low level in the samples exhibiting the highest aflatoxin levels. Citrinin, cyclopiazonic acid, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone also occurred in the samples. Total fumonisins, AFB(1), total aflatoxin and OTA levels exceeded the EU limits in 76, 50, 47 and 1.3% of all samples respectively. The wide array of metabolites and exceptionally high concentrations of mycotoxins pose a substantial risk to food and feed safety in the event that the grains enter the animal and human food chain which is common in rural settings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.