Jaqueline Gozzi Bordini

The first report of A. novoparasiticus, A. arachidicola and A. pseudocaelatus in Brazilian corn kernels

Maize is one of the most important commercial crops cultivated throughout the world, mostly in tropical and subtropical countries. It is highly susceptible to mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi. In this study, we assessed freshly harvested corn produced in Brazil for aflatoxin contamination and the presence of Aspergillus. B type aflatoxins (AFB1+AFB2) were detected in 56% of 16 grain samples, while G type aflatoxins (AFG1+AFG2) were detected in 25%. Of the total number of grains (n=1920) evaluated for the presence of fungi species, 4.7% were infected with Aspergillus species, 74.5% and 16.7% respectively with Fusarium and Penicillium species and 4.1% with other fungi genera. In total, 89 Aspergillus isolates were identified, most (86 isolates) characterized as belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi, and the remainder to Aspergillus section Cremei (2 isolates) and Aspergillus section Terrei (1 isolate). All the isolates of section Flavi were subjected to molecular analysis. They were found to belong to six species, including Aspergillus novoparasiticus, Aspergillus arachidicola and Aspergillus pseudocaelatus, all aflatoxins B and G producing species, which are herein described for the first time infecting corn kernels.

Exposure assessment of dogs to mycotoxins through consumption of dry feed: Exposure of dogs to mycotoxins

BACKGROUND The Brazilian exportation of pet food has shown high growth rates in the last two years and determination of the exposure degree is one of the most important parameters for the risk assessment of chemical compounds. In this study the exposure degree of dogs to mycotoxins was estimated and acceptable daily intake (ADI) and safe pet dietary level (SPDL) were calculated. Thus the natural occurrence of fumonisins, zearalenone and aflatoxins was evaluated in 100 dry dog feed samples provided by pet owners in Paraná State, Brazil. RESULTS Despite the high frequency of fumonisins (68%), zearalenone (95%) and aflatoxins (68%) in feed samples, the mean levels detected were low. ADI for fumonisins and zearalenone was 20.0 and 1.00 µg kg(-1) body weight (BW) day(-1) respectively and SPDL for fumonisins was 2000 µg kg(-1) feed. The probable daily intake values (1.83 µg fumonisins, 0.93 µg zearalenone and 0.02 µg aflatoxins kg(-1) BW day(-1) ) were low. CONCLUSION The exposure degree of dogs could be assumed to be very low. However, the co-occurrence of these three or other mycotoxins, and possible synergic or additive effects, should be taken into account when determining the maximum allowed levels or risk assessment.

Effect of fungicide on Fusarium verticillioides mycelial morphology and fumonisin B1 production

The effect of fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M on the mycelial morphology, sporulation and fumonisin B 1 production by Fusarium verticillioides 103 F was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the fungicide caused inhibition of hyphal growth and defects on hyphae morphology such as cell wall disruption, withered hyphae, and excessive septation. In addition, extracellular material around the hyphae was rarely observed in the presence of fludioxonil + metalaxyl-M. While promoting the reduction of mycelial growth, the fungicide increased sporulation of F. verticillioides compared to the control, and the highest production occurred on the 14 th day in the treatments and on the 10 th day in the control cultures. Fumonisin B 1 production in the culture media containing the fungicide (treatment) was detected from the 7 th day incubation, whereas in cultures without fungicide (control) it was detected on the 10 th day. The highest fumonisin B 1 production occurred on the 14 th day, both for the control and for the treatment. Fludioxonil + metalaxyl - M can interfere in F. verticillioides mycelial morphology and sporulation and increase fumonisin B 1 levels. These data indicate the importance of understanding the effects of fungicide to minimize the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and fumonisins.

Impact of industrial dry-milling on fumonisin redistribution in non-transgenic corn in Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) during industrial dry-milling in two lots from 2014 (n=120) and 2015 (n=120) of non-transgenic corn and their fractions (germ, pericarp, endosperm, cornmeal and grits), collected from one of the major Brazilian milling industries. Fumonisins were concentrated in the germ and pericarp at a rate of 322% and 188% (lot 1) and 311% and 263% (lot 2), respectively. In the endosperm, cornmeal and grits fumonisin levels decreased from 60 to 95%. Fumonisin levels in cornmeal and grits were below the maximum limit tolerated by the European Commission. Therefore, corn industrial dry-milling can contribute to reducing fumonisin levels in corn products intended for human consumption.

Safety and Quality in the Agricultural Product Chain in Brazil

An agriculture-intensive country should be aware of natural toxins, including both mycotoxins and cyanotoxins, which are closely associated with the quality of raw materials, for food safety and industry. The major production chains – corn, wheat, beef, and broiler chicken – are the top components of agribusiness, and they should be tracked by reliable and practical tools. The corn chain is of particular concern in food production; intensive controls, multi-year mycotoxin monitoring, and improved harmless/sustainable management methods for uninterrupted farming in the tropicsubtropics are needed to achieve a long-lasting trend. The rapid control of natural toxins (mycotoxin and cyanotoxin) has focused on immunochemical methods developed with highly specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) matched with chroma‐ tographic methods. In parallel, the promising widespread application of nondestructive analytical methods based on NIR (Near Infrared Reflectance)

Contamination of Dog Feed by Fumonisins

Erika Mitsuo Kiyoko Teixeira, Michele Frehse, Roberta Lemos Freire, Melissa Tiemi Hirozawa, Jaqueline Gozzi Bordini, Mario Augusto Ono, Elisa Yoko Hirooka, Elisabete Yurie Sataque Ono.Contamination of Dog Feed by Fumonisins. In: Anais do 12o Congresso Latinoamericano de Microbiologia e Higiene de Alimentos MICROAL 2014 [= Blucher Food Science Proceedings, num.1, vol.1]. Sao Paulo: Editora Blucher, 2014. DOI 10.5151/foodsci-microal-063 Contamination of Dog Feed by Fumonisins