Search

The present study aims to evaluate and compare antimycotoxin additives (AMAs) composed of bentonite (AMA 1), clinoptilolite (AMA 2), and beta-glucans extracted from yeast cell wall (AMA 3), with respect to their ability to bind Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using the isothermal models of Freundlich, Langmuir, and BET. The additives were submitted to an in vitro adsorption experiment with AFB1 (0.05–4 mg L−1), using solutions of pH 3 and pH 6, with an inclusion rate of 0.5%, and analyzed by HPLC–MS/MS. At pH 3, for the seven concentrations evaluated, AMA 1 obtained adsorption rates (99.69 to 99.98%) higher (p < 0. 05) than the other AMAs, which were from 82.97 to 88.72% (AMA 2) and from 79.43 to 89.32% (AMA 3). At pH 6, in concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 mg L−1 of AFB1, AMA 1 obtained higher (p < 0.05) adsorption results (97.86 to 99.86%) than AMA 2 (91.98 to 96.12%) and AMA 3 (87.56 to 93.50%). The Freundlich model best fitted the AMA 1 adsorption data. For the other additives, the Langmuir model obtained the best fit, demonstrating qm of 8.6 mg g−1 at pH 3 and 2.3 mg g−1 at pH 6 for AMA 2; and for AMA 3, with qm of 3.4 mg g−1 at pH 3 and 2.3 mg g−1 at pH 6. The isotherm models work as an effective tool to describe the adsorption process whereas the AMA adsorption capacity varies as a function of product composition, pH, and mycotoxin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar os efeitos das aflatoxinas sobre o desempenho e plumagem de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 240 pintos machos, alimentados de 1 a 42 dias de idade com ração ad libitum sem aflatoxinas (grupo controle) e contaminada com 3mg de aflatoxinas/kg de ração (grupo tratado). As aves foram analisadas duas vezes ao dia em relação ao seu desenvolvimento. O consumo de ração e peso dos animais foram avaliados ao final de cada fase de criação (21, 35 e 42 dias). Ao final do experimento, realizaram-se as avaliações patológicas, a pesagem das penas e a avaliação dos seus aminoácidos. As aves do grupo tratado apresentaram sinais caracteristicos de intoxicação por aflatoxinas, como desuniformidade da estatura, redução no consumo de ração e ganho de peso e alterações microscópicas e macroscópicas em órgãos e tecidos. Observou-se que o coração e o fígado das aves intoxicadas apresentaram um incremento significativo no peso médio relativo, a massa de penas foi reduzida significativamente (33,8%) e não houve alterações na concentração e na composição dos aminoácidos, apesar do baixo desempenho dos animais intoxicados.

BACKGROUND Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are coproducts of the biofuel industries that use corn as raw material. This cereal is commonly contaminated by mycotoxins, including fumonisins (FBs), which can pose a serious health threat to humans and animals. Corn DDGS are typically used as a protein‐rich animal feed. As mycotoxins from the original cereal grains become concentrated in DDGS, mycotoxicological monitoring is highly required before their use as ingredient in the industry. RESULTS: This work aimed to develop a methodology for predicting fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in corn DDGS using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technology associated with chemometric methods. One hundred and ninety corn DDGS samples originating from Brazilian ethanol plants and feed mills were included in this assessment. Two datasets were created: one for calibration (132 samples) and another for external validation (58 samples). Partial least squares regression and a cross‐validation approach were applied to build the models. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used as the reference methodology. Calibration results of correlation coefficient and residual prediction deviation for FB1 and FB2 were, respectively, 0.90 and 0.88; and 2.16 and 2.06. CONCLUSION: Values of the external validation dataset were compared and no statistical difference was found between groups, indicating a satisfactory predictive ability and confirming the potential of NIRS to predict fumonisins in corn DDGS. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a causative agent of toxoplasmosis, an important and widespread zoonotic disease. The transmission of this disease in humans includes ingestion of sporulated oocysts present in contaminated water or food. T. gondii oocysts are widely distributed and toxoplasmosis is considered a major food‐ and waterborne pathogen worldwide, making drinking water containing sporulated T. gondii oocysts a major source of contamination for people. In the first half of 2018, an unprecedented outbreak of toxoplasmosis was reported in the city of Santa Maria, southern Brazil. The temporal and spatial distribution of the cases strongly suggested a waterborne infection. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate a possible involvement of treated water as a source of the outbreak. For this, piglets received potentially contaminated water ad libitum for 21 days and the infection was monitored by serology through IFAT and investigation of T. gondii DNA in tissues by PCR amplification of a 529 bp followed by mouse bioassays. All piglets receiving test water ad libitum for 21 days as well as positive controls seroconverted to T. gondii. T. gondii DNA was detected in 62.5% of the piglets that received test water. All mice inoculated with tissues from each positive piglet were PCR‐positive. These results strongly indicated the presence of viable oocysts in the test water administered to the animals during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumonisins (FBs) and zearalenone (ZEN) are mycotoxins which occur naturally in grains and cereals, especially maize, causing negative effects on animals and humans. Along with the need for constant monitoring, there is a growing demand for rapid, non-destructive methods. Among these, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) has made great headway for being an easy-to-use technology. NIR was applied in the present research to quantify the contamination level of total FBs, i.e., fumonisin B1+fumonisin B2 (FB1+FB2), and ZEN in Brazilian maize. From a total of six hundred and seventy-six samples, 236 were analyzed for FBs and 440 for ZEN. Three regression models were defined: one with 18 principal components (PCs) for FB1, one with 10 PCs for FB2, and one with 7 PCs for ZEN. Partial least square regression algorithm with full cross-validation was applied as internal validation. External validation was performed with 200 unknown samples (100 for FBs and 100 for ZEN). Correlation coefficient (R), determination coefficient (R2), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), standard error of prediction (SEP) and residual prediction deviation (RPD) for FBs and ZEN were, respectively: 0.809 and 0.991; 0.899 and 0.984; 659 and 69.4; 682 and 69.8; and 3.33 and 2.71. No significant difference was observed between predicted values using NIR and reference values obtained by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), thus indicating the suitability of NIR to rapidly analyze a large numbers of maize samples for FBs and ZEN contamination. The external validation confirmed a fair potential of the model in predicting FB1+FB2 and ZEN concentration. This is the first study providing scientific knowledge on the determination of FBs and ZEN in Brazilian maize samples using NIR, which is confirmed as a reliable alternative methodology for the analysis of such toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]