BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey Q1 2020 Results
Results on the occurrence of mycotoxins in 5241 finished feed and raw commodities samples from 59 countries based on 22397 analyses conducted between January and March 2020.
30.04.2020In Brief
Two-thirds of samples contained two or more mycotoxins
Mycotoxin occurrence varies by geography
LC-MS/MS techniques reveal widespread emerging mycotoxins
Highlights
It is commonly observed that single mycotoxins are rarely found alone. Different mycotoxins tend to co-contaminate feed materials. This is also valid for the data analyzed during the first quarter. A full 67% of all samples (analyzed for at least two mycotoxins) in the first quarter of 2020 contained more than one mycotoxin.
Asia
Most regions in Asia are at extreme risk. China livestock is exposed to a cocktail of Fusarium mycotoxins. In corn (maize), 100% of samples showed occurrence of fumonisins (FUM), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN). South Asia shows extreme risk particularly due to aflatoxin contamination. It appears in 80% of the samples (average of positives 79 ppb).
Latin America
Risk in Central America remains extreme. FUM and DON are again the most frequently found mycotoxins (84% and 75%). Taking a look at corn, FUM is present in 98% of the samples with an average of 2 426 ppb. Be aware of Fusarium mycotoxins in DDGS: FUM, DON and ZEN are present in 100% of samples at a high level.
Corn in South America is highly contaminated with FUM with an abundance of 84% and an average of 2331 ppb. In wheat grains, DON is the main threat with an average contamination of 3122 ppb.
North America
In North America the year starts also with extreme risk. Again, DON shows a high prevalence (82%), followed by FUM and ZEN (52% and 48%). Corn is strongly affected with similar high prevalence and averages of 2345 ppb (FUM), 767 ppb (DON) and 390 ppb (ZEN).
Europe
Corn in Southern Europe shows a high prevalence of FUM with 99%. Also the average is high: 1568 ppb.
In Central Europe risk increased to severe: corn shows 82% abundance of DON and an average of 903 ppb.
Middle East and North Africa
In this region, prevalence of DON increased to 71% comparing it to the same quarter in 2019. It recorded a maximum of 3061 ppb.
Africa
Having a closer look at South Africa, we see that DON is the most prevalent mycotoxin here. Especially corn is high contaminated with DON: 91% (average: 924 ppb).
Spectrum 380® results
Spectrum 380® is the most comprehensive mycotoxin detection method available. BIOMIN analyzed 196 samples in 2020 using this advanced technique. The method shows us occurrence of not only the well-known mycotoxins, but also emerging mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites that are often not considered in regular analysis but could still disrupt animal production.
Analysis results show that 30% of the samples contained between 20-29 metabolites (per sample). Results for emerging mycotoxins show that culmorin was present in 80% of the samples. An average of 1190 ppb was found. Literature suggests that this mycotoxin could increase the toxic effects of DON.