Occurrence of aflatoxins and zearalenone in feedstuffs destined to dairy cattle consumption in Northern Parana, Brazil

Abstract

Molds occur in a wide range of foods and feedstuffs, including roughage and grains destined to animal consumption, and may produce mycotoxins under certain conditions. This work intended to survey the presence of mycotoxins aflatoxin and zearalenone in feedstuffs destined to dairy cattle consumption in the region of Northern in the Paraná state, Brazil, using thin layer chromatography. Of the 272 samples analyzed for aflatoxins, 37 (13,6%) were positive with 20 (7,3%) above the limit of 20¼g/Kg determined by ANVISA. Of the 189 samples analyzed for zearalenone, 32 (16,9%) were positive and all were above 200¼g/Kg, which is the recommended limit in the surveyed region. Contamination by aflatoxins occurred more in grains, while zearalenone occurred more in roughages.