Co-occurrence and statistical correlations between mycotoxins in feedstuffs collected in the Asia–Oceania in 2010

In this study, a total of 1468 feed samples collected in the Asian-Oceania region during the year 2010 were analysed for the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, fumonisin B1 and B2, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol. The samples tested were diverse, ranging from cereals such as corn, wheat and rice to processing by-products, namely soybean meal, corn gluten meal, dried distillers grains with solubles and other fodder, including straw, silage and finished feed. The samples were analysed by using high liquid chromatography with UV detector, postcolumn fluorescence derivatization and mass spectrometer after prior clean-up. The positive correlation between the occurrence of aflatoxins B1 and B2 and fumonisins B1 and B2 was very high, as was to be expected. Both correlation between the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenone and the storage mycotoxins ochratoxin A and aflatoxins proved to be low. The correlations between individual mycotoxins depended strongly on the commodity itself. These data indicate that the contamination of feedstuffs with only one mycotoxin is rare and that mycotoxins occur more frequently together, representing a risk for domestic livestock.