Zearalenon in Lebensmitteln

The research project “Methods of Analysis and occurrence of important Fusarium toxins (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) as well as the intake of these toxins by the German consumer” supported by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) is processed by the institutions mentioned above. This work represents a comprehensive summary of the contamination of food by zearalenone (ZEA).     

Deoxynivalenol (DON) in hartweizen

Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Durum Wheat High contamination levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) were found during an investigation of noodles in 2001 and initiated an additional survey of Durum wheat used as raw material for these products. Analyses of 53 samples of Durum wheat by HPLC revealed 89% positives and a median concentration of 790 ug/kg, which clearly exceeded the EU action level of 500 μg/kg. Based on these findings, producers increased quality controls on Durum wheat. In 2002 a total of 60 samples were analysed and 85% positives found. The median, however, lay at 215 μg/kg, below a probable maximum level of 500 μg/kg and demonstrated the positive efforts of food producers to decrease the contamination levels of DON in pasta products.     

Bestimmung von Deoxynivalenol und Deepoxy-Deoxynivalenol in Milch

A HPLC method with UV/diode array detection for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) and deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) in milk was developed. Milk was incubated with β-glucuronidase and then defatted. After purification by immunoaffinity chromatography, DON and DOM-1 were separated on a C18 reversed phase column with acetonitril/water (10/90) as the mobile phase and detected at 218 nm. Limits of quantification were 1 μg/l for both toxins, with mean recoveries (1–10 μg/l) of 97% (DON) and 84% (DOM-1), respectively. Milk samples (pasteurized, UHT; n=32) from German retail shops were analysed by this method. Neither DON/DOM-1 nor their glucuronides were found in any sample. These results are consistent with published studies indicating that in lactating cows, DON and DOM-1 are mostly eliminated through urine, and that the carry-over into milk is negligible.     

Deoxynivalenol in lebensmitteln: Ergebnisse einer Pilotstudie

Cereal food products (n=333) were purchased in retail stores from Germany in 2001 and analysed for deoxynivalenol (DON), either by enzyme immunoassay or by HPLC after immunoaffinity chromatographic cleanup. Detection limits were dependent of the sample matrix and varied from 20–100 μg/kg. The overall DON incidence was 53%, with mean and median levels for positives of 251 μg/kg and 142 μg/kg, respectively. The contamination with DON (mean/median value, μg/kg) as found for bread (90/87), wheat flour (161/124), and noodles (472/297) indicate that the levels of DON in cereal foods were significant in view of the tolerable daily intake (1 μg/kg body weight) as established by the European Union scientific committee on food.     

Bestimmung von Deoxynivalenol in Brot und Bier

Analytical procedures for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in bread and beer, using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and HPLC methods, were developed. For determination of DON by EIA, aqueous raw extracts of bread or degassed beer were extracted by liquid-liquid partitioning with ethyl acetate, the organic solvent evaporated, and the residue redissolved in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for analysis. For determination by HPLC (UV detection at 218 nm), DON in bread extracts or beer was purified on immunoaffinity chromatographic columns. In bread, detection limits for DON of 15 µg/kg (EIA) and 7 µg/kg (HPLC) were achieved, with mean recoveries of 81%. In beer, the detection limit for DON was 2 µg/l both in EIA and HPLC, with recoveries of 91–93%. Both methods showed good agreement of the results for naturally contaminated sample materials, with r²=0.993 for bread and r²=0.823 for beer, respectively.     

Deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in wheat and by-products in Argentina

The deoxynivalenol and nivalenol contamination in wheat and by-products obtained through milling was analized by Trucksess method slightly modified in the proportion of acetonitrile—water (3:1). Only one sample of wheat showed deoxynivalenol contamination, 1,200μg/kg. No samples obtained in different stages of the milling were contaminated with deoxynivalenol or nivalenol. In the commercial wheat flours the levels found ranged between 400 and 800μg/kg, as follows: 400μ/kg, 5 samples; 800jug/kg, 1 sample.     

Deoxynivalenol in Mehlproben des Jahres 1999 aus dem Einzelhandel

To study the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in retail cereal products, wheat and rye samples were purchased in 1999 from supermarkets and “organic food” shops in Munich, Germany. DON was analysed by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), 78 of these samples were additionally analysed by HPLC. The following contamination rates (%) and mean DON levels were found: wheat flour type 405 (n=42): 71%, 200 µg/kg; flour type 550 (n=9): 33%, 410 µg/kg; flour type 1050 (n=11): 91%, 370 µg/kg; bread-baking wheat premixes (n=14): 79%, 210 µg/kg; whole grain flour (n=20): 65%, 300 µg/kg; whole grain wheat (n=8): 75%, 280 µg/kg, wheat bran (n=20): 85%, 830 µg/kg; rye flour and grits (n=7): 29%, 120 µg/kg. HPLC confirmed the results obtained by EIA. Further analysis of 16 wheat flour (405) samples in May 2000 showed a similar frequency (69%) and mean DON level (270 µg/kg) as for samples from 1999. It is concluded that with DON levels in wheat for human consumption ranging from 200–400 µg/kg, the intake of DON has to be taken seriously in the light of the temporary tolerable daily intake of 1 µg DON per kg body weight as proposed within the European Union.     

Deoxynivalenol contents in foodstuffs of organical and conventional production

Samples of wheat flour, bread, noodles, rice, corn and corn based foods as well as oats and oats based foods of conventional and organical production were analysed for trichothecene toxins. In wheat flour, bread and noodels the median deoxynivalenol (DON) contents were lower in ecological than in conventional products with significant differences for what flour and bread. To estimate toxin uptake of the consumer a corrected mean of DON concentration was calculated, which was lower in wheat flour and bread for ecological than for conventional products. In noodles the corrected mean of organical products was higher than that of conventional ones.     

Deoxynivalenol (DON) in raw and cooked Pasta

29 pasta samples were purchased from retail shops in Berlin in April and May 2001 and were analysed for their content of Deoxynivalenol (DON). Since it is much more important for the consumer to know the level of contamination with this mycotoxin in the ready to eat pasta we determined DON additionally in the cooked pasta and cooking water. 90% of the raw samples contained less than 0.5mg DON/kg, but three out of 29 samples up to 0.84mg/kg. The amount of DON decreased during cooking, which resulted in 60–80% lower DON levels in the ready to eat products. DON was analysed by HPLC-DAD, confirmatory analyses were carried out by GC-MS after derivatization of the analyte.     

抗脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇单克隆抗体的制备

[目的]小麦赤霉病菌产生的毒素不仅在病害发展过程中具有加重赤霉病的作用,而且污染谷物导致严重的食用安全性问题.由于赤霉病的普遍发生,有必要建立快速、灵敏、有效的毒素检测方法,本试验旨在制备可用于检测被脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇污染的粮谷类特异性单克隆抗体.[方法]本实验首先将脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(DON)的衍生物3-半琥珀酰-脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(3-HS-DON-OVA)与卵清蛋白(OVA)采用碳化二亚胺法进行偶联得到人工抗原,以此人工抗原免疫BALB/C小鼠,取该鼠脾细胞与SP2/O鼠骨髓瘤细胞融合,经筛选和克隆,得到了1株能稳定分泌DON抗体的单克隆细胞株(382),并制备单克隆抗体腹水.[结果]经检测382的抗体类型及亚类均为IgG1,其轻链为κ链.腹水通过间接酶联免疫吸附测定效价在1×10-7以上.该单克隆抗体与脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇特异性结合反应的50%抑制质量浓度为29 μg/L,除与3-acetyldeoxynivalenol(3-Ac-DON)的交叉反应率为78.38%,与其他脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇结构类似物无交叉反应.[结论]本实验所制备的单克隆抗体有较高的灵敏度和特异性,具有较好的应用价值.     

Deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol and Fusarium species in winter triticale

Fusarium species infecting heads of Triticale and mycotoxins presence in infected kernels and chaff were studied during two seasons. The most important species observed on infected heads were in 1986F. avenaceum (39%),F. nivale (21%),F. culmorum (20%),F. graminearum (14%), and others (6%). In 1987 after long and snowy winterF. nivale dominated (64%), followed byF. avenaceum (24%),F. culmorum (6%), andF. graminearum (5%). The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyl DON were present in all 11 subsamples of kernels from heads infected byF. culmorum and/orF. Graminearum (1.6–16.4 mg and 0.7–2.4mg/kg, respectively). Chaff from the same subsamples contained 9.9–33.2mg/kg of DON and 5.2–16.0mg/kg of 3-AcDON. Kernels with visibleFusarium-damage contained 2.4–31.2 mg/kg of DON and 1.2–6.0 mg/kg of 3-AcDON. Remaining part of kernels without symptoms of visibleFusarium-damage contained only DON in an amount of 0.9–5.9 mg/kg.     

Therapeutic Effects of Glutamic Acid in Piglets Challenged with Deoxynivalenol

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most common food contaminants, primarily targets the gastrointestinal tract to affect animal and human health. This study was conducted to examine the protective function of glutamic acid on intestinal injury and oxidative stress caused by DON in piglets. Twenty-eight piglets were assigned randomly into 4 dietary treatments (7 pigs/treatment): 1) uncontaminated control diet (NC), 2) NC+DON at 4 mg/kg (DON), 3) NC+2% glutamic acid (GLU), and 4) NC+2% glutamic acid + DON at 4 mg/kg (DG). At day 15, 30 and 37, blood samples were collected to determine serum concentrations of CAT (catalase), T-AOC (total antioxidant capacity), H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), NO (nitric oxide), MDA (maleic dialdehyde), DAO (diamine oxidase) and D-lactate. Intestinal morphology, and the activation of Akt/mTOR/4EBP1 signal pathway, as well as the concentrations of H₂O₂, MDA, and DAO in kidney, liver and small intestine, were analyzed at day 37. Results showed that DON significantly (P<0.05) induced oxidative stress in piglets, while this stress was remarkably reduced with glutamic acid supplementation according to the change of oxidative parameters in blood and tissues. Meanwhile, DON caused obvious intestinal injury from microscopic observations and permeability indicators, which was alleviated by glutamic acid supplementation. Moreover, the inhibition of DON on Akt/mTOR/4EBP1 signal pathway was reduced by glutamic acid supplementation. Collectively, these data suggest that glutamic acid may be a useful nutritional regulator for DON-induced damage manifested as oxidative stress, intestinal injury and signaling inhibition.     

Deoxynivalenol and contaminant mycoflora in freshly harvested Argentinian wheat in 1993

A mycological survey was carried out on wheat heads from the main production area of Argentina. The isolation frequency and relative density of species from genus Fusarium and dematiaceous fungi were calculated. F graminearum was the predominant Fusarium species; similar to that observed in the USA and Canada. An analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) natural contamination also was performed on a limited number (44) of samples. DON contamination levels in positive samples ranged from 0.2 to 30 ppm. A stepwise regression procedure showed that, among the species analysed, F. graminearum relative density was related to the DON contamination level and that other prevalent fungi did not influence or modify that relationship.     

Deoxynivalenol and Acetyldeoxynivalenol Accumulation in Field Maize Inoculated with Fusarium graminearum

Seven selected maize hybrids (Smolimag, Ruten, KLG 2210, Zenit, Betulisa, RAH BE 86101 and RAH BE 90102) were toothpick inoculated in the ear (at ∼ 10 days after midsilk) with a single isolate of Fusarium graminearum in order to determine their reaction to infection and susceptibility to mycotoxin accumulation in the tissues. Deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON) were detected in differing amounts in kernels, husks, stalks (nodes and internodes) and roots. DON was recovered from stems, husks and damaged kernels at levels of 864, 278 and 93mg/kg, respectively, while 15-AcDON was recovered at 235, 55 and 11mg/kg and 3-AcDON was recovered at 3, 2 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. Maize hybrids Smolimag and Ruten were most resistant to infection and contained the lowest amounts of mycotoxins in the tissues while Zenit, RAH BE 90102, RAH BE 86101 and Betulisa were most susceptible to infection and accumulated higher amounts of mycotoxins.     

Effect of Ozone Treatment on Deoxynivalenol and Wheat Quality

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium fungi, which is found in a wide range of agricultural products, especially in wheat, barley, oat and corn. In this study, the distribution of DON in the wheat kernel and the effect of exposure time to ozone on DON detoxification were investigated. A high concentration of toxin was found in the outer part of the kernel, and DON was injected from the outside to the inside. The degradation rates of DON were 26.40%, 39.16%, and 53.48% after the samples were exposed to 75 mg/L ozone for 30, 60, and 90 min, respectively. The effect of ozonation on wheat flour quality and nutrition was also evaluated. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in protein content, fatty acid value, amino acid content, starch content, carbonyl and carboxyl content, and swelling power of ozone-treated samples. Moreover, the ozone-treated samples exhibited higher tenacity and whiteness, as well as lower extensibility and yellowness. This finding indicated that ozone treatment can simultaneously reduce DON levels and improve flour quality.     

Resistance to Fusarium head Blight and Deoxynivalenol Accumulation in Chinese Barley

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is a devastating barley disease world-wide, causing significant yield losses and contaminating cereal products with mycotoxins. Barley grain contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) is associated with gushing and may be rejected by the malting and brewing industry. Genetically inherited resistance is the most effective option for the control of the disease. A total of 266 barley cultivars and breeding lines originating from China were evaluated for FHB resistance and concentration of DON in grain. Plants were inoculated with isolates of F. graminearum under field conditions by injecting conidia into a single spikelet of each spike. FHB symptoms were evaluated by visual inspection, and DON content was analysed by HPLC. Significant differences in FHB ratings and DON levels were observed among cultivars. Visual symptoms of FHB varied from 4.88 to 71.75% of infected spikelets 21 days after inoculation and from 7.86 to 113.33 area under the disease progress curve units (AUDPC). Twenty-seven lines were more resistant to FHB than the control resistant cultivar Zhedar 2 and with fewer than 12% infected spikelets. Twenty-one of the above lines originated from the area in the mid to low valley of Yangtze River, where FHB epidemics are frequent. DON levels ranged from 0.05 to 24.39 mg/kg among the tested barley lines. Correlation coefficients were significant between FHB symptom ratings and DON levels. However, there was no significant correlation between symptom rating and plant height and no significant correlation between symptom rating and heading date.     

快速同时检测玉米赤霉烯酮和脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇的研究

目的：利用稀土离子作为示踪剂,建立DON/ZEN双标记间接竞争时间分辨荧光免疫分析方法同时检测DON、ZEN。 方法：以DON BSA、ZEN-BSA共包被于固相微孔板,与DON/ZEN标准或样品中的DON、ZEN竞争结合抗DON多抗、抗ZEN单抗,然后分别用稀土离子Eu3+-羊抗兔IgG及Sm3+ 羊抗鼠IgG进行示踪检测,并对建立DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA进行方法学的考核。结果：DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA检测灵敏度,DON为0.2 ng/ml、ZEN为0.7 ng/ml,检测范围为：DON 0.2~100 ng/ml,ZEN 0.7~50 ng/ml,批内、批间变异率均小于10%。不同样品添加回收实验表明玉米、小麦样品中DON平均回收率分别为102.8%、98.8%,ZEN平均回收率分别为94.2%、95.7%。DON/ZEN-双标TRFIA检测时,DON与ZEN不相互干扰,该方法特异性好。玉米样品检测结果表明,DON/ZEN双标记TRFIA与单标记DON -TRFIA、ZEN-TRFIA试剂盒结果高度相关,具有较好的一致性,两者检测DON的结果相关系数为0.9760,检测ZEN结果的相关系数为0.9695,结论：DON/ZEN-双标记TRFIA灵敏度高,检测范围宽,重复性、稳定性好,一次检测可同时得到DON、ZEN两个结果,是一种简便、快速、经济、稳定、可进行大批量样品筛查的检测方法。