Fungal species and mycotoxins in mouldy spots of grass and maize silages in Austria

• DOI: 10.1007/s12550-022-00453-3
• Publication Date: 2022-03-28T22:03:00Z
• Authors: Felipe Penagos-Ta...; Ratchaneewan Khia...; Marlene Schmidt; Cátia Pacífico; Johannes Faas; Timothy Jenkins; Veronika Nagl; Michael Sulyok; Roman Labuda; Qendrim Zebeli
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Silage; Alternaria; Food Contamination; Pilot Projects; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Mycotoxins; 15. Life on land; Poaceae; Zea mays; 3. Good health; 0404 agricultural biotechnology; Fusarium; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Austria; Animals; Original Article; Cattle

AbstractFungi and mycotoxins in silage can have detrimental consequences for both cattle and human health. This pilot study identified, via the routinary direct plating method, the dominant cultivable fungi in mouldy grass silages (GS) (n = 19) and maize silages (MS) (n = 28) from Austria. The profiles of regulated, modified, and emerging mycotoxins together with other fungal metabolites were analysed via LC-(ESI)MS/MS.Penicillium roqueforti,Saccharomycesspp.,Geotrichum candidum,Aspergillus fumigatusandMonascus ruberwere the most frequent fungal organisms identified. Other species includingMucor circinelloides, Fusariumspp. andPaecilomyces niveuswere detected at lower frequencies. The presence of complex mixtures of toxic and potentially toxic compounds was evidenced by high levels and occurrences (≥ 50%) ofPenicillium-produced compounds such as mycophenolic acid (MPA), roquefortines (ROCs), andrastins (ANDs) and marcfortine A. Mouldy silages contained toxins commonly produced by genusFusarium(e.g. zearalenone (ZEN) and trichothecenes),Alternaria (like tenuazonic acid (TeA) and alternariol (AHO)) andAspergillus(such as sterigmatocystin (STC)). Compared to those in GS, mouldy spots in MS presented significantly higher fungal counts and more diverse toxin profiles, in addition to superior levels ofFusariumspp.,Penicilliumspp. and total fungal metabolites. Generally, no correlation between mould counts and corresponding metabolites was detected, except for the counts ofP. roqueforti, which were positively correlated withPenicilliumspp. metabolites in mouldy MS. This study represents a first assessment of the fungal diversity in mouldy silage in Austria and highlights its potential role as a substantial contributor to contamination with complex mycotoxin mixtures in cattle diets.