Natural co-occurrence of fungi and mycotoxins in poultry feeds from Entre Rios, Argentina

A total of 120 pelleted poultry feed samples from Entre Rios Province, Argentina, were evaluated. The aims were to investigate (1) the presence of relevant toxigenic fungi, as well as to determine the ability to produce aflatoxins (AFs) by Aspergillus section Flavi isolated strains; and (2) the natural co-occurrence of AFs, fumonisins (FBs), gliotoxin, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), HT-2 and T-2 toxin by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Total fungal counts were below the established value (1x10(4) CFU g(-1)). Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus were the only aflatoxigenic species isolated. Co-occurrence of fumonisin B-1 (FB1), HT-2 and T-2 toxin was detected in 100% of the feeds, with mean levels from 4502 to 5813; 6.7 to 21.6 and 19.6 to 30.3 mu gkg(-1), respectively. A large number of starter samples were co-contaminated with aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)), FB1, HT-2 and T-2 toxins. Gliotoxin and DAS were not found in this survey.