Mycological survey and ochratoxin A natural contamination of swine feedstuffs in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Mycotoxin contamination of animal feeds represents a hazard to human and animal health due to potential transmission to meat and milk. Barley by-products are alternative feeding supplies for animal production. The aims of this assay were to study the mycobiota of feedstuffs and finished swine feed, to determine the ability of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates to produce ochratoxin A (OTA) and to evaluate OTA occurrence in these substrates. Corn, brewers' grains and finished swine feed samples were collected from different factories. Fungal counts were higher than 2.8 × 10⁴ CFU g⁻¹. Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium genera were isolated at high levels. A 23.7% of the isolates produced 9-116 μg kg⁻¹ of OTA in vitro. Corn samples (44%) were contaminated with 42-224 μg kg⁻¹ of OTA. Finished feed (31%) and brewers' grains samples (13%) were contaminated with 36-120 μg kg⁻¹ and 28-139 μg kg⁻¹ of OTA, respectively. This is the first scientific report on contamination by OTA-producer molds and OTA in swine feedstuffs from Brazil. The presence of OTA in raw materials and finished feed requires periodic monitoring to prevent mycotoxicoses in animal production, reduce economic losses and minimize hazards to human health.