Levels of fumonisin B1 in corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxins

Aflatoxins and fumonisin B₁ are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme, respectively. These fungi are common natural contaminants of corn, and both aflatoxins and fumonisin B₁ have been implicated as aetiological agents in animal and human diseases. To determine whether these mycotoxins co-exist on corn under natural conditions, 28 samples from the 1991 Georgia (USA) corn crop were assayed for (total) aflatoxin and fumonisin B₁. 27 samples were positive for aflatoxin, 24 samples were positive for fumonisin B₁, and 23 samples had detectable levels of both. In the positive samples, the mean aflatoxin concentration was 73 ppb (SD = 86), and the average fumonisin B₁ concentration was 0.87 ppm (SD = 0.65). A correlation between aflatoxin and fumonisin B₁ concentrations was not evident. None the less, these results demonstrate that exposure to both mycotoxins can occur simultaneously by consumption of co-contaminated corn.