Mycotoxins in organic and conventional cereals and cereal products grown and marketed in Croatia.

In this study, the levels of aflatoxin B (AFB), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FUM) in unprocessed cereals (n = 189) and cereal-based products (n = 61) were determined using validated ELISA methods. All samples originated from either conventional or organic production corresponded to the 2015 harvest in Croatia. Based on the mean mycotoxin concentrations, the risk for the consumer to exceed the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for these toxins by the consumption of both types of cereals and cereal-based products was assessed.

Mould and mycotoxin contamination of pig feed in northwest Croatia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the contamination of pig feed with moulds and the occurrence of mycotoxins. A total of 30 feed samples were collected at different animal feed factories in the north-western part of Croatia. Mycological analysis showed that the total number of moulds ranged from 1 × 10(3) to 1 × 10(5) cfu/g with samples contaminated with Aspergillus spp.

Correlation of deoxynivalenol and fumonisin concentration determined in maize by ELISA methods.

Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most common crops in Croatia that is often contaminated with mycotoxins. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method as a screening immunological method has become very popular in the determination of mycotoxins contamination of cereals, as it has many advantages such as a rapid and simple determination of their concentration. In this present study, 40 maize samples collected from animal feed factories were analyzed for the concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin (FUM) using the validated ELISA method of two different kit manufacturers to investigate the correlation of the determined mycotoxins concentration.

The natural occurrence of T-2 toxin and fumonisins in maize samples in Croatia.

Maize (Zea mays) considered to be one of the most frequent crops in Croatia, is often contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contamination of maize with T-2 toxin and fumonisins on 46 samples from different regions of Croatia. The highest concentrations of T-2 toxin and fumonisins were 210 and 25,200 ng/g, with mean values of 110 and 4,509 ng/g, respectively, pointing to maize contamination with these mycotoxins after the period of the year with extremely high rainfall.