Ergot and ergot alkaloids in cereal grains intended for animal feeding collected in Slovenia : occurrence, pattern and correlations

Babič, Janja (author), Tavčar-Kalcher, Gabrijela (author), Celar, Franci Aco (author), Kos, Katarina (author), Červek, Matjaž (author), Jakovac-Strajn, Breda (author)

This four-year study reports the occurrence of ergot alkaloids (EAs) in cereals intended for animal feeding collected in Slovenia. A total of 517 samples of cereals were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the presence of EAs. The sample set included wheat, rye, triticale, oat, spelt and barley. The study revealed that 17% of the analysed cereal samples were contaminated with at least one ergot alkaloid. EAs have two epimeric forms: -ine and -inine. The incidence rates of the -ine and -inine forms in the analysed samples were 16% and 15%, respectively. The highest contamination rates were observed in rye (54%), oat (50%) and spelt (30%), where the highest mean concentrations of total EAs were also determined (502 µg/kg, 594 µg/kg and 715 µg/kg, respectively). However, the highest concentrations of total EAs were found in wheat and rye (4217 µg/kg and 4114 µg/kg, respectively). The predominant EAs were ergometrine, ergosine and ergocristinine. The occurrence of six or more ergot alkaloids was observed in 49% of the positive samples. A weak correlation (p = 0.284) in the positive samples was found between the mass of sclerotia and the total concentrations of EAs using the Spearman correlation coefficient.

• Language: English
• Keywords: animal feed, analysis, toxicity, ergot alkaloid occurrence, cereals, LC-MS/MS, correlation, survey, sclerotia, alkaloids, edible grain, questionnaires
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty; BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 11, art. 730
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-122358
• UDC: 636.082:615.9:543:547
• ISSN on article: 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110730
• COBISS.SI-ID: 40459011
• Publication date in RUL: 03.12.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Toxins
• Shortened title: Toxins
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2072-6651
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517594649

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 21.11.2020