Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determinatıon of ochratoxin A and total aflatoxin levels in corn samples from Turkey by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycotoxin Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Forty-seven samples of corn were collected from various street bazaars and market outlets in different regions of Turkey and total aflatoxin (AF) and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following sample preparation. Levels of AF and OTA in corn samples ranged between 1.75–120.3 μg/kg and 1.08–8.57 μg/kg, respectively. Although 53% of the samples analysed had no detectable levels of AF, 4% of similar samples were found to contain AFs above the acceptable limit of 10 μg/kg in Turkey. For OTA, 4% of the corn samples had levels above the acceptable limit (3 μg/kg) in Turkey, with over 43% samples not found to contain this mycotoxin. Although the levels of mycotoxins analysed in this study were not found to be high and the percentage of samples contaminated above permitted limits were low, the importance of overall daily dietary intake should not be underestimated and control of these fungal metabolites in corn must be explored to minimise the hazards they may cause in humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alp M, Kocabağli N, Kahraman R, Yetim M (1997) Türkiye’de üretilen yemlik mısır örneklerinin mantar ve mikotoksinler yönünden değerlendirilmesi. Pendik Veteriner Mikrobiyoloji Derg 28:163–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Aycicek H, Yarsan E, Sarimehmetoglu B, Cakmak O (2002) Aflatoxin M1 in white cheese butter consumed in Istanbul, Turkey. Vet Hum Toxicol 44:295–296

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baydar T, Engin AB, Girgin G, Aydin S, Sahin G (2005) Aflatoxin and ochratoxin in various types of commonly consumed retail ground samples in Ankara, Turkey. Ann Agric Environ Med 12:193–197

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beardall JM, Miller JD (1994) Disease in humans with mycotoxins as possible causes. In: Miller JD, Trenholm HL (eds) Mycotoxins in grains. Compounds other than aflatoxin. Eagan Press, St. Paul, pp 487–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JW, Klich M (2003) Mycotoxins. Clin Microbiol Rev 16:497–516. doi:10.1128/CMR.16.3.497-516.2003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bryden WL (2007) Mycotoxins in the food chain: human health implications. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 16:95–101

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camlibel L (1995) IGEME research and development Presidency. Agricultural Administration, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Coker BD (1979) Aflatoxin: past, present and future. Trop Sci 21:143–162

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Council for Agricultural Science & Technology (CAST) (2003) Mycotoxins: risks in plant, animal and human systems. Task Force Report, No. 139. Council for CAST, Ames

  • Creppy EE (2002) Update of survey, regulation and toxic effects of mycotoxins in Europe. Toxicol Lett 127:19–28. doi:10.1016/S0378-4274(01)00479-9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton DL, Groopman JD (1994) The toxicology of aflatoxins: human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia S, Heredia N (2006) Mycotoxins in Mexico: epidemiology, management, and control strategies. Mycopathologia 162:255–264. doi:10.1007/s11046-006-0058-1

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giray B, Girgin G, Engin AB, Aydin S, Sahin G (2007) Aflatoxin levels in wheat samples consumed in some regions of Turkey. Food Contr 18:23–29. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2005.08.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gokmen V, Acar J (2000) Long-term survey of patulin in apple juice concentrates produced in Turkey. Food Addit Contam 17:933–936. doi:10.1080/026520300750038117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karagozlu N, Karapinar M (2000) Fungal contamination and the incidence of ochratoxin- A in some cereals and products. Turk J Biol 24:561–572

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuiper-Goodman T, Scott PM (1989) Risk assessment of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A. Biomed Environ Sci 2:179–248

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magan N (2006) Mycotoxin contamination of food in Europe: early detection and prevention strategies. Mycopathologia 162:245–253. doi:10.1007/s11046-006-0057-2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meronuck R, Concibido V (1996) Feedstuffs reference issue: mycotoxins in feed. Miller Publishing, Minnetonka, pp 139–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Nizamlioglu F, Oguz H (2003) Occurrence of aflatoxins in layer feed and corn samples in Konya province, Turkey. Food Addit Contam 20:654–658. doi:10.1080/02652030303842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omurtag GZ, Beyoglu D (2003) Occurrence of deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) in processed cereals and pulses in Turkey. Food Addit Contam 20:405–409. doi:10.1080/0265203031000082512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omurtag GZ, Yazicioglu D (2000) Determination of T-2 toxin in grain and grain products by HPLC and TLC. J Environ Sci Health Part A 35:797–807. doi:10.1080/03601230009373308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfohl-Leszkowicz A, Manderville RA (2007) Ochratoxin A: an overview on toxicity and carcinogenicity in animals and humans. Mol Nutr Food Res 51:61–99. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200600137

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pittet A (1998) Natural occurrence of mycotoxins in foods and feeds: an updated review. Rev Med Vet 149:479–492

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin S (2001) Türkiye’de mısır ekim alanlarının dağılışı ve mısır üretimi G.Ü. Gazi Egitim Fakultesi Derg 21:73–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Scudamore KA, Patel S (2000) Survey for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone and fumonisins in maize imported into the United Kingdom. Food Addit Contam 17:407–416. doi:10.1080/026520300404824

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sevikturk M, Gonulalan Z (2007) The quantities of ochratoxin A of some cereal products consumed in Kayseri. J Health Sci 16:86–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Simsek SE, Bozkurt N (1992) Investigation of aflatoxin in flour and breads which are collected from bakeries. Turk Bull Hyg Exp Biol 49:139–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Turkish Statistical Institute (2008) The summary of agricultural statistics 1988–2007. Turkish Statistical Institute Press, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker R (2002) Risk assessment of ochratoxin: current views of the European Scientific Committee on Food, the JECFA and the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants. Adv Exp Med Biol 504:249–255

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams JH, Phillips TD, Jolly PE, Stiles JK, Jolly CM, Aggarwal D (2004) Human aflatoxicosis in developing countries: a review of toxicology, exposure, potential health consequences, and interventions. Am J Clin Nutr 80:1106–1122

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Turkish Republican Prime Ministry, The State Planning Organization (00K102202) and Hacettepe University Research Foundation (01G025). The authors also thank A. Basak Engin, PhD. for her contribution in the preparation of samples prior to analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06100, Turkey

    Belma Giray, Suna Atasayar & Gonul Sahin

Authors
  1. Belma Giray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Suna Atasayar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gonul Sahin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Belma Giray.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Giray, B., Atasayar, S. & Sahin, G. Determinatıon of ochratoxin A and total aflatoxin levels in corn samples from Turkey by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mycotox Res 25, 113–116 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-009-0016-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-009-0016-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation