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Occurrence of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in Lebanese cultivated wheat

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Abstract

An extensive survey of filamentous fungi isolated from wheat grown and consumed in Lebanon and their capacity to produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was conducted to assess fungi potential for producing these toxins in wheat. From the 468 samples of wheat kernel, collected at preharvest stage from different locations during 2008 and 2009 cultivation seasons, 3,260 fungi strains were isolated with 49.4% belonging to Penicillium spp. and 31.2% belonging to Aspergillus spp. Penicillium spp. was detected on wheat samples with a high amount of P. verrucosum (37.0%). Among the different Aspergillus spp. isolated, A. niger aggregate was predominant and constituted 37.3%. whereas the isolation rate of A. flavus and A. ochraceus was 32.2 and 25.6%, respectively. The ability to produce OTA and AFB1 by isolates belonging to Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). It was found that 57.0% of Penicillium spp. and 80% of A. ochraceus isolates tested produced OTA, respectively, at maximum concentrations of 53 and 65 μg/g CYA. As for the aflatoxinogenic ability, 45.3% of A. flavus produced AFB1, with maximum concentration of 40 μg/g CYA. A total of 156 wheat samples were analyzed for the levels of OTA and AFB1 by HPLC-FLD. The results showed that 23.7% were contaminated with OTA, at a concentration higher than 3 μg/kg and 35.2% of these samples were contaminated with AFB1 at concentration higher than 2 μg/kg. The risks originating from toxin levels in wheat produced in Lebanon should be monitored to prevent their harmful effects on public health.

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Acknowledgments

The study was funded by the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and the Center of Analysis and Research of the Science Faculty, Saint Joseph University (FS-USJ). We would like to thank Dr. George W. Barbour for his involvement in editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre d’Analyses et de Recherches, Faculté des Sciences (FS – USJ), Beyrouth, Liban

    Karine Joubrane, André EL Khoury, Roger Lteif, Toufic Rizk, Mireille Kallassy & Richard Maroun

  2. Laboratoire Centrale, Département de Biotechnologie, Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Libanais (IRAL), Tal amara, Liban

    Karine Joubrane

  3. Département de Contrôle alimentaire, Laboratoire des analyses chimiques des mycotoxines, Station de Fanar, Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Libanais (IRAL), Beyrouth, Liban

    Christo Hilan

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  1. Karine Joubrane
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  2. André EL Khoury
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  3. Roger Lteif
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  4. Toufic Rizk
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  5. Mireille Kallassy
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  6. Christo Hilan
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  7. Richard Maroun
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Correspondence to André EL Khoury.

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Joubrane, K., EL Khoury, A., Lteif, R. et al. Occurrence of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in Lebanese cultivated wheat. Mycotoxin Res 27, 249–257 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0101-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-011-0101-z

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