ORIGINAL PAPER

Occurrence of Fusarium Mycotoxin Fumonisin B1 and B2

in Animal Feeds in Korea

Dong-Geun Seo & Chanvorleak Phat & Dong-Ho Kim &

Chan Lee

Received: 31 December 2012 /Revised: 4 June 2013 /Accepted: 6 June 2013 /Published online: 27 June 2013# Society for Mycotoxin Research and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Abstract The objective of this study was to monitor theoccurrence and levels of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisinB2 (FB2) in animal feeds distributed in South Korea in 2011.The contamination levels of FB1 and FB2 were investigated in150 samples of compound feeds and in 40 samples of feedingredients. The contamination rate of feed ingredients withFB1 and FB2 was 50 and 40 %, respectively. FB2 was onlyfound in samples contaminated with FB1. Of the compoundfeeds, 85 % were contaminated by FB1 and 47 % were con-taminated by FB2. The highest contamination rate of FBs wasobserved in compound feeds for cattle (FB1: 100 %; FB2:80 %), followed by poultry feed (FB1: 78 %; FB2: 40 %) andswine feed (FB1: 76%; FB2: 22 %). The highest contaminationlevel (14,600 ng/g) for FB1 were found in poultry broiler feed(early feeding period) samples, which had 82 % contaminationrate (9/11), and the highest level of FB2 (2,280 ng/g) was foundin feed for fatting calves,which had a contamination rate of100 %.

Keywords Fusarium . Fumonisins . Fumonisin B1.

Fumonisin B2. Compound feeds . Feed ingredients

Introduction

Fusarium species can produce a wide range of mycotoxins witha large variety of structures and chemistries (Flannigan 1991),which are responsible for toxic effects in animals, and in somecases they have also been suspected of toxicity for humans

(Bottalico et al. 1989; D'Mello et al. 1999; Nair 1998).The most hazardous Fusarium mycotoxins from the view-points of animal health and productivity are FBs, trichothe-cenes, ZEA, and moniliformin (Bauer et al. 1989; D'Melloand Macdonald 1997).

FBs, diesters of propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid (tricarballylicacid) and various 2-amino-12,16-dimethylpolyhydroxyei-cosanes, are natural contaminants in various maize and maize-based feeds and foods worldwide (Placinta et al. 1999). So far,various analogues have been isolated. At present, the mostimportant FBs seem to be FB1, FB2, and FB3, in which thehydroxyl groups on C14 and C15 are esterified with a terminalcarboxyl moiety of the tricarballylic acid (Shephard 1998). TheFBs are also structurally similar with the host-specific AAL-toxins that are produced by Alternaria alternata, the cause ofAlternaria stem canker of tomato (Placinta et al. 1999). At least12 FB analogues have so far been characterized, with the mostimportant being the B group.

FBs such as FB1, FB2, and FB3 are produced particularlyby F. verticillioides and the related F. proliferatum, althoughother fungal species such as F. napiforme, F. dlamini, andF. nygamai are also able to produce FBs (US-NTP UnitedStates National Toxicology Program Technical Report 1999;WHO-IPCS World Health Organization - InternationalProgramme on Chemical Safety 2000). In most cases, thepredominant FB in naturally contaminated samples is FB1,which is the most toxic and is responsible for 70 % of foodcontamination in the world (Ritieni et al. 1997). This mycotox-in is associated with leukoencephalomalacia (LEM) in horses,pulmonary oedema in swine, and hepatocarcinoma in rats, inaddition to being related to an inhibition of sphingolipid syn-thesis and an increased risk of oesophageal cancer in humans(Martins et al. 2012). Various studies have been done on theoccurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins in food and feeds aroundthe world (Chulze et al. 1996; Wang et al. 1995; Martins et al.2012; Sebastià et al. 2012; Stankovic et al. 2012; Waskiewiczet al. 2012; Pleadin et al. 2013). Martins et al. (2012) reported

D.<G. Seo : C. Phat : C. Lee (*)Department of Food Science and Technology, Chung-AngUniversity, Anseong-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 456-756, Republic of Koreae-mail: chanlee@cau.ac.kr

D.<H. KimNatural Agricultural Products Quality Management Service,Seoul 150-043, Republic of Korea

Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167DOI 10.1007/s12550-013-0172-0

that the proportion of samples of corn-based products in Brazilcontaminated with fumonisins was high, with the highest pro-portion of contamination observed in cornmeal (96.6 %). Thelevels of FBs in positive samples ranged from 126 to 4,350μg/kg(FB1 + FB2). FB1 was also detected in 82.1 % of wheat grainsamples in the range 750–5,400 μg/kg (mean, 2,080 μg/kg) in2005 and in 92.0 % of samples ranging from 750 to 4,900 μg/kg(mean 919 μg/kg) in 2007 (Stankovic et al. 2012).

Recently, the occurrence of mycotoxins in feeds has becomea major concern in animal feed science because they can inducesignificant toxic effects in animals and eventually humans (Araiand Hibino 1983; Busby et al. 1984; Placinta et al. 1999; Wanget al. 2013). The high concentrations of FB1 and FB2, mainlyfound in feeds containing maize are more concerning, particu-larly when maize is imported from warm regions. Furthermore,the contaminations by FBs and other mycotoxins are expectedto increase with global warming, including in South Korea (Leeet al. 2010). The commission regulation (EC) of the Europeancommunity (EUCommission Regulation (2007) has already setthe maximum levels (Mls) of FBs in various animal feeds;however, there has so far been no guidance value forfumonisins in animal feeds in Korea. From this point of view,this research aimed to determine the occurrence and level ofFB1 and FB2 in animal feeds distributed in SouthKorea in orderto understand the contamination rate and level of FBs in feeds.

Materials and methods

Samples

Feed ingredients and compound feeds samples collected fromvarious regions in South Korea were obtained from the NationalAgriculture Products Quality Management Service-ExperimentResearch Institute in 2011. Samples were collected and preparedaccording to the sampling guide in the code for the control offeeds (FAO/WHO 2004). One kilogram of sample was takenrandomly from every ton of feed ingredients or compound feeds.Four different collected samples were mixed together and divi-ded into four groups. Five hundred grams of the divided samplewere analyzed for FB1 and FB2 contamination.

The amounts of FB1 and FB2 were determined in 150samples of compound feeds including cattle feed, swine feed,and poultry feed, and in 40 samples of feed ingredients such asvegetable proteins, bran, and others. Samples were stored at4 °C before FB1 and FB2 analysis was performed.

Extraction and purification of FB1 and FB2

The analysis of FB1 and FB2 in feed ingredients and compoundfeeds and its validation has been described by the AOACofficial method for the determination of fumonisins B1 andB2 in corn and corn flakes (AOAC Official Method 2001).

Feed samples were milled (particle size, 600μm), and a testportion of 20 g was extracted with 100ml of extraction solvent(methanol/acetonitrile/water at 25/25/50, v/v/v) in a polytronhomogenizer (Kinematica, Littau/Lucerne, Switzerland)for 2 min (10,000 rpm). The extract was filtered throughWhatman No. 4 filter paper. Ten milliliters of the filteredextract were diluted with 40 ml of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS; Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). Ten milliliters ofthe diluted extract were collected for purification through animmunoaffinity column (IAC; Vicam, Fumonitest). Ten mil-liliters of this filtrate were applied to the IAC column thatcontained antibodies specific for FB1 and FB2 for purification.The IAC column was washed with 10 ml of PBS, and thenFB1 and FB2 were eluted from the column with 4 ml of 80 %methanol/water at 1 drop/s. The eluted fraction was evap-orated to dryness under nitrogen steam at 60 °C and stored in avial at 4 °C for derivatization and analysis by high-performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC).

Derivatization of FBs for HPLC analysis

The purified residue was re-dissolved in 200 μl of acetonitrile:water (50/50, v/v). For derivatization, o-phthalaldehyde(OPA) reagent was prepared according to the AOAC officialmethod (AOACOfficialMethod 2001). The derivatized samples(20 μl) were analyzed using HPLC (Agilent Technology 1200series; Agilent, USA) equipped with Agilent Technology 1260Infinity Fluorescence Detector. The isocratic mobile phase wasmethanol/0.1 mol NaH2PO4 (pH 3.3 adjusted with H3PO4),77/23, v/v. The analytical column was a ZORBAX EclipseXDB-C18 column, 4.6×150 mm, 5 μm (Agilent, USA). FBs

were analyzed within 15 min at a constant flow rate of 1 ml/minat 30 °C. Fluorescence detection of FB1 and FB2 was performedusing 335 nm excitation and 440 nm emission wavelength. Thepeak areas of FB1 and FB2 were used for quantification bycomparing with standard curves.

Validation of the method

Sensitivity, linearity, repeatability (RSD%), and recoverywereused as criteria for method validation.

The sensitivity of the analysis method was expressed bythe limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification(LOQ) value for FBs. Stock solutions (1 mg/ml) of FB1 andFB2 were prepared in 50 % acetonitrile/water and storedat −20 °C until use. LOD was calculated at 3 times the signalto noise ratio, whereas LOQ was calculated at 10 times thesignal to noise ratio. Blank feed samples that were fortifiedwith FB1 and FB2 at standard concentrations ranging from 15to 40 ng/g were analyzed in order to determine the on-columninstrumental LOD and LOQ.

The standard samples of FB1 and FB2 at concentra-tions ranging from 0.05 to 10.00 μg/ml were analyzed in order

160 Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167

to establish standard curves. For linearity, a linear equation andcoefficient of regression (R2) of the analytical method weredetermined.

Feed samples with no detectable FB1 and FB2 levels wereselected to be used as blanks. Studies of recovery and repeat-ability were performed by spiking FB1 and FB2 in 3 replicatedblank feed samples at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 ng/gof FB1 and FB2.

LC-MS/MS analysis

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (LTQ Velos, Accela HPLC, Thermo, USA) was applied toconfirm the type of mycotoxins in the positive electrosprayionization (ESI+) mode. AThermo Hypersil Gold C18 column(2.1×100 mm, 1.9 μm) was used under gradient conditions at aflow rate of 0.3 ml/min with the mobile phase consisting of

acetonitrile (containing 0.1% formic acid) andwater (containing1.0 % formic acid).

Statistical analysis

All experiments were done in duplicate and the results (ng/g)were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Results and discussion

Validation of the method

The LOD concentrations for FB1 and FB2 were 20 and25 ng/g, respectively. The LOQ concentrations were 30 ng/gfor FB1 and 35 ng/g for FB2. In previous research, Krska et al.(2007) reported the LOD of FBs in feeds was generallyinbetween the concentration of 0.001–0.05 μg/g sample dryweight which was in accordance with our result. However,LOQ of FBs in feeds was mentioned to be in range of 70–90 μg/kg (Binder et al. 2007), relatively higher than the resultof the present research.

Because no interfering peaks could be detected when ana-lyzing blank samples, we concluded that the method wasspecific. The standard solutions for FB1 and FB2 at variousconcentrations were injected into a C18 column for HPLCanalysis. The area under the peaks at each concentrationexhibited standard curves for FB1 and FB2. The coefficientof correlation in these curves for FB1 and FB2 were 0.9994and 0.9990, respectively. The FB1 and FB2 standards wereeluted with retention times of 3.7 and 8.7 min, respectively.

Table 1 Validation results for fumonisin analysis

Recovery (%) Spiked level

100 ng/g 200 ng/g 400 ng/g

FB1 FB2 FB1 FB2 FB1 FB2

1 99.5 91.8 101.4 91.4 99.8 109.4

2 110.3 70.9 94.5 102.0 101.0 113.2

3 108.6 93.4 93.6 93.3 103.8 107.7

Average 106.1 85.4 96.5 95.5 101.5 110.1

RSDr(%) 5.44 14.7 4.42 5.95 2.03 2.56

Table 2 FB1 in feed ingredients

Samples Number of FB1-contaminatedsamplesa

FB1 concentration (ng/g)

Type Total number Number %b Minimum ± SDc Maximum ± SDc Mean ± SDc

Vegetable Proteins Soybean meal 3 - - - - -

Corn gluten 4 4 100 453±19.5 1,370±66.6 1,050±518

Corn germ meal 5 5 100 326±40.8 816±225 468±206

Others 11 5 45 110±1.66 2,490±443 883±978

Bran Wheat bran 2 - - - - -

Others 9 5 56 106±23.1 4,200±47.5 2,230±1,730

Others By-products of food 2 - - - - -

Fibrous feed 1 1 100 - - 1,340±82.4

Others 3 - - - - -

Total 40 20 50

a Samples with FB1 concentrations ≥ LODbContamination rate (%)c Standard deviation of replicated analysis of individual sample

Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167 161

The recoveries of FBs in fortified feed samples are summa-rized in Table 1. The average recovery for FB1 ranged from96.5 to 106.1 %, and that for FB2 ranged from 85.4 to 110.1 %.

Moreover, the repeatability (RSDr) obtained for FB1 and FB2

were 2.03–5.44 and 2.56–14.7 %, respectively. Ultimately, therecovery (%) and repeatability (RSDr%) results were

Table 3 FB2 in feed ingredients

Samples Number of FB2-contaminatedsamplesa

FB2 concentration (ng/g)

Type Total number Number %b Minimum ± SDc Maximum ± SDc Mean ± SDc

Vegetable Proteins Soybean meal 3 - - - - -

Corn gluten 4 4 100 144±10.7 628±155 440±83.2

Corn germ meal 5 5 100 63.4±3.3 323±86.8 134±107

Others 11 3 27 28.7±1.26 509±140 241±245

Bran Wheat bran 2 - - - - -

Others 9 3 33 180±88.8 1,120±116 607±474

Others By-products of food 2 - - - - -

Fibrous feed 1 1 100 - - 241±67.5

Others 3 - - - - -

Total 40 16 40

a Samples with FB2 concentrations ≥ LODbContamination rate (%)c Standard deviation of replicated analysis of individual sample

Table 4 FB1 in compound feeds

Samples Number of FB1-contaminatedsamplesa

FB1 concentration (ng/g)

Categories Usage Stage Total number Number %b Minimum ± SDc Maximum ± SDc Mean ± SDc

Cattle feeds Breeding Pregnancy 10 10 100 365±6.23 13,900±179 4,650±4,920

Lactation Lactation 8 8 100 411±149 2,160±471 1,160±616

Fattening Calves 11 11 100 966±264 13,300±2,070 5,870±4,520

Finishing (early) 6 6 100 430±173 2,970±182 1,780±1070

Finishing (middle) 4 4 100 792±89 4,150±442 2,030±1,470

Finishing (late) 11 11 100 988±177 9,500±249 3,650±2,750

Total 50 50 100

Swine feeds Piglets 6 3 50 1,960±237 10,600±1,370 5,040±4,810

Piglets over 5 kg 16 11 69 843±77.1 14,900±72.6 3,190±3,950

Breeding Pregnancy 8 7 88 363±142 12,800±261 3,530±4,320

Lactation 12 9 75 1,190±109 14,300±588 3,720±4,070

Fattening Growing 8 8 100 1,510±174 14,600±120 4,470±5,030

Total 50 38 76

Poultry feeds Layer Chicken 11 9 82 343±124 1,190±395 760±312

Laying 13 13 100 73.2±15.4 12,800±1,460 2,240±3,310

Broiler Broiler (early) 11 9 82 1,420±289 14,600±187 3,850±4,150

Broiler (late) 11 8 73 1,380±169 9,040±286 3,590±3,030

Parent stock Breeder 4 - - - - -

Total 50 39 78

a Samples with FB1 concentrations ≥ LOD were used for analysesb Contamination rate (%)c Standard deviation of replicated analysis of individual sample

162 Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167

comparable with those of the EU Commission Regulation(2006) (spiked level ≤ 500 ng/g, FB1 or FB2 should showRSDr% ≤ 30 and recovery between 60 and 120 %). As aresult, this HPLC method was suitable for the analysis of FB1

and FB2 in the feed samples.

Contamination levels of FB1 and FB2 in feed ingredients

As shown in Table 2, FB1 was detected in 20 samples (50 %)of feed ingredients, and the levels of detection ranged from 106to 4,200 ng/g. The mean detection level was 1,200 ng/g. Branexhibited the highest level of FB1 contamination. Importantly,100 % of corn gluten samples and corn germ meal sampleswere contaminated with FB1, and the levels of detectionranged from 326 to 1,400 ng/g. Therefore, FB1 contaminationrate of compound feed containing corn seem to be an importantfactor.

Overall, 40 % of the analyzed feed ingredient sampleswere found to be contaminated with FB2, with a meanconcentration of 326 ng/g (Table 3). Bran samples exhibitedthe highest levels of FB2 contamination (1,100 ng/g) andvegetable proteins (including soybean meal, corn gluten,

corn germ meal, etc.) contained the lowest amount of FB2

(29 ng/g).Similar results have also been reported by Binder et al.

(2007), who analyzed the presence of FBs (FB1, FB2, andFB3) in feed ingredients in Asia and Oceania. The highest FBcontamination was found in a feed ingredient from China at alevel of 14,700 ng/g, which was similar to that observed inthis study. In addition, the total incidence of contaminationwas 16 % in feed ingredients that were collected in the sameregions. This level of contamination is much lower than theresult of the present study.

The regulation values of FBs are not yet set for feed inKorea. However, the commission regulation (EC) has al-ready set the Mls values for Fusarium mycotoxins such asFBs, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, etc. Even though themean contamination values of our samples were not at dan-gerous levels when compared with Mls of the commissionregulation (2007), some samples showed very high concen-trations of contamination exceeding the guidance values.This could be a threat to both animal and human health ifthere is no appropriate investigation and management ofmycotoxins in feeds.

Table 5 FB2 in compound feeds

Samples Number of FB2-contaminatedsamplesa

FB2 concentration (ng/g)

Categories Usage Stage Total number Number %b Minimum ± SDc Maximum ± SDc Mean ± SDc

Cattle feeds Breeding Pregnancy 10 9 90 36.6±17.2 1,430±363 566±427

Lactation Lactation 8 2 25 138±40.5 335±64.1 236±139

Fattening Calves 11 11 100 96.6±27.8 2,300±607 680±597

Finishing (early) 6 4 67 98.7±30.6 1,600±392 1,040±714

Finishing (middle) 4 4 100 67.3±9.72 246±89.4 162±81.3

Finishing (late) 11 10 91 123±5.24 1,020±102 641±311

Total 50 40 80

Swine feeds Piglets 6 - - - - -

Piglets over 5 kg 16 3 19 55.1±23.1 221±74.6 124±86.4

Breeding Pregnancy 8 2 25 47.3±10.0 324±5390 186±196

Lactation 12 5 42 65.6±4.65 627±289 247±227

Fattrning Growing 8 1 13 - - 75.8±13.2

Total 50 11 22

Poultry feeds Layer Chicken 11 2 18 87.3±35.3 110±18.6 98.7±16.1

Laying 13 7 54 131±54.5 214±75.2 169±33.0

Broiler Broiler (early) 11 6 55 28.7±12.5 185±48.8 115±62.4

Broiler (late) 11 5 45 50.1±2.35 168±62.5 99.9±42.7

Parent stock Breeder 4 - - - - -

Total 50 20 40

a Samples with FB2 concentrations ≥ LOD were used for analysesb Contamination rate (%)c Standard deviation of replicated analysis of individual sample

Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167 163

Contamination levels of FB1 and FB2 in compound feeds

FB1 was detected in 100 % of the cattle feeds with concen-trations ranged between 365 and 13,900 ng/g (Table 4). Thebreeding pregnancy feed exhibited the highest contamina-tion value of FB1 with mean detection level of 3,600 ng/g.

Seventy-six percent of the swine feed from 50 samples werecontaminated with FB1 ranged from 363 to 14,600 ng/g. Themean toxin level was 3,800 ng/g. The samples of swine feedintended for fatting and growing appeared to be most highlycontaminated with FB1 among all types of swine feed.Martinset al. (2011) reported that 17 % of swine feed samples were

a

b

2STD_FB1+2_05ppm #4594 RT: 10.53 AV: 1 NL: 5.14E4F: ITMS + c ESI Full ms2 722.00@cid35.00 [185.00-735.00]

200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700wavelength (nm)

0

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352.40546.29

510.28334.38 370.39668.37564.33

316.37254.20 388.50 492.39437.31215.27 650.34

S_57 #4529-4692 RT: 10.34-10.73 AV: 82 NL: 1.11E6F: ITMS + c ESI Full ms2 722.00@cid35.00 [185.00-735.00]

200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700m/z

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352.42546.31

334.42 510.32370.42668.38

564.36316.45 492.35254.30 388.47215.27 437.38 650.40 723.39615.31

Fig. 1 LC-MS/MS chromatogram for FB1 standard (a) and FB1 detected in feeds (b)

164 Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167

contaminated with FB1 in 2010; this value was much lowerthan that observed in this study.

Seventy-eight percent of the poultry feed samples werecontaminated with FB1, and the level of detection rangedfrom 73 to 14,600 ng/g. The mean detected level of FB1 was2,500 ng/g. Broiler feed (early feeding period) exhibited thehighest contamination value for FB1 in our study. In Portuguesecorn-based feed products, Waskiewicz et al. (2012) reported

that FB1 was found in all analyzed corn flour samples andFB2 was detected in 70.7 % of tested samples in the concen-tration range from 50 to 1,300 ng/g and from 100 to 450 ng/g,respectively.

As shown in Table 5, FB2 was found in 80 % of the cattlefeed samples. The mean detection level was 606 ng/g.Fatting calves feed exhibited the highest contamination levelof FB2 (2,300 ng/g), while breeding feed for gravid cows had

a

bS_57 #9740-10005 RT: 23.17-23.86 AV: 133 NL: 3.03E5F: ITMS + c ESI Full ms2 706.00@cid35.00 [180.00-720.00]

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512.34

530.30336.46670.38

354.43

318.43 494.35548.34

372.47301.42 652.42238.33203.23 439.40 707.40616.38566.20

2STD_FB1+2_05ppm #9888 RT: 23.74 AV: 1 NL: 4.79E4F: ITMS + c ESI Full ms2 706.00@cid35.00 [180.00-720.00]

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0

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354.42

318.48494.35

548.33301.39 372.51 476.32239.29 439.43 652.42203.35

Fig. 2 LC-MS/MS chromatogram for FB2 standard (a) and FB2 detected in feeds (b)

Mycotoxin Res (2013) 29:159–167 165

the lowest levels (37±17 ng/g). In contrast, only 12 % of theswine feed samples were contaminated with FB2, with amean concentration of 187 ng/g. For poultry feeds, 40 % ofthe samples were contaminated with FB2 with a mean detec-tion level of 128 ng/g. Layer laying feed showed the highestcontamination for FB2 (214 ng/g). In accordance with an-other study (Chehri et al. 2010), the frequency of FB2 waslower than that of FB1. However, the level of FB2 contam-ination ranged from 12 to 86 ng/g in the report of Chehriet al. (2010) and was therefore very low compared with theresult of the present study.

Some of compound feed samples showed the maximumlevels of FB1 or FB2 (Table 4, 5) higher than the Mls ofguidance values, which indicated that the contamination rateof FBs in animal feeds commercialized in Korea were rela-tively high and would lead to serious problems concerninganimal health and eventually human health. To improve thissituation, clear regulations should be set on the levels ofFusarium mycotoxins allowed in cereals as well as otherraw materials in animal feeds in South Korea, and a properevaluation need to be implemented for feeds and food safety.

LS-MS/MS analysis

The mass spectra for FB1 and FB2 showed the protonatedmolecular ion at m/z 722 and 706, respectively. Detected FB1

and FB2 in feed samples by HPLC were found to have thesame protonated molecular ion as the standards. AdditionalLC-MS/MS analysis of the standards and FB-positive samples(by HPLC) therefore confirmed the result obtained fromHPLC with fluorescence detection (Figs. 1 and 2).

Conclusion

Among the tested compound feeds and feed ingredients, 50 %of the feed ingredients were contaminated with FB1. In addition,40 % of the feed ingredients were contaminated by FB2. Of thecompound feeds, 85 % were contaminated by FB1 and 47 %were contaminated by FB2. The highest level of FB1 contami-nation was observed in compound feeds for cattle (100 %).However, poultry broiler (the early period) feed exhibited thehighest contamination value (14,600 ng/g) for FB1 in compoundfeeds. The contamination of compound feeds by FB1 and FB2

was higher than that of feed ingredients because these feeds aremanufactured by combining feed ingredients.

This study reports the occurrence of FB1 and FB2 in feedsthat are distributed in South Korea. So far, survey data aboutthe contamination by FBs in feeds have been few, and nostudies on the occurrence of FBs in stockbreeding productshave been performed in South Korea. The results suggest thatFBs are present at high levels in livestock feeds commercial-ized in South Korea. Therefore, more intensive and continuous

monitoring of FBs is necessary for feed safety related to animalhealth.

Acknowledgement This work was supported by the Basic ScienceResearch Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(2012R1A2A2A01003635).

Conflict of interest None

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