Fusarium spp. incidence and DON Contamination in different wheat varieties correlated with the environmental factors

The genus Fusarium consists of multiple diverse species, which, as a result of their frequency in nature and pathogenicity, are significant in agriculture, as well as in human and veterinary medicine. In the course of field trials, by using standard phytopathological methods, and performing analyses of 19 different varieties of wheat and a portion of infected grains gathered from two distinct locations in Slovenia, we have determined the presence of various phytopathogenic species of the genus Fusarium. Because of the reliability, the experiment was performed in two consecutive years, 2012 and 2013. A laboratory analysis was conducted with an ELISA test on all grain samples for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration. The results show that the main differences in the infection levels (F. culmorum + F. graminearum; FC + FG) of wheat samples were found in Jable (humid area), at the same time showing higher levels of DON content than Rakičan (dry area). Such a statement is supported by correlation test, where correlation is evident between FC + FG and DON in every variation. The data for both wheat types (awned and awnless) together showed that the grain in Jable is statistically significant more infected by FC + FG when compared to that in Rakičan. Moreover, our descriptive analysis confirms that the infection rate of grain with FC and FG shows a strong correlation with the emergence of DON

An outbreak of fumonisin toxicosis in horses in Serbia

This paper reports on an outbreak of fumonisin toxicosis in a stable with 100 horses. Twenty-one horses were affected and fifteen died within a month. The animals were not febrile and exhibited poor appetite, somnolence, head pressing, blindness, ataxia, lethargy, and seizures, ending with death. The post mortem examination of the head of one 18-month-old colt revealed large, bilateral, slightly asymmetrical large areas of necrosis of the cerebral white matter. The lesions involved the frontal, parietal and occipital lobes only. Histological findings revealed leukomalacia with necrosis, infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils, haemorrhage and oedema of the surrounding grey matter. In response to the pathological findings, which indicated equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), feed samples from the premises were tested for fumonisin B-1 and B-2 (FB1 and FB2). The milled maize samples contained 6.0 mg/kg FB1 and 2.4 mg/kg FB2, while the maize bran contained 6.05 mg/kg FB1 and 1.68 mg/kg FB2. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of fumonisin toxicosis. Hence, this report indicates that Serbia is one of the few regions in Europe with proven cases of ELEM

Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) seeds in bird feed

In 2005, the Swiss official feed inspection of Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station (ALP) was mandated to check bird feed and raw materials for the presence of Ambrosia sp. seeds. Indeed, such seeds were found in varying amounts when analyzed in the feed microscopy laboratory. The producers were informed, and a limit of intervention (50 mg.kg-1 ≈ 9 to 10 seeds.kg-1) was finally set for this undesirable component. The results of five years of controls show, at first, around 50% of contaminated samples. With appropriate measures, the level of contamination could be lowered in the following years. In parallel, the size of Ambrosia sp. seeds and the sieves to be used for routine analyses were checked. Ambrosia sp. seeds found in feed checked in Switzerland were seldom larger ("wider") than 3.5 mm and never smaller than 1.5 mm. Several EU Member States started their own control and monitoring programs. The results of studies from Germany, Slovenia and Denmark, presented by their feed microscopists at the IAG meetings, indicate the presence of Ambrosia sp. seeds in 21 to 75% of the products put on the market