Ochratoxin A in feeds, fluids and tissues of poultry in Algeria

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by a large num- ber of Aspergillus species and by Penicillium verrucosum. It is nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunotoxic and carcinogenic in animals and humans. The consumption of feeds contaminated by OTA affects the health and productivity of animals and can cause the presence of OTA in animal products destined for human consumption. The prevalence of OTA in poultry products in Algeria was determined from feeds, and from blood and organs collected from broilers, laying hens and turkeys. The analytical method was based on the partition coefficient of OTA in aqueous and organic solvents by adjusting the pH. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrofluorimetry were used for detection and quantification. OTA was found in many poultry feeds at concentrations between 0.02 and 63 µg/kg. Serum concentrations were between 0.57 and 1.22 ng/ml. Although some serum samples were negative, organs (liver, testes, kidneys) from the same animals contained OTA. Kidneys (concentrations between 0.02 and 9.73 ng/ml) and testes (concentrations between 0.12 and 2.11 ng/ml) seemed to be the most contaminated tissues. This study shows that it would be important to search systematically for OTA in the kidneys of poultry and, depending on results, prohibit consumption of their giblets.