Detection of toxigenic fungi and quantification of type A trichothecene levels in some food and feed materials from India

In this study, the direct detection of toxigenic fungi and the quantification of trichothecene levels in food and feed materials from India were investigated. A total of 40 different food and feed materials were subjected to PCR for the detection of toxigenic Fusarium spp. PCR indicated the presence of tri5 gene in seven samples (six sorghum samples and one poultry feed). Results indicated the presence of T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) in all the six sorghum samples whereas only T-2 content was noticed in poultry feed. Levels of T-2 and DAS varied from 0.012 (±0.004) to 0.13 (±0.03) mg/kg and 0.014 (±0.004) to 0.084 (±0.004) mg/kg, respectively. The levels of these toxins were falling within the range detected previously in India and in other parts of the world.