Fusarium mycotoxins in New Zealand maize

Authors: Hussein HM, Andrew IG, Baxter M, Franich RA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 9, pp 155, Sep 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Mycotoxicosis, Liver/hepatic disease, Disease/defect, Fungal/yeast, Pasture/crop
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Contamination of maize with Fusarium mycotoxins has resulted in serious outbreaks of disease in humans and animals overseas. Alimentary toxic aleukia in U.S.S.R., red mold disease in Japan and moldy corn toxicosis in U.S.A. are examples. In New Zealand Fusarium mycotoxins have been reported as occurring naturally in wheat grain and pasture grasses and several mycotoxin-producing Fusarium isolates have recently been reported from pasture grass. We now report on the incidence of Fusarium mycotoxins in New Zealand maize samples and on the production of mycotoxins by isolates obtained from maize and maize fields. A random sampling method was used to obtain thirteen maize samples from fields in the Manawatu district and a further seven samples were obtained from storage silos. No selection was made for mouldy grain or grain that was in any way suspect. Fusarium species were isolated from randomly selected kernels as previously described. Over 50% of all kernels examined were found to be contaminated and ten different species of Fusarium were isolated. The most common were…

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