ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2023 45 MEA and Asia contamination levels reflect the import of corn from the Americas. Scientifically it is accepted that DON and ZEA co-occur in corn as both can be produced by Fusarium graminearum. The higher prevalence of ZEA in corn in Asia but not DON poses a question as to whether other storage conditions can promote ZEA production in corn. The concentrations of ZEA found here can cause reproductive issues in sows and cows but are safe to use in other animals. Fumonisins. 73% of the corn samples tested in Latin America were contaminated with fumonisins followed by Asia and North America (Table 2). It is not surprising to see such contamination as Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium moniliforme moulds, capable of producing fumonisins, prefer warmer climatic conditions for their growth. Such fungal growth can be further enhanced by drought conditions. Another unique aspect of fumonisins is that these mycotoxins are almost exclusively found in corn and corn by-products. Historically the concentrations of fumonisins found here are not considered a threat to livestock and poultry. But the growing research on their negative effects on gut health and immunity is forcing the scientific community to take another look at their maximum limits in feeds and raw materials. Table 2. Mycotoxin contamination and concentrations in corn by region (2022) Aflatoxins DON Fumonisins Ochratoxins T2-HT2 Zearalenone Contamination % Mean Median Contamination % Mean Median Contamination % Mean Median Contamination % Mean Median Contamination % Mean Median Contamination % Mean Median Middle East and Africa 35 22 5 50 1607 1000 44 2452 2650 40 8 3 22 31 26 77 178 70 Asia 78 63 46 15 1950 1100 66 3128 3300 35 18 3 9 681 606 90 60 47 North America 50 10 2 100 971 593 60 753 520 100 4 4 100 30 10 100 236 41 Europe 57 8 3 39 1799 1099 26 2404 1292 9 5 3 29 168 87 32 87 59 Latin America 43 7 3 50 779 500 73 1829 1100 48 7 3 38 25 18 63 147 56
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