Incidence of Aspergillus Strains and of Aflatoxin B1 in Cereals in South-western Romania

Cereals are the substrates most exposed to micromycete attack. The development of moulds determines changes of the physical properties (aspect, taste, smell) and of the chemical properties as well (nutrient degradation and lower food quality). The presence of aflatoxin B1 was rarely reported in Italy and Spain, after extremely hot summer seasons. Romania was not included in these surveys because it became EU member state at a later moment. The investigations conducted on cereal grains coming from south-eastern Romania showed the constant presence of Aspergillus species and of aflatoxins in this part of the country. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of Aspergillus species in the cereal grains samples from various areas of Banat and to determine the concentration of aflatoxin B1 and of ochratoxin A, synthesized by Aspergillus species. We assayed a total of 56 cereal samples (corn, wheat, barley and oats). The level of fungal contamination was determined by direct count of the fungi colonies and mycotoxin concentration was determined by ELISA. Although Aspergillus species are mainly associated to the warm areas, our investigations showed the presence of Aspergillus species in over 80% of the samples. The most frequently identified species was Aspergillus flavus (55%), followed by A. niger (40%) and by other species: A. fumigatus, A. verzicolor si A. parasiticus. The mycological analysis is supported by the results we obtained with the cereals from south-eastern Romania. Aflatoxin B1 has been identified in almost 30% of the samples (corn mainly), but the concentrations were low, below 10 μg/kg, the maximal limit admitted by the EU. The results are similar with the findings of previous research in south-eastern Romania.