TOXICITY STUDY OF FUNGAL ISOLATES FROM MAIZE STRAWS IN RATS

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxic features of fungal contaminated meadow grass that had caused the toxicity and even death of cattle in Baihongal and in and around villages in Belgaum district of Karnataka and to confirm the effects of mycotoxins produced by these isolates in rats. The affected animals were exhibiting clinical signs of toxicity characterized by loss of body condition, anorexia, ataxia, bleeding from orifices and eventually death. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxicity of fungal contaminated meadow grass in rats and the species of fungi have been isolated and identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus , Rhizoctonia bataticola and Rhizopus stolonifer. The fungal infected wheat material was analyzed for the presence mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS method. The A.niger infected wheat material showed the presence of aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2 , Fumonisin B1& B2 citrinin and beauricin. The A.terreus infected wheat material showed the presence of citrinin and aflatoxin. The Rhizoctonia bataticola infected wheat material showed the presence of Ochratoxin-A and citrinin.