Mycotoxins are common contaminants in animal feed and pose a risk to animal health and business profitability. Although knowledge of the negative impact of mycotoxins on aquaculture species is lacking behind terrestrial animal species, the number of scientific publications is increasing which allows insights into the toxins’ effects on fish and shrimp.
As these secondary fungal metabolites are mostly produced during crop growth in the field, prevention of contamination is limited . Additionally, during storage, mycotoxin levels can increase with fungal growth if storage conditions are not fully optimized. To get a better understanding of their occurrence in aquafeed, we dedicated a specific survey program collecting aquafeed samples from around the world and analysing these samples for the presence of (EU) regulated mycotoxins as well as the non-regulated mycotoxins so-called emerging mycotoxins.
In 2023 and 2024 over 140 samples were analysed with two different LC-MS/MS-based multi-mycotoxin analysis methods, Spectrum Top®50 performed by Romer Labs Austria and Singapore, and the Spectrum 380® method, developed and performed at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) at the IFA Tulln.
Results of this aquafeed survey will be presented with a focus on the current knowledge on effects on important European aquaculture production species such as gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and salmonids (family Salmonidae).