Multi-mycotoxin analysis of maize silage by LC-MS/MS

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Chemistry
• Food Safety
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Maize silage can be contaminated with mycotoxins and secondary metabolites from fungal pathogens.
• Accurate detection of these contaminants is crucial for animal feed safety and quality control.
• Existing methods for mycotoxin analysis can be complex and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a streamlined method for determining multiple mycotoxins and secondary metabolites in maize silage.
• To focus on analytes produced by common maize and silage contaminants.
• To ensure reliable pH control during sample extraction for diverse silage conditions.

Main Methods:

• A pH-buffered extraction method, adapted from the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) approach, was employed.
• Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for analysis without further sample clean-up.
• Matrix-matched calibration standards were utilized to improve accuracy.

Main Results:

• The method was successfully validated for 8 analytes qualitatively and 19 quantitatively.
• Recoveries ranged from 37% to 201% (mostly 60-115%), with good repeatability (5-27% RSD(r)) and reproducibility (7-35% RSD(IR)).
• Several mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and enniatin B, were detected in 20 silage samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed QuEChERS-based method provides a simple, efficient, and effective approach for mycotoxin determination in maize silage.
• The method's pH-buffering capability ensures consistent performance across different silage types.
• This technique aids in the routine monitoring of silage quality and safety by detecting a broad spectrum of fungal metabolites.