A national survey of mycotoxins in canada

Mycotoxin contamination of animal feedstuffs continues to be an area of concern in various regions of Canada. A survey of research institutions across Canada revealed that the mycotoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, tricothecenes and aflatoxin, have been detected in suspected feed samples. These mycotoxins have produced mycotoxicoses in poultry, hogs and cattle. Estrogenic syndromes in hogs may be caused by the ingestion of zearalenone produced by Fusarium molds on grain com grown in southern Ontario. Overwintered barley contaminated with T‐2 toxin was suspected in an outbreak of fusariotoxicoses in swine in northern Alberta. Central and eastern Canada, which seem to be the major focus of mycotoxin occurrence, will be the object of further field level examination to discover patterns of occurrence and economic impact.