Occurrences of Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone and some of their masked forms in selected cereals from Southwest Nigeria

The study determined the occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and their metabolites in staple cereals from Southwest Nigeria. Sixty composite samples of maize, sorghum and millet were evaluated for DON, ZEN and their masked forms; 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3Ac-DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15Ac-DON), α-zearalenone (α-ZEL) and β-zearalenone (β-ZEL). Deoxynivalenol did not co-occur with ZEN in maize, sorghum and millet samples in contrast to previous reports. Only the masked forms; 3Ac-DON occurred in few maize samples within the range < LOQ-24 μg/kg and one millet sample at a concentration of 16 μg/kg. The levels of ZEN in maize and sorghum samples were lower than the maximum limit of 100 μg/kg set by the European Union for ZEN. However, two millet samples exceeded this limit with concentration of 152 and 396 μg/kg. The percentage incidence for α-ZEL was 100% for maize, sorghum and millet samples while the percentage incidence of β-ZEL was 100% for maize and millet and 95% for sorghum samples. Regardless of the low levels of these mycotoxins, particularly DON, the high incidence rates are of concern as there could be synergistic or additive effects from ZEN and its masked forms.