Evaluation of ELISA and immunoaffinity fluorometric analytical tools of four mycotoxins in various food categories

Abstract

Abstract Mycotoxins (MTs) are secondary toxic metabolites that can contaminate food, impacting quality and safety, leading to various negative health effects and serious pathological consequences conferring urgent need to evaluate and validate the currently standard methods used in their analysis. Therefore, this study was aimed to validate ELISA and VICAM immunoaffinity fluorometric, the two common methods used to monitor the level of MTs according to the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control. A total of 246 food samples were collected and tested for Aflatoxins (196 samples), Ochratoxin A (139), Zearalenone (70), and Deoxynivalenol (100) using both analytical methods. Results showed that aflatoxins exceeded limits in 42.9, 100, and 13.3% of oily seeds, dried fruits, and chili and spices, respectively. For ochratoxin A, 3.9% of Gramineae and 8% of spices and chili (locally sourced) exceeded the limits, while 17.6% of imported pasta and noodles exceeded the limits for deoxynivalenol. Significant differences for the aflatoxins and ochratoxin A detection among different categories of chocolate, dried fruits, and oily seeds (p-value 0.05). In conclusion, our study found no significant differences between the ELISA and immunoaffinity fluorometric analysis in the detection of the respective MTs in various food categories and therefore, they can substitute each other whenever necessary. However, significant differences were observed among different food categories, particularly the local and imported ones, highlighting the urgent need for strict and appropriate control measures to minimize the risk of MTs adverse effects.

Keywords

• Aflatoxins
• Ochratoxin A
• Zearalenone
• Deoxynivalenol
• Fluorometer
• Immunoaffinity