Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 54 No. 1, 2023.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.1.11
Occurrence of citrinin in the wheat grain cultivated in Kosovo and Albania during 2021
Arben Haziri
; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Enkelejda Emiri Sallaku
; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agriculture University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Manuela Zadravec
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Nina Kudumija
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Bajram Berisha
; Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Myqerem Tafaj
; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agriculture University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Skender Muji
; Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Etleva Delia
; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agriculture University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Fatmir Faiku
; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Hamide Ibrahimi
; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Prishtina, Prishtina, Kosovo
Jelka Pleadin
orcid.org/0000-0002-0768-0462
; Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
Supplements: Haziri_Occurrence of citrinin.pdf
Abstract
Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin responsible for the contamination of many agricultural products, like wheat, barley, corn, rice and their products, as also other foodstuffs and feedstuffs used in human and animal nutrition. It is essentially produced by Penicillium citrinum, although it can also be biosynthesised from Penicillium expansum and Penicillium verrucosum and some species of Aspergillus and Monascus. However, several studies have shown that CIT is known for its genotoxic, hepatotoxic, fetotoxic and teratogenic properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of CIT in wheat grain cultivated in Kosovo and Albania. Given the fact that wheat flour is the most consumed product in Kosovo and Albania, it is necessary to analyse the CIT in wheat in these two countries. In total, 60 wheat samples were tested from Fusha e Kosovës (Kosovo), Myzeqeja (Albania) and Fusha e Maliqit (Albania), as places with
the highest wheat production. The enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine CIT concentrations. To identify moulds representing potential producers of CIT, traditional macroscopic and microscopic methods and the molecular PCR method of identification were implemented. CIT was detected in 96.6% and 86.6% of wheat grain samples collected in Kosovo and Albania, respectively. The maximum amount of CIT detected in wheat grain was 53.12 μg/ kg in Kosovo, and 45.74 μg/kg in Albania. The amount of CIT found in wheat grain is not comparable with the maximal limits (MLs), as the European legislation does not provide limits for this mycotoxin. However, since there is generally a lack of data about CIT in cereals in Kosovo and Albania, the results can serve as an indicator of wheat grain contamination in this part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Keywords
citrinin; wheat grains; contamination; human exposure; Kosovo; Albania
Hrčak ID:
279420
URI
Publication date:
25.5.2022.
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