Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEA) and aflatoxins (AF) are secondary metabolites produced from Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. In this investigation, 100 maize samples were collected from animal farms in the middle part of Thailand. Then, the ZEA and AF levels were mainly detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that ZEA levels varied from 0 - > 1000 ppb ( < 10 ppb= 13%, 11-40 ppb= 38%, 41-100 ppb= 25%, 101-300 ppb= 12%, 301 – 1000 ppb= 10% and > 1000 ppb= 2%) and AF levels varied from 0 - > 40 ppb ( < 2 ppb= 34%, 2.1-5 ppb= 33%, 5.1-10 ppb= 17%, 10.1-20 ppb= 8%, 20.1-40 ppb= 5% and >40 ppb= 3%). The ZEA and AF levels that were higher than the maximal limit of detection by ELISA, it would be confirmed using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector. In addition, possible relationship between the levels of ZEA and AF was also determined.
