An Investigation on Measurement Means of Citrinin Toxin Quantity by Toxigenic Aspergillus Species in Biomass, Using ELISA

Objective: Citrinin is a mycotoxin produced by several species of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium and occurs mainly in food products and animal feed. Some scientific reports show a link between Citrinin and nephrotoxic and possibly a carcinogenic effect for humans. Methods: Samples collected by settling plates,in northern Iran and pure culture isolation performed till the toxin measurement to be done in cell extracts (biomass) which prepared by merging culture in separated prepared culture media incubation. The amount of toxin measured by extracting solutions (50% Acetone, 25% Alcohol Methylic,25% Alcohol Ethylic and PBS washing proposed) using Direct Competitive ELISA. Results: In conducted research, the relative distribution per obtained Aspergillus species isolates for biomass preparation showed that the most frequent were A.ostianus, A.fumigatus,A.niveus,A.niger,A.awamori and A.parasiticus respectively with a prevalence (28.6%), according to averaged Citrinin, indicated that the potent species was A.niger (2009.3ppb) whereas the lowest observed by A.wentii (18.46 ppb).According to maximum Citrinin limits (200ppb) in food products  and animal feed including especially related to the Aspergilli and Penicilli, as the result of our measurements and the performed statistical analysis , the maximum amount of Citrinin in the cell extracts, respectively were  determined (2009.3ppb) and always produced by A.niger , that were too much more than the universal and local standards allowance enable us to introduce it for all biotechnologic or toxicologic research mentions eventhought as a scientific opinion on the risks for public and animal health related to the presence of Citrinin in food and feed at the targeted geographic area.