Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species that can be found as a contaminant of cereals and animal feed.
OTA contamination can occur from cool temperate to tropical regions (North and South America, Northern and Western Europe, Africa, and South Asia).
European legislation establishes OTA recommendation values (EU 2016/1319) in products intended for animal feed:
Animal feed raw materials
Recommended value in ppm with 12% humidity
Cereals and cereal-based products
0,25
Compound animal feed for pigs
0,05
Compound animal feed for poultry
0,1
Compound animal feed for cats and dogs
0,01
Of the various ochratoxins that exist, ochratoxin A is the most common in foods and animal feeds and the one with the greatest toxicity.
OTA is a nephrotoxic and immunotoxic mycotoxin and is classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” due to its carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties.
The presence of OTA poses a great risk to animal health and is a food safety problem due to the transfer of this mycotoxin to humans through the food chain.
Although there are differences in susceptibility to this mycotoxin between species, the common symptoms of OTA in animals are reduced intake, weight gain and altered conversion rate.
In addition, OTA negatively affects the health status of animals by altering biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters, as well as their immune functions and intestinal microbiota.
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