INCIDENCE OF FUSARIUM SPECIES AND THE MYCOTOXINS, DEOXYNIVALENOL AND ZEARALENONE, IN CORN PRODUCED IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER AREAS IN TRANSKEI

The highest known esophageal cancer rate in Africa occurs in the southwestern districts of the Republic of Transkei, while the rate in the northeastern region of the country is relatively low. Corn is the main dietary staple in both areas. Three species of Fusarium, i.e., F. graminearum, F. verticillioides (= F. moniliforme) and F. sacchari var. subglutinans (= F. moniliforme var. subglutinans) were isolated from corn kernels from both areas. Two Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, were detected at biologically significant levels (250-4000 and 1500-10000 Mg/kg, respectively) in hand-selected, visibly Fusarium-infected corn kernels from both areas. The level of natural contamination of corn kernels with both mycotoxins was considerably higher in the high-incidence area of esophageal cancer than in the low-incidence area. The validity of this difference could not be tested because only a small number of pooled samples were analyzed. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.