engleski

The first report on ochratoxin A concentration in the kidneys of the European brown bear (Ursus arctos L.)

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic and carcinogen mycotoxin that contaminates different food commodities. Its toxicokinetics and accumulation in plasma, kidneys and liver are species-specific. The European brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) is the largest terrestrial mammal in Croatia and most its diet consists of plant food. Maize from supplemental feeding sites makes up an important part of the bears’ diet, especially in periods and years of low natural food resources. This supplemental maize is often of poor quality to begin with and is further adulterated by weather conditions, which enhance the production of OTA. We hypothesized that the OTA level in kidneys would reflect the intake of OTA-contaminated maize. A total of 56 kidney samples were collected (19 samples in 2013 and 37 samples in 2015) from bears hunted according to the Brown Bear Management Plan in Croatia. After liquid- liquid extraction, OTA concentration was measured using HPLC with a florescent detector. Regression analysis revealed that OTA concentration was significantly lower (13.82 ± 12.55 ng g-1 tissue ; median 12.25) in samples collected during 2013 than in samples collected during 2015 (142.30 ± 237.53 ng g-1 tissue, median 53.31), while controlling for age, sex and season of collection (b=0.60, p<0.001, R2=0.46). These results are the first report on OTA concentrations in the kidney of the European brown bear. OTA in bear kidneys depends on the specific diet habits, bears’ microlocation, quality of supplemental food and the conditions of food storage.

brown bear, HPLC, kidneys, maize, ochratoxin A

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