Detection of T-2 toxin in wheat and maize with a portable mass spectrometer

Authors: Maragos, Chris

Submitted to: Toxins
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2023
Publication Date: 3/16/2023
Citation: Maragos, C.M. 2023. Detection of T-2 toxin in wheat and maize with a portable mass spectrometer. Toxins. 15(3). Article 222. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15030222.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15030222

Interpretive Summary: T-2 toxin is a fungal secondary metabolite that is toxic to animals and plants. It is found worldwide in a variety of cereal grains and has been associated with diseases in humans and livestock. To reduce human or animal exposure, commodities are routinely tested. Often this is done with antibody-based test strips. Follow-up testing is done with a laboratory-bound (confirmatory) method that is based upon mass spectrometry (MS). A more efficient approach is to eliminate the need for follow-up testing by using a portable MS instrument. In this report, a portable mass spectrometer was modified so that it could be used to detect T-2 toxin and its metabolite, HT-2 toxin, in soft white wheat, hard red winter wheat, and yellow dent maize. The method was able to detect T-2 toxin at a screening level of 0.2 mg/kg grain. This level is sufficient for use in the United States, where T-2 is not regulated, but is insufficient for use in the European Union, where regulatory levels are low. This report is a first step in developing more robust confirmatory tests of mycotoxins that can be conducted outside of traditional laboratories.

Technical Abstract: T-2 toxin is a mycotoxin routinely found as a contaminant of cereal grains worldwide. A portable mass spectrometer was adapted to enable detection of T-2 toxin in wheat and maize by APCI-MS. To facilitate rapid testing, a rapid cleanup was used. The method was able to detect T-2 toxin in soft white wheat, hard red wheat, and yellow dent maize and could be used to screen for T-2 at levels above 0.2 mg/kg. HT-2 toxin was only detectable at very high levels (> 0.9 mg/kg). Based upon these results the sensitivity was not sufficient to allow application of the method to screening of these commodities at levels recommended by the European Commission. With a cut-off level of 0.107 mg/kg, the method correctly classified 9 of 10 reference samples of wheat and maize. The results suggest that portable MS detection of T-2 toxin is possible, but not yet sensitive enough to meet regulatory requirements.