Bacterial tests as indicators for the detoxification of the mycotoxin penicillic acid by ammonia treatment.

The detoxification of penicillic acid by reaction with ammonia was examined by means of a polymerase assay using two strains of Escherichia coli (pol A+ and pol A-1) and a recombination assay using two strains of Bacillus subtilis (rec+ and rec-). A 100-fold surplus of ammonia added to penicillic acid abolished the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of penicillic acid towards the bacteria under the test conditions. The study presents the possibility of detoxifying mycotoxins in feeds by ammonia treatment and demonstrates the suitability of bacterial assays as indicators for mycotoxins.