Feeding OTA to pigs: Analytical evaluation of a trial.

Methods were developed to analyse the concentrations of ochratoxin A (OTA) and its main metabolite ochratoxin α in blood plasma of pigs and in their kidneys. By the use of these methods blood and kidneys of pigs that were fed contaminated feedstuff containing 1500 μg/kg ochratoxin A for the whole trial period of 42 days were analysed.High levels of 1500 - 2000 μg/I OTA were found in the plasma, while the concentration of OTA in the kidneys did not exceed 250 μg/kg at the end of the trial. Neither in the plasma nor in the kidneys of the animals fed contaminated feedstuff ochratoxin a could be detected.