Assessment of aflatoxins in feeds and feed ingredients of both livestock and poultry

Abstract EN

Aflatoxin (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced primarily by aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus in agricultural foodstuff such as peanuts, maize grains, cereals, and animal feeds.

Moreover, AFs are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic.

A total of 141 samples comprising of feed ingredients (n=58) and complete feeds (n=83) used for cattle and poultry nutrition were analyzed for detection of aflatoxin in both seasons winter and summer.

The incidence and level of aflatoxin B1 in feed ingredients was 26.923% (n=7/26) by mean of 78.285 ppb in summer but in winter was 28.125% (n=9/32) by mean of 47.333 ppb.

For aflatoxin B2, the incidence and level in feed ingredients was 7.692% (n=2/26) and mean (54 ppb) in summer while in winter was 9.375% (n=3/32) by mean of 52.666 ppb.

The incidence and level of total aflatoxins in feed ingredients was 11.538% (n=3/26) by mean of 98.333 ppb in summer but in winter was 15.625% (n=5/32) by mean of 112 ppb.

Out of 7 cotton seed cake samples, one was contaminated with total aflatoxins (TAF) (14.285%) and had 300 ppb.

Among 13 maize samples, only one had TAF (7.692%) and contains 14 ppb.

From 4 sorghum grain samples, 2 were contaminated with AFB1 (50%) and had 12.5±5.303 ppb.

Among 8 soybean processed cake, one of them (12.5%) was had AFB1 in summer and contained 10 ppb, and 2 samples in winter (25%) with range of 3-5 ppb (4±0.707).

One soybean sample was contaminated with AFB2 (12.5%) and had 3 ppb.

From sunflower feed samples (n=26), 11 were contaminated with AFB1, 6 in summer (23.076%) with mean of 89.666±22.188ppb (range 80-150), and 5 in winter (19.230%) with mean level 78.6±17.226ppb (range 40-150ppb).

Four samples were contaminated with AFB2, 2 in summer (7.692%) with mean level of 54±32.526ppb (range 8-10) and 2 samples in winter (7.692%) had average level of 77.5±1.767ppb (range 75-80).

Six samples had TAF, 2 samples in summer (7.692%) with average level of 140.5±77.428 ppb (range 31-250) and 4 in winters (15.384%) with mean of 65±5.303 ppb.

The occurrence of B1, B2 and TAF in complete feed samples was high in winter than in summer.

B1 in winter samples was 42±11.798 ppb while in summer was 16.562±3.027 ppb.

B2 in winter was 65±4.082 ppb while in summer was 36.833±11.996 ppb.

TAF in winter samples was 140±56.319 ppb while was 22±4.242 ppb in summer.

Overall incidence of detected aflatoxin in total samples as 35.82% (n=24/67) in summer, 33.783% in winter but in total samples was 34.751% (n=49/141).

From these obtained results, it was clarified that about 1/3 of analyzed samples were contaminated with aflatoxins which represent great hazard for their consumers in both animals and humans.

So More efforts must be done to minimize this contamination by application of suitable conditions to prevent fungal growth and thereby prevent more production of aflatoxins.