Despite decades of control efforts, aflatoxin contamination is responsible for a global loss of millions of tons of crops each year. Aflatoxin contamination in production chain of maize product in java and its relevance to the risk assessment. Comprehensive assessment of maize aflatoxin levels in. Population structure, distribution, and toxigenicity of the causal agents. Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by some aspergillus species, are a universal agricultural economic problem and a critical health issue. Aflatoxin is excreted into milk within12 hours in the form of aflatoxin m1 with residues approximately equal to 1. The fungus can be recognized by a graygreen or yellowgreen mold growing on corn kernels in the field or in storage. Aflatoxin associated with a number of cereals and legumes is estimated to increase the chances of developing primary liver cancer in 152. Aflatoxin management for smallholder farmers of maize and. Effects of practices of maize farmers and traders in ghana. Reducing aflatoxin in corn during harvest and storage. Classification of aflatoxins 5 there are more than 20 known aflatoxins, but the four main ones are aflatoxin b1 aftb1 aflatoxin b2 aftb2 aflatoxin g1 aftg1 aflatoxin g2 aftg2 named based on their blue b or green g fluorescence under uv light relative mobility, 1 and 2 higher and lower respectively, by tlc afts b series are. Its found in certain commonly eaten foods including peanuts, peanut butter and corn, and is most harmful in parts of the world where people consume large amount of these foods, such as asia and africa. Maize is a staple food in mexico that might contain aflatoxin b1 afb1.
Aflatoxin b 1 afb 1 is a potent toxin, mutagen, and carcinogen, and is implicated in the etiology of hepatocarcinoma. How to reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts and. Several types of aflatoxin 14 or more occur in nature, but four aflatoxins b 1, b 2, g 1 and g 2 are particularly dangerous to humans and animals as they have been found in all major food crops. Over 15% of maize and 11% of groundnut samples exceeded the aflatoxin threshold limits set by the. This study was carried out to assess the implications of some agronomic practices on the infestation of aflatoxigenic fungi and total aflatoxin in maize produce in. Maize containing aflatoxin levels of 20 ppb or more should thus not be consumed by humans, young poultry and swine 20.
Aflatoxin transformation products are sometimes found in eggs, milk products, and meat when animals are fed contaminated grains. It is produced both by aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus. Ghana, efforts to reduce aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnut have been directed to postharvest strategies and improvement of storage conditions florkowski and kolavalli 20. Aflatoxin contamination of maize consumed andor marketed in kenya is a recurrent problem. In one study, aflatoxin levels were determined in 480 food samples including beans, maize. Aflatoxin impacts and potential solutions in agriculture. Efiscgtp temporary monitoring for aflatoxin in maize. Aflatoxin management for smallholder farmers of maize and groundnuts 5 comparable. Since it is a tasteless and odourless poison, aflatoxin has in the past crept into dinner. Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in ghana. The applicable eu maximum limits for aflatoxin are. We show that hostinduced gene silencing is an effective method for eliminating this toxin in transgenic maize. Aflatoxin, which commonly affects maize, causes illness and even death when consumed in large quantities.
Exposure to aflatoxin is known to cause both chronic and acute hepatocellular injury. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring toxin produced by the fungus aspergillus flavus. Olives and olive oil in health and disease prevention, 2010. Aflatoxin may be a technical sounding name but its effects are all over our stores and dinner tables. Aflatoxin b1 is a potent hepatacarcinogen that occurs in corn worldwide. Postharvest contamination can be found in a variety of other crops such as coffee, rice. Occurrence of aflatoxins 8 effect of aflatoxins on health and trade 8 awareness and sensitization 10 ii aflasafe 11 iii maize, preharvest recommendations for aflatoxin management 12 use improved varieties 12 source of seeds 12 during crop growth apply fertilizer and other inputs. Aflatoxin levels in maize and peanut and blood in women. A survey of aflatoxin b1 in maize and awareness of aflatoxins in. Aflatoxin is a type of mold that is considered a human carcinogen. Lowlevel, chronic exposure is carcinogenic, and has. Aflatoxins cancercausing substances national cancer.
As both aflatoxins b 1 and m 1 may cause cancer in humans, the action level of 0. Other outbreaks affecting animals and humans have occurred since, with the 2004 and 2005 outbreaks having the highest morbidity 406. However, aflatoxins are most prevalent in maize and. Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops such as maize corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts. The problem and genetic solutions find, read and cite all the. Fr, an opportunistic earrot pathogen of maize zea mays l.
Aflatoxin content has become a major factor affecting the export of maize and most importers have set aflatoxin limits, usually in the range of 20 to 100 ppb. Controlling aflatoxin and fumonisin in maize by crop. Mycotoxin biosensor was purchased from mobile assay inc. Aflatoxin in maize available for download and read online in other formats. The relative proportions of aflatoxin b1, aflatoxin g1, aflatoxin b2 and aflatoxin g2 on crops depend on the particular aspergillus species present. Aflatoxin was discovered in england in 1961 following an epidemic in poultry. Aflatoxin contaminated homegrown maize was the source of the outbreak, but the extent of regional contamination and status of maize in commercial markets market maize were unknown. Aflatoxin restrictions and the world surplus of maize have made markets increasingly difficult to find and. Aflatoxin contamination of commercial maize products. Aflatoxins are produced by certain strains of the fungi aspergillus flavus and a. How to reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts and maize a. Degradation of aflatoxin during animal metabolism, occurs with aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a potent toxin produced by aspergillus flavus link. Aflatoxin control and prevention strategies in maize for subsaharan. Out of 509 samples 326 of maize and 183 of groundnut, 35% had detectable levels of aflatoxins. Isbn 9686127127 acknowledgements we are thankful to several organizations, groups and individuals for making significant contributions to the success of the workshop on the aflatoxin problem in maize and the publication of this proceedings. Such interventions may significantly decrease further aflatoxin accumula. We conducted a crosssectional survey to assess the extent of market maize contamination and evaluate the relationship between market maize aflatoxin and the. Aflatoxin is a fungal toxin that commonly contaminates maize and other types of crops during production, harvest, storage or processing. Aflatoxin contamination of key staples maize, groundnuts and sorghumoccurs above safe levels in many african countries. According to who 2006, acute aflatoxicosis is an underrecognized and underreported cause of liver damage. Aflatoxinfree transgenic maize using hostinduced gene.
Pdf aflatoxin control and prevention strategies in maize for sub. Aflatoxins are produced by toxigenic strains of aspergillus flavus and a parasiticus on peanuts, soybeans, corn maize, and other cereals either in the field or during storage when moisture content and temperatures are sufficiently high for mold growth. Ubale, the crsled food for peace project in malawi, is using the icelisa indirect competitive for testing aflatoxin levels in groundnuts and found it costeffective and useful for testing multiple samples at a time. Aflatoxin was detected in 36% of the maize samples across the three collection years table 1 with an average contamination of 11. Chandra prakash singh analytical diligence services 20. Aflatoxins are toxic chemicals produced as byproducts by fungi moulds that grow on maize, groundnuts and other food crops. Aflatoxin content of food has been associated with hepatoma frequency in uganda. The action level for aflatoxin b 1 is 20 parts per billion for feed fed to lactating dairy cows. Wed like to understand how you use our websites in order to improve them. The study findings reveal that, in general, aflatoxin contamination was a bigger problem in groundnut than in maize samples from similar sources in malawi for the reported period. Due to aflatoxin contamination the food products cannot be exported leading to financial losses. How to prevent aflatoxin in corn in iowa, problems associated with aspergillus and aflatoxins are most common in hot, dry years.
Aflatoxin affects many staple crops including cereals and legumes, as well as tree nuts and spices. Control of aflatoxin in maize food and agriculture. Pdf aflatoxin in maize download full pdf book download. In 1961, about 16,000 turkeys died due to consumption of aflatoxin contaminated groundnut feeds. Pdf mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that contaminate agricultural commodities and can cause sickness or death in humans and. The efficacy of four concentrations of aqueous extracts of 11 local plants in the management of aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination was investigated by measuring the dry weight of a. Fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination in maize. As a result, aflatoxin contamination of maize grain prior to harvest is considered more of a problem in that region of the country than elsewhere in the united states. Nonetheless, data on the exposure and risk assessment of afb1 from maize for the mexican population are limited. Aflatoxin management for smallholder farmers of maize and groundnuts practices and technologies for detection and prevention although there are multiple types of mycotoxins, aflatoxins are of particular concern because of how their high toxicity affects human health and the significant economic losses associated with contaminated staple crops. The species of molds that combine to form aflatoxin grow in soils when conditions are just right, including when decaying.
Population structure, distribution, and toxigenicity of the causal agents article pdf available in plant disease 1024. Ghana, efforts to reduce aflatoxin contamination of maize and. After aflatoxin m 1 is formed, it is excreted in the urine and milk of the cow. Other regions of the world, such as latin america, africa and southern asia have experienced more problems with mycotoxin poisoning than the. Post harvest contamination can be found in a variety of other crops such as coffee, rice. The fungus survives in crop residue and soil, and produces. Afb1, the most potent aflatoxin was the predominant aflatoxin across all feeds with an average concentration of 9. The toxic response and disease in mammals and poultry varies in relation to.
This study has implications for planning an integrated approach for management of aflatoxin contamination in food in subsaharan africa. Aflatoxin m1 is a major metabolite of aflatoxin b1 in humans and animals, which may be present in milk from animals fed with aflatoxin b1 contaminated feed. Plant stress due to drought, heat or insect damage during fungus growth usually increases aflatoxin levels. Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and. Degradation of aflatoxin during animal metabolism, occurs with aflatoxin m. These toxins also affect feedstuffs, which then contaminate milk, meat and eggs. When comparing aflatoxin levels in homegrown maize between years, the gm homegrown maize aflatoxin levels were significantly higher in 2005 gm 17. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites primarily produced by the fungi aspergillus flavus link.
Aflatoxin contamination in production chain of maize product. Aflatoxin contamination will reduce feeding value and hinder sales. The toxins occur everywhere in the world, but pose particularly high risks in tropical developing countries where certain staple foods, such as maize and. Pdf prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and. The main fungi that produce aflatoxins are aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus, which are abundant in warm and humid regions of the world. The aim of the present study was to analyse the occurrence of afb1 in mexican nixtamalized maize samples, and to assess the accompanying exposure and risk. How to reduce aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts and maize a guide for extension workers. Prevalence data from africa suggests that aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin b1 is the most common in food and among the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins. For maize and maize coproducts to be used as feed materials as per amended version of directive 200232ec 20 ppb for aflatoxin b1 based on feed materials with a moisture content of 12 %. This raises human health concerns because aflatoxin can appear in the milk of dairy cows fed contaminated corn. In the united states, 20 ppb is the maximum aflatoxin residue limit allowed in food for human consumption fao 2003. Pdf prevention of aflatoxin contamination of maize by. Although the liver is the major site of injury, afb 1induced tumors have been experimentally produced in the lungs, kidneys, and colons of rodents.