Aflatoxin levels in selected fish feedstuffs and fish feeds sold Inoko Oba Area of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the level of aflatoxin contamination in some fish feeds and fish feed ingredients sold in Lagos. Nigeria. Sixty-two (62) samples: fish feed (12), fishmeal (10), groundnut cake (10), soybeans meal (10), wheat offal (10) and crushed maize (10) were randomly purchased from an agro feeds market inOko oba area of Lagos. Aflatoxin analysis was carried out using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method-RIDASCREEN FAST Aflatoxin Total. Aflatoxin contamination was detected in approximately 50% of the fish feeds, while 70 – 100% of the feedstuffs were highly contaminated. The aflatoxin concentrations in the samples ranged from 1.85 - > 45μg/Kg. There were no significant difference (p<0.05) in the aflatoxinconcentration in the fish feeds, fishmeal, soybeans meal and wheat offal, but these concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of groundnut cake and crushed maize. The moisture content of the samples was not significantly different (p>0.05) ranging from 1.86 to 2.44%. Most of the feedstuffs were highly contaminated. There is therefore a need to create more awareness among stakeholders in the aquaculture industry on the need to source for good quality feedstuffs and the inherent dangers in the use of aflatoxin-contaminated fish feeds and feedstuffs.

Keywords: Aquaculture, feed safety, fungi, contamination