Fungal Profile and Aflatoxin Contamination in Poultry Feeds Sold in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination of animal feeds is common and widely spread, especially in the tropics, due to the ubiquity of the producing fungi. The detection of aflatoxin in five samples of animal feed was carried out; using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples were taken from five different areas in Abeokuta. The aflatoxin level was observed to be the highest in the poultry feed from Lafenwa with the value 93.1 μg/kg; and lowest in the feed from Idi-Aba with the value 13.5 μg/kg. Fungal counts are between 4 x 10³ and 42 x 10³ cfu/g, with highest count occurring in the feed from Lafenwa and lowest in Idi-Aba. The fungal growth was on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and Aspergillus flavus, A. oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae and Penicillum notatum were isolated and identified, with Aspergillus flavus predominating. Comparison statistical analysis using ANOVA showed a significant mean difference 95% confidence interval. In conclusion, aflatoxin was present in all the samples, which even at low concentration is of great concern to human and animal health. Maize was the main ingredient in all the contaminated feed.

Keywords: Aflatoxin, contamination, animal feed, moulds, concentration.