Aflatoxin B1 contamination in poultry feeds in Arusha City, Tanzania

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in food and feeds has significant health problems and economic loss to poultry industry. This study assessed qualitatively and quantitatively AFB1 in samples of poultry feeds and raw feeds and associated the levels of AFB1 with certain risk factors in Arusha city, Tanzania using competitive ELISA technique. Samples collected from poultry feed producers, sellers and poultry keepers, AFB1 was detected in all samples with various concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 80.1 μg/kg. Aflatoxin B1 concentration above the FAO/WHO tolerable limit of 5 μg/kg were in 65% of starter feed, 72.2% finisher feed, 79% layers mash, 62.5% maize bran and 75% of sunflower seedcake. Overall, 70.8% of all sample tested for aflatoxin B1 were above FAO/WHO tolerable limit. Aflatoxin B1 means concentration of poultry raw feeds was significantly higher than that of finished poultry feeds (p< 0.05). Questionnaire interview of 38 respondents showed association between appropriate storage facility and AFB1 contamination above FAO/WHO tolerable limit (OR=0.2, 95% CI:0.03-1.0); while sun drying of poultry finished feeds/ raw feeds had an odd ratio of 0.05 ( 95% CI: 0.04-0.5). This is the first comprehensive report on prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in finished poultry feed and poultry raw feeds in Arusha city, northern zone, Tanzania. We recommend control strategies which should based on pre- and post- harvest handling through promoting good farming and production practices.

Key words: Aflatoxin B1, poultry feeds , risk factors, ELISA.