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Aflatoxins
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Introduction The poultry industry in Nigeria is an essential subsector of agriculture that provides food, employment, and other economic resources for the country (Ezekiel et al. 2012a). Livestock production can be threatened when feeds are contaminated by fungi and their toxic metabolites. Several mycotoxins, including aflatoxins (AFs), cyclopiazonic acid (CPA ), fumonisins (FUMs ), nivalenol (N IV ) and zearalenone (ZEN) have been reported to contaminate poultry feed and their...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced naturally by some species of filamentous fungi, such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium [1,2]. Fungal growth can occur before or after harvest, during storage, or in foods, especially in environments with high humidity and temperatures, followed by mycotoxin production. Most mycotoxins are chemically sta-ble and persist after food processing [3,4]. The most investigated mycotoxins are aflatoxin B1 (AFB1),...
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Sunshine Mills Inc. is recalling certain products because of potentially elevated levels of aflatoxin above the allowable limit.
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins and are dangerous because of their high level of toxicity for animals and people. Aflatoxin is produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets. People with allergies or sensitivities to mold can have...
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INTRODUCTION As a fungal secondary metabolite of the Aspergillus species, aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) is known to be the most toxigenic mycotoxin (Yunus et al., 2011). Feed contamination with AFB 1 has been a major feed safety concern due to its negative effects on growth performance, production, hepatic functions, and immune system in many livestock species (Ledoux et al., 1999; Yarru et al., 2009; Andretta et al., 2011; Grenier and Applegate,...
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1. Introduction In most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), chili peppers are an important ingredient to prepare a large array of traditional dishes [1]. Consumption of high quantities of chili peppers is associated with health benefits, including disease prevention [2,3]. However, chili peppers in SSA are frequently contaminated with aflatoxins by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi [4,5]. Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins. Even at minute concentrations, aflatoxins pose...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites that represent a serious threat to the health of both animals and humans [1]. Food and feed contamination by mycotoxins poses major concerns for public health and welfare as dietary exposure may cause disorders, dysfunctions, and alterations of physiological states in both humans and animals [2]. Ripening staple crops are all exposed to phyllosphere fungi, some of which are able to infect the crops resulting in...
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1. Introduction The gut is constantly exposed to potentially harmful contaminants from food or feed, such as mycotoxins [1]. Aflatoxin B1 is a mycotoxin produced by different species of fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus [2]. AFB1 is a potent carcinogen in humans and animals [3] and, for this reason, was classified in Group 1 of human carcinogens on the basis of toxicological data. Aflatoxins can contaminate different commodities such as cereals, nuts, dried...
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1. Introduction Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites of the Aspergillus species of fungi, which are generally contaminate tropical and subtropical food and feedstuffs [1]. However, due to climate change, their occurrence in temperate climates should be taken into account not only during storage but also on the field [2,3]. Climate change usually causes drought stress in fungi, and stress-responding pathways can stimulate the AF production of Aspergillus flavus...
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1. Introduction Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is a cereal of extreme importance in the diets of many populations, contributing especially as a source of energy because of its high content of starches (up to 73% of kernel weight), proteins (8–13.7%), fatty acids (4–5.4%), as well as vitamins and minerals [1,2]. Corn grits are produced by removing the outer bran, the germ, and the tip cap of the grains, followed by grinding into smaller coarse bits. A wide variety of...
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1. Introduction Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds produced by Aspergillus flavus and closely related fungi in several crops [1]. Maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) are amongst the most susceptible crops. Crop contamination with these potent compounds negatively affects both human and animal health, the income of farmers, and trade opportunities [2–4]. In the case of animals, when feeds are prepared with aflatoxin-contaminated crops,...
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1. Introduction The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are highly conserved in eukaryotes, and play critical roles in stress response pathways. These proteins are able to form homodimers or heterodimers, and bind specific DNA sequences to regulate the expression of genes involved in cellular responses to oxidative stress. For example, the evolutionarily conserved bZIP protein, Nrf2, is known to form heterodimers with ATF4 or MAF, and bind to antioxidant response...
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1. Introduction Mycotoxins are low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi. The word mycotoxin is derived from the Greek radicals “mykes” and “toxicum”, meaning fungus and toxin, respectively. This term was coined after a veterinary outbreak in England in 1962, when approximately 100,000 turkey poultry died from the ingestion of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut meal [1]. Since then, mycotoxins have become an important issue in...
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INTRODUCTION Aflatoxins, the natural contaminants of feedstuffs, are toxic metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins may cause serious economic losses in the poultry industry because they prevent birds from achieving optimum body weight gains (Khatke et al., 2012; Oguz and Kurtoglu, 2000) Small amounts of aflatoxin B 1 may cause reduction in economic parameters, hatchability and also cause increased susceptibility to...
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Abstract To evaluate the impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA) and their interactions on blood biochemicals and organ histopathology, dayold broiler chicks (n=288) were divided into 9 treatment groups (T1: control; T2: T1+150 ppb AFB1; T3: T1+300 ppb AFB1; T4: T1+150 ppb OTA; T5: T1+250 ppb OTA; T6: T1+150 ppb AFB1+150 ppb OTA; T7: T1+150 ppb AFB1+250 ppb OTA; T8: T1+300 ppb AFB1+150 ppb OTA; T9: T1+300 ppb AFB1+250 ppb OTA). Each diet was fed to 4 replicated groups...
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Good day all, I'm Muhammed Jimoh Ibrahim a PhD research student from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Working on Aflatoxin residues in carcasses and eggs. Please a professional advise on the laboratory to perform my bench work. I am looking on performing HPLC, GC/MS and other sensitive test. Thank you. Your information and advise will be appreciated. ...
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1. Introduction Various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, decisively contribute to the specific characteristics of dry-fermented foods. However, the environmental conditions during the ripening of dry-fermented foods favor colonization of their surface by toxigenic molds that are able to produce mycotoxins on such foods. Aflatoxins have long been a major concern in cheese [1–5] and recent studies have highlighted their presence in dry-cured meats...
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Developing countries that export food internationally are increasingly aware of the need for sound food safety programmes that are in line with international standards.
To mitigate this threat, the first Aflatoxin Control Laboratory was established at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) by the US Department of Agriculture in collaboration with technical support from Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides...
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Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), along with USAID Mission Director Joakim Parker, have launched a nationwide campaign to combat aflatoxins that contaminate improperly handled grain, causing severe health complications, including liver cancer and stunting.
The campaign, supported through USAID’s Feed the Future programme, aims to provide advice and informational materials for farmers, processors,...
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Abstract To study the ameliorative impact of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and sodium butyrate (NaB) during simultaneous aflatoxicosis and ochratoxicosis on carcass traits and organ weights, day-old broiler chicks (n=320) were divided into 10 treatment groups (T0: control; T1: T0+300 ppb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)+250 ppb ochratoxin A (OTA); T2: T1+0.15% MOS; T3: T1+0.3% MOS; T4: T1+500 mg/kg NaB; T5: T1+1000 mg/kg NaB; T6: T1+0.15% MOS+500 mg/kg NaB; T7: T1+0.15% MOS+1000 mg/kg NaB;...
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In recent decades there has been a growth in the interaction of people with dogs and cats, mainly because of the proximity of the human relationship with pets. This relationship involves walking, bathing and grooming, visits to the veterinarian and even a special diet, as pets are treated as an integral part of the family. Recent data from IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) show that Brazil has 53 million dogs and 22 million cats, placing the country in fourth place in...
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