title: Aflatoxin contamination in food and body fluids in relation to malnutrition and cancer status in Cameroon.
abstract: Aflatoxins are food contaminants usually associated with hepatitis, immunodepression, impairment of fertility and cancer. The present work was to determine the presence of aflatoxins in eggs, milk, urine, and blood samples that were collected from various sources and periods; and hepatitis B virus antigen in blood samples. Aflatoxin was found in eggs (45.2%), cow raw milk (15.9%), breast milk (4.8%), urine from kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor children (45.5%), and sera from primary liver cancer patients (63.9%); HbsAg was also detected in 69.4% of the serum samples, but there was no association between both factors. Both AF and hepatitis B virus seem to be risk factors that could increase the incidence and prevalence rates of malnutrition and cancer in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. ftchouanguep@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Angele N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tchana
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Moundipa
authors.forename: Félicité M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Tchouanguep
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000652:urine*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens