title: Distribution of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus section Flavi in commercial poultry feed in Nigeria.
abstract: The distribution and aflatoxigenicity of Aspergillus section Flavi isolates in 58 commercial poultry feed samples obtained from 17 states in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in Nigeria were determined in order to assess the safety of the feeds with respect to aflatoxin-producing fungi. Correlation was also performed for incidence of species, aflatoxin-producing ability of isolates in vitro, and aflatoxin (AFB1) concentrations in the feed. A total of 1006 Aspergillus section Flavi isolates were obtained from 87.9% of the feed samples and identified as Aspergillus flavus, unnamed taxon SBG, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus tamarii. A. flavus was the most prevalent (91.8%) of the isolates obtained from the feed in the AEZs while A. parasiticus had the lowest incidence (0.1%) and was isolated only from a layer mash sample collected from the DS zone. About 29% of the Aspergillus isolates produced aflatoxins in maize grains at concentrations up to 440,500μg/kg B and 341,000μg/kgG aflatoxins. The incidence of toxigenic isolates was highest (44.4%) in chick mash and lowest (19.9%) in grower mash. The population of A. flavus in the feed had positive (r=0.50) but non significant (p>0.05) correlations with proportion of toxigenic isolates obtained from the feed while SBG had significant (p<0.001) positive (r=0.99) influence on AFB1 concentrations in the feed. Poultry feed in Nigerian markets are therefore highly contaminated with aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species and consequently, aflatoxins. This is a potential threat to the poultry industry and requires urgent intervention.
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Mycology/Mycotoxicology Research Unit, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ezekiel
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atehnkeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Odebode
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria. Electronic address: r.bandyopadhyay@cgiar.org.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D009549:Nigeria; D011200:Poultry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1
keywords: Aflatoxigenicity; Aflatoxin; Aspergillus section Flavi; Feed; Poultry