title: Longitudinal evaluation of aflatoxin exposure in two cohorts in south-western Uganda.
abstract: Aflatoxins (AF) are a group of mycotoxins. AF exposure causes acute and chronic adverse health effects such as aflatoxicosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in human populations, especially in the developing world. In this study, AF exposure was evaluated using archived serum samples from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative participants from two cohort studies in south-western Uganda. AFB1-lysine (AFB-Lys) adduct levels were determined via HPLC fluorescence in a total of 713 serum samples from the General Population Cohort (GPC), covering eight time periods between 1989 and 2010. Overall, 90% (642/713) of the samples were positive for AFB-Lys and the median level was 1.58 pg mg(-1) albumin (range = 0.40-168 pg mg(-1) albumin). AFB-Lys adduct levels were also measured in a total of 374 serum samples from the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), across four time periods between 1999 and 2003. The averaged detection rate was 92.5% (346/374) and the median level was 1.18 pg mg(-1) albumin (range = 0.40-122.5 pg mg(-1) albumin). In the GPC study there were no statistically significant differences between demographic parameters, such as age, sex and level of education, and levels of serum AFB-Lys adduct. In the RCCS study, longitudinal analysis using generalised estimating equations revealed significant differences between the adduct levels and residential areas (p = 0.05) and occupations (p = 0.02). This study indicates that AF exposure in people in two populations in south-western Uganda is persistent and has not significantly changed over time. Data from one study, but not the other, indicated that agriculture workers and rural area residents had more AF exposure than those non-agricultural workers and non-rural area residents. These results suggest the need for further study of AF-induced human adverse health effects, especially the predominant diseases in the region.
authors.affiliation: a College of Public Health and Peanut CRSP , University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Min-Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nkurunziza
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muwanika
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nkwata
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ssempebwa
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lutalo
authors.forename: Gershim
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asiki
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serwadda
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seeley
authors.forename: Pontiano
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaleebu
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nalugoda
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: William
authors.forename: Jia-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000097:blood*; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008239:Lysine / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D012709:Serum Albumin; C066451:aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D008239:Lysine
keywords: Uganda; aflatoxin B1–lysine adduct; aflatoxins; cohort studies; human exposure