title: The Status of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Emerging Trends and Post-Harvest Mitigation Strategies towards Food Control.
abstract: Fusariumfungi are common plant pathogens causing several plant diseases. The presence of these molds in plants exposes crops to toxic secondary metabolites calledFusariummycotoxins. The most studiedFusariummycotoxins include fumonisins, zearalenone, and trichothecenes. Studies have highlighted the economic impact of mycotoxins produced byFusarium. These arrays of toxins have been implicated as the causal agents of wide varieties of toxic health effects in humans and animals ranging from acute to chronic. Global surveillance ofFusariummycotoxins has recorded significant progress in its control; however, little attention has been paid toFusariummycotoxins in sub-Saharan Africa, thus translating to limited occurrence data. In addition, legislative regulation is virtually non-existent. The emergence of modifiedFusariummycotoxins, which may contribute to additional toxic effects, worsens an already precarious situation. This review highlights the status ofFusariummycotoxins in sub-Saharan Africa, the possible food processing mitigation strategies, as well as future perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Cynthia.Chilaka@UGent.be.|Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Applied Food Science and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umudike, Umuahia PMB 7267, Abia State, Nigeria. Cynthia.Chilaka@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Cynthia Adaku
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chilaka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Marthe.Deboevre@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Marthe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Boevre
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, McPherson University, KM 96 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 110117 Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State, Nigeria. olusegunatanda@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Olusegun Oladimeji
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Atanda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, Ghent 9000, Belgium. Sarah.Desaeger@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Saeger
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000382:microbiology*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005523:Food Supply; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins
keywords: Fusarium mycotoxins; food processing; modified mycotoxins; occurrence; sub-Saharan Africa