Aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with pre-harvest maize contamination in Uganda

Sserumaga, Julius Pyton; Ortega‐Beltran, Alejandro; Wagacha, John M.; Mutegi, Charity; Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit

doi:10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108376

Cited by 48 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Incidentally, this country also ranks among the countries with the highest prevalence of oesophageal cancer, which was associated with aflatoxin intake as a risk factor [21,86,89]. Conversely, a recent survey on aflatoxin contamination of maize grown in eight different AEZs in Uganda revealed that the highest levels ( a maximum of 3760 µg/kg and an average of 66.5 µg/kg were recorded in the zones with high rainfalls (>1200-mm); the percentage of samples exceeding the national regulatory standards of 10 µg/kg reached 22.2% [90].…”

Section: Crop Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxins: Producing-Molds, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Benkerroum

2020

IJERPH

187

112

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This review aims to update the main aspects of aflatoxin production, occurrence and incidence in selected countries, and associated aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Means to reduce aflatoxin incidence in crops were also presented, with an emphasis on the environmentally-friendly technology using atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins are unavoidable widespread natural contaminants of foods and feeds with serious impacts on health, agricultural and livestock productivity, and food safety. They are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species distributed on three main sections of the genus (section Flavi, section Ochraceorosei, and section Nidulantes). Poor economic status of a country exacerbates the risk and the extent of crop contamination due to faulty storage conditions that are usually suitable for mold growth and mycotoxin production: temperature of 22 to 29 °C and water activity of 0.90 to 0.99. This situation paralleled the prevalence of high liver cancer and the occasional acute aflatoxicosis episodes that have been associated with these regions. Risk assessment studies revealed that Southeast Asian (SEA) and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries remain at high risk and that, apart from the regulatory standards revision to be more restrictive, other actions to prevent or decontaminate crops are to be taken for adequate public health protection. Indeed, a review of publications on the incidence of aflatoxins in selected foods and feeds from countries whose crops are classically known for their highest contamination with aflatoxins, reveals that despite the intensive efforts made to reduce such an incidence, there has been no clear tendency, with the possible exception of South Africa, towards sustained improvements. Nonetheless, a global risk assessment of the new situation regarding crop contamination with aflatoxins by international organizations with the required expertise is suggested to appraise where we stand presently.

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Section: Crop Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxins: Producing-Molds, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Benkerroum

2020

IJERPH

187

112

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“…Farming systems can also affect the community structure composition of aflatoxin-producing fungi, as reported by Sserumaga et al [ 36 ] in pre-harvest maize across Uganda (23 major maize-growing districts in eight agro-ecological areas). Crop rotation and intercropping can reduce the mycotoxin contamination in maize and groundnut, and in conservation agriculture (e.g., permanent soil cover and minimum soil disturbance) can decrease the risk of contamination [ 37 ]. Monoculture of maize under conventional tillage compared to no-tillage monoculture and no-tillage two- or three-year rotation (consisting of maize/cowpea and maize/cowpea/babala, respectively) showed no significant differences in terms of fumonisin contamination in South Africa [ 38 ].…”

Section: Systems For the Control Of Mycotoxins In Feed And Foodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxins in Feed and Food and the Role of Ozone in Their Detoxification and Degradation: An Update

Conte

Fontanelli

Galli

et al. 2020

Toxins

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Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some filamentous fungi, which can cause toxicity in animal species, including humans. Because of their high toxicological impacts, mycotoxins have received significant consideration, leading to the definition of strict legislative thresholds and limits in many areas of the world. Mycotoxins can reduce farm profits not only through reduced crop quality and product refusal, but also through a reduction in animal productivity and health. This paper briefly addresses the impacts of mycotoxin contamination of feed and food on animal and human health, and describes the main pre- and post-harvest systems to control their levels, including genetic, agronomic, biological, chemical, and physical methods. It so highlights (i) the lack of effective and straightforward solutions to control mycotoxin contamination in the field, at pre-harvest, as well as later post-harvest; and (ii) the increasing demand for novel methods to control mycotoxin infections, intoxications, and diseases, without leaving toxic chemical residues in the food and feed chain. Thus, the broad objective of the present study was to review the literature on the use of ozone for mycotoxin decontamination, proposing this gaseous air pollutant as a powerful tool to detoxify mycotoxins from feed and food.

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“…Incidentally, this country also ranks among the countries with the highest prevalence of oesophageal cancer, which was associated with aflatoxin intake as a risk factor [18,92,95]. Conversely, a recent survey on aflatoxin contamination of maize grown in eight different AEZs in Uganda revealed that the highest levels (a maximum of 3760 µg/kg) and an average of 66.5 µg/kg) were recorded in the zones with high rainfalls (1200->1400 mm); the percentage of samples exceeding the national regulatory standards of 10 µg/kg reached 22.2% [96]. a In the same country, there are generally more than one climate type depending on the geographical region, which is defined as agroecological zone (AEZ) according the classification of Köppen-Geiger [99], where the first letter refers to the climate type (A: Tropical; B: Arid; C: Warm temperate), the second letter refers to the precipitation (w: Winter dry; S: Steppe; f: Fully humid; m: Monsoonal), and the third letter refers to the temperature (h: hot arid; a: Hot summer; b: Warm summer).…”

Section: Crop Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aflatoxins: Production, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Benkerroum¹

2019

Preprint

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This review aimed to update the main aspects of aflatoxin production, occurrence and incidence in selected countries, and associated aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Means to reduce aflatoxin incidence in crops were also presented with an emphasis on the environment-friendly technology using atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxins are unavoidable widespread natural contaminants of foods and feeds with serious impact on health, agricultural and livestock productivity, and food safety. They are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species distributed on three main sections of the genus (section Flavi, section Ochraceorosei, and section Nidulantes). Poor economic status of a country exacerbates the risk and the extent of crop contamination due to faulty storage conditions that are usually suitable for mold growth and mycotoxin production: temperature of 22 to 29°C and water activity of 0.90 to 0.99. This situation paralleled the prevalence of high liver cancer and the occasional acute aflatoxicosis episodes that have been associated with these regions. Risk assessment studies revealed that Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries remain at high risk and that, apart from the regulatory standards revision to be more restrictive, other actions to prevent or decontaminate crops are to be taken for adequate public health protection. Indeed, a review of publications on the incidence of aflatoxins in selected foods and feeds from countries whose crops are classically known for their highest contamination with aflatoxins, reveals that despite the intensive efforts made to reduce such an incidence, there has been no clear tendency, with the possible exception of South Africa, towards sustained improvements. Nonetheless, a global risk assessment of the new situation regarding crop contamination with aflatoxins by international organizations with the required expertise is suggested to appraise where we stand presently.

show abstract

Aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with pre-harvest maize contamination in Uganda

Cited by 48 publications

References 43 publications

Aflatoxins: Producing-Molds, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Aflatoxins: Producing-Molds, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Mycotoxins in Feed and Food and the Role of Ozone in Their Detoxification and Degradation: An Update

Aflatoxins: Production, Structure, Health Issues and Incidence in Southeast Asian and Sub-Saharan African Countries

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