Diversity of Toxigenic Fungi in Livestock and Poultry Feedstuffs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover how abundant toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins are in animal feedstuff samples. A total of ninety samples representing various types of animal feedstuff samples were collected from ninety sites in Egypt. Isolation, identification, and determination of mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and ochratoxin A) were performed. The results revealed that 79 (87.77%) of the samples were contaminated with fungi, and 1.1 × 105 CFU/g were recovered, including 41 fungal species belonging to 18 genera, such as Zygomycota, which was represented by three species (7.31% of the total species number), teleomorphic Ascomycota (10 species, 24.39%), and anamorphic Ascomycota (28 species, 69.29%). When taxonomically investigated, these species were categorized into 2 phyla, 4 classes, 6 orders, and 12 families (one of them with an uncertain position). Moreover, the genus Aspergillus exhibited 16 species (39.02%). Notably, site no. 6 showed the highest Margalef species richness index at 10.87 followed by site no. 4, while the Shannon diversity index (H) of the recovered taxa was 2.20. Based on the frequency of occurrence, Aspergillus flavus recorded the highest percentage (65.56%) followed by A. niger (50%) and Penicillium chrysogenum (40%). Genus Aspergillus was recorded in 75 samples (88.33%), while Penicillium appeared only in 43 samples, accounting for 47.77% out of 90 samples. The High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was recorded in two animal feedstuff samples at a ratio of 0.851 and 1.363 µg/kg, While AFB2 was discovered in only one animal feedstuff sample at a ratio of 0.479 g/kg. The aflatoxins levels in the positive samples (AFB1 and AFB2) Beef cattle sample components were below the permissible limit for animal feedstuff which is (20 g/kg). Although aflatoxins were found in certain samples, the amounts were much below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) defined by the international authorities or Egyptian guidelines. toxigenic fungi found in contaminated animal feed samples pose a major threat to animal and poultry health, productivity, and even human health. Therefore, periodic monitoring is an excellent way to keep track of their existence and mitigate their hazards.

Hazards Associated with the Combined Application of Fungicides and Poultry Litter in Agricultural Areas

“…In poultry farming, fungi play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter present in poultry waste, such as food remains and bird excrement. They help in recycling nutrients and maintaining ecological balance [ 7 ]. However, some species of fungi can produce mycotoxins, substances that are toxic to animals when feed and food are contaminated.…”

“…Fungal presence in poultry farms generates organic dust composed of various particles, including fungal spores, some of which can cause allergies, posing health risks to workers [ 7 ]. The article also discusses the vital role of fungi in maintaining ecological balance and their interactions with xenobiotics, foreign chemical substances in the body, with applications in bioremediation.…”

Exploration of Cytochrome P450-Related Interactions between Aflatoxin B1 and Tiamulin in Broiler Chickens

“…More seriously, AFB1 levels were as high as 39.9 μg/kg in Pakistan [ 11 ], where 100% of grower broiler feed was contaminated with AFB1 [ 12 ]. In Egypt, it was observed that AFB1 and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) were both present in animal feedstuff ranging from 0.851 to 1.363 µg/kg [ 13 ]. Even, AFB1 concentrations of 1067 µg/kg have been reported in poultry feed in West Africa, highlighting the widespread presence of AFs in feed commodities [ 14 ].…”

Destruction of Mycotoxins in Poultry Waste under Anaerobic Conditions within Methanogenesis Catalyzed by Artificial Microbial Consortia

“…It should be emphasized that mycotoxins in the litter can have two main origins ( Figure 1 ): (i) mycotoxins can accumulate in the feed during the cultivation, harvesting, transportation, and storage of the feedstock [ 22 ] and (ii) mycotoxins appear as a result of litter contamination by microscopic fungi during its transportation and storage due to high content of proteins, moisture, etc. [ 23 ].…”