Survey of total aflatoxins in camels sera by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Aflatoxin contamination of rice in the United Arab Emirates

Many people in the United Arab Emirates store rice in large quantities for long periods of time before use. Five hundred samples of rice were collected from households in Al-Ain city during the summers of 1992-1994. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 160 samples (64%) of long grain rice and 81 Samples (32%) of short grain rice at levels ranging from 1.2 to 16.5 µg/kg. The moisture content of samples varied between 5.7% and 15.3%. Species ofAspergillus andPenicillium (includingA. flavus andA. parasiticus) were isolated from discoloured, broken and insect damaged grain and it was confirmed that at least two of the isolates ofA. flavus were aflatoxigenic. These findings demonstrate that rice may contribute to dietary exposure to aflatoxins which are known to be carcinogenic and immunosuppressive.

Aflatoxin production on the pits (seeds) of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Pits -a by-product of the utilization of date fruits, are widely used as components of animal feeds, but an incident of aflatoxicosis in camels fed rations containing date pits has caused concern in the Gulf Region. This present study has shown that date pits can support aflatoxin production when inoculated withAspergillus parasiticus (IMI 91019b) and that variety and/or stages of maturation within a given variety can affect the final level of aflatoxin in the material. In one variety, Lulu, aflatoxin production was 44.5,38.7 and 21.0 [Symbol: see text]g/g in pits taken from the first three stages of ripening namelyKimri, Khalal andRutab, but no significant aflatoxin production was noted at the fully-ripeTamr stage. Moisture content was considered to be the most important factor with respect to the capacity of the mould to synthesise aflatoxin in date pits.