Assessment of aflatoxin B 1 in animal feed and aflatoxin M 1 in raw milk samples of different species of milking animals from Punjab, Pakistan

Effective novel and conventional technologies for decontamination of aflatoxin B1 in foods: a review

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by certain filamentous fungi that contaminate agricultural crops. Conventional decontamination methods are still widely used to ensure food safety; however, novel technologies for AFB1 decontamination, while promising, aim to be efficient, cost-effective, and scalable. This article provides an overview of conventional and novel technologies used over the past decade to achieve AFB1 decontamination rates of 75% or higher, as well as patents related to aflatoxin decontamination. The results highlight various methods and their effectiveness in decontaminating AFB1 in rice, barley, maize, peanuts, millet, nuts, sorghum, wheat bran, pistachios, edible oils, dairy products, and certain culture media. Novel technologies include sorbents, cold atmospheric plasma, essential oils, phenolic compounds, and plant extracts, as well as magnetic materials and nanoparticles for AFB1 decontamination. Limitations associated with conventional methods have driven the search for novel approaches that, while showing great potential, often lack detailed explanations of their mechanisms of action and practical demonstrations on an industrial scale. Cold atmospheric plasma combined with high voltage is believed to hold significant promise for effectively reducing AFB1 in food while minimizing food residues. The new AFB1 decontamination methods described in this review can serve as valuable resources for researchers and industry stakeholders; however, further studies are needed to ensure global food safety.

Spatial Distribution and Dietary Risk Assessment of Aflatoxins in Raw Milk and Dairy Feedstuff Samples from Different Climate Zones in China

This study aimed to explore the contamination of aflatoxins by investigating the spatial distribution of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in cow feedstuff and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk, and the potential health risks of AFM1 in milk and dairy products. Feedstuff and raw milk were collected from 160 pastures in three climate zones of China from October to November 2020. The results indicated the level of AFB1 and AFM1 ranged from 51.1 to 74.1 ng/kg and 3.0 to 7.0 ng/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis indicated the contamination was mostly concentrated in the temperate monsoon climate zone. On average, the estimated dietary exposure to AFM1 from milk and dairy products for Chinese consumers ranged from 0.0138 to 0.0281 ng/kg bw/day, with the MOE values below 10,000, and liver cancer risk of 0.00004-0.00009 cases/100,000 persons/year. For different groups, the average exposure to AFM1 was highest in the temperate monsoon climate zone and for toddlers.

Synthesis of an ordered macroporous metal-organic framework for efficient solid-phase extraction of aflatoxins from milk products

Aflatoxins (AFs) exhibit hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, and their detection in food has attracted widespread concern. An ordered macroporous metal-organic framework (OM-ZIF-8) based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to extract six AFs from milk products. The SPE conditions, including eluting solvent, eluting volume, amounts of OM-ZIF-8, pH of loading solution, loading solvent, ionic strength, loading flow rate, and elution flow rate, were exhaustively optimized. Under optimal parameters, the six AFs were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The OM-ZIF-8 exhibited satisfactory AFs extraction performance through ordered macropore structure, π-π interaction, coordination interaction, and electrostatic interaction. Furthermore, linearity in the range of 0.01-100 ng mL-1 with low detection limits of 0.002-0.0150 ng mL-1 was obtained, and the relative recoveries of AFs were 80.3-110 % with relative standard deviation ≤8.7 %. Thus, this research provides a promising platform for the analysis of trace AFs in complex foods.

Aflatoxins Contamination in Feed Commodities: From Occurrence and Toxicity to Recent Advances in Analytical Methods and Detoxification

Synthesized by the secondary metabolic pathway in Aspergilli, aflatoxins (AFs) cause economic and health issues and are culpable for serious harmful health and economic matters affecting consumers and global farmers. Consequently, the detection and quantification of AFs in foods/feeds are paramount from food safety and security angles. Nowadays, incessant attempts to develop sensitive and rapid approaches for AFs identification and quantification have been investigated, worldwide regulations have been established, and the safety of degrading enzymes and reaction products formed in the AF degradation process has been explored. Here, occurrences in feed commodities, innovative methods advanced for AFs detection, regulations, preventive strategies, biological detoxification, removal, and degradation methods were deeply reviewed and presented. This paper showed a state-of-the-art and comprehensive review of the recent progress on AF contamination in feed matrices with the intention of inspiring interests in both academia and industry.

Prevalence and Concentration of Mycotoxins in Animal Feed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study seeks a comprehensive meta-analysis of mycotoxin contaminants in animal feed consumed in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The obtained articles were reviewed, and 49 articles that investigated the contamination of mycotoxins including aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA), T-2 toxin, fumonisins (FUM), and ochratoxin A (OTA), in feed samples or components of animal feed in the MENA region were selected. The titles of the final articles included in the study were meta-analyzed. Necessary information was extracted and categorized from the articles, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata software. The highest contamination was in dry bread (80%), and Algeria was the most contaminated country (87% of animal feed), with the most mycotoxins contaminating AFs (47%) and FUM (47%). The highest concentration of mycotoxins in animal feed is related to FUM (1240.01 μg/kg). Climate change, economic situation, agricultural and processing methods, the nature of the animal feed, and improper use of food waste in animal feed are among the most critical factors that are effective in the occurrence of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed in MENA. Control of influential factors in the occurrence of contaminations and rapid screening with accurate identification methods to prevent the occurrence and spread of mycotoxin contamination of animal feed seem important.

The Effects of Aflatoxin B1 Intake in Assaf Dairy Ewes on Aflatoxin M1 Excretion, Milk Yield, Haematology and Biochemical Profile

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo transfer of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to Assaf ewes' milk (aflatoxin M1, AFM1) and its effect on animal performance and health. Thirty Assaf ewes were allocated to three groups (C, L, H), and received a different individual daily dose of AFB1 (0, 40 and 80 μg) for 13 days. Milk (days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 16 and 18) and blood (days 1, 7, 14 and 18) samples were collected. Milk yield, composition (except protein) and somatic cell counts (SCC) were not affected by AFB1 intake (p > 0.05). Haemoglobin concentration increased (p < 0.05) and haematocrit and alanine aminotransferase levels tended to increase (p < 0.10) in group H on day 14. AFM1 excretion was highly variable and detected in L and H animals from days 1 to 16 (3 days increase, 10 days steady-state, 3 days clearance). Carry-over rate (0.23%) was significantly higher in L (0.22-0.34%) than in H (0.16-0.19%) animals (p < 0.05). AFB1 daily doses of 40 to 80 µg do not impair milk yield; however, it may start affecting animals' health. Milk AFM1 depends mainly on the AFB1 intake whereas carryover rate is positively influenced by the level of milk production.

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in Cow, Goat, Buffalo, Camel, and Yak Milk in China in 2016

In this present study, 195 cow milk, 100 goat milk, 50 buffalo milk, 50 camel milk, and 50 yak milk samples were collected in China in May and October 2016. The presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. For all cow milk samples, 128 samples (65.7%) contained AFM1 in concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.191 µg/L, and 6 samples (3.1%) from Sichuan province in October were contaminated with AFM1 above 0.05 µg/L (EU limit). For all goat milk samples, 76.0% of samples contained AFM1 in concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.135 µg/L, and 9 samples (9.0%) from Shanxi province in October were contaminated with AFM1 above 0.05 µg/L. For all buffalo milk samples, 24 samples (48.0%) contained AFM1 in concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.089 µg/L, and 2 samples collected in October were contaminated with AFM1 above 0.05 µg/L. Furthermore, 28.0% of samples contained AFM1 in concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.007 µg/L in camel milk samples, and 18.0% of samples contained AFM1 in concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.007 µg/L in yak milk samples. Our survey study has expanded the current knowledge of the occurrence of AFM1 in milk from five dairy species in China, in particular the minor dairy species.

Comprehensive Review of Aflatoxin Contamination, Impact on Health and Food Security, and Management Strategies in Pakistan

Aflatoxins (AFs) are the most important toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic fungal toxins that routinely contaminate food and feed. While more than 20 AFs have been identified to date, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1), G2 (AFG2), and M1 (AFM1) are the most common. Over 25 species of Aspergillus have been shown to produce AFs, with Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius being the most important and well-known AF-producing fungi. These ubiquitous molds can propagate on agricultural commodities to produce AFs in fields and during harvesting, processing, transportation, and storage. Countries with warmer climates and that produce foods susceptible to AF contamination shoulder a substantial portion of the global AF burden. Pakistan's warm climate promotes the growth of toxigenic fungi, resulting in frequent AF contamination of human foods and animal feeds. The potential for contamination in Pakistan is exacerbated by improper storage conditions and a lack of regulatory limits and enforcement mechanisms. High levels of AFs in common commodities produced in Pakistan are a major food safety problem, posing serious health risks to the population. Furthermore, aflatoxin contamination contributes to economic losses by limiting exports of these commodities. In this review, recent information regarding the fungal producers of AFs, prevalence of AF contamination of foods and feed, current regulations, and AF prevention and removal strategies are summarized, with a major focus on Pakistan.

Occurrence of Aflatoxins in Edible Vegetable Seeds and Oil Samples Available in Pakistani Retail Markets and Estimation of Dietary Intake in Consumers

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites toxic to humans as well as animals. The environmental conditions, conventional agricultural practices, and illiteracy are the main factors which favor the production of AFs in food and feed. In the current study 744 samples of vegetable seeds and oils (soybean, sunflower, canola, olive, corn, and mustard) were collected and tested for the presence of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and total AFs. Liquid-liquid extraction was employed for the extraction of AFs from seeds and oil samples. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescence detection was used for the analysis. The results have shown that 92 (56.7%) samples of imported and 108 (57.0%) samples of local edible seeds were observed to be contaminated with AFs. All samples of edible seeds have AFB₁ levels greater than the proposed limit set by the European Union (EU, 2 µg/kg) and 12 (7.40%) samples of imported seeds and 14 (7.40%) samples of local seeds were found in the range ≥ 50 µg/kg. About 78 (43.3%) samples of imported edible oil and 103 (48.3%) sample of local edible oil were observed to be positive for AFs. Furthermore, 16 (8.88%) and six (3.33%) samples of imported vegetable oil have levels of total AFs in a range (21–50 µg/kg) and greater than 50 µg/kg, respectively. The findings indicate significant differences in AFs levels between imported and local vegetable oil samples (t = 22.27 and p = 0.009) at α = 0.05 and a significant difference in AFs levels were found between vegetable seeds and oil samples (t = −17.75, p = 0.009) at α = 0.05. The highest dietary intake was found for a local sunflower oil sample (0.90 µg/kg/day) in female individuals (16–22 age group). The results have shown considerably high levels of AFB1 and total AFs in seeds and oil samples and emphasise the need to monitor carefully the levels of these toxic substances in food and feed on regular basis.