PJB-2020-96
DETECTION OF MYCOTOXIGENIC FUNGI AND MYCOTOXINS IN POULTRY FEED OF QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN
Fatima Abdul Majeed
Abstract
Mycotoxins are secondary toxic metabolites of fungi, commonly associated to agriculture commodities. Aflatoxins, Zearalenone, Ochratoxin, Fumonisins and Trichothecenes are its important types. Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Claviceps genera are the most common mycotoxigenic fungi. Mycotoxins can be carcinogenic, cytotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, estrogenic and immunosuppressant. This study was conducted for the presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in poultry feed used by the poultry farmers of Balochistan. Samples (n=100) were analyzed and found contaminated with fungi such as Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus and Fusarium genera. Among them Aspergillus spp. was highly prevalent (89%). Aflatoxin production in culture plates were initially screened with the help of ammonia hydroxide vapor test and subsequently with AgraStrip® for aflatoxins and fumonisins. Aflatoxins (77%) and Fumonisins (92%) were found in direct detection in feed samples. The toxins presence was also conformed with the help of ELISA using AgraQuant® kits. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for characterization and quantification of aflatoxins. It was concluded that the feed samples were abundantly contaminated with aflatoxins and fumonisins and fungi responsible for its production. This contaminated feed is one of the reason for economic loses for poultry farmers of the region.
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