Toxigenic mycoflora, aflatoxin and fumonisin contamination of poultry feeds in Ghana.

The study was undertaken to identify the major mycotoxigenic fungi, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels in prepared poultry feeds in Ghana. Three hundred and fifty (350) prepared feed samples were randomly collected from 133 commercial poultry farms, 76 feed processors and eight (8) feed vendors in three major poultry producing regions of Ghana over two seasons. Fungi were isolated using the serial dilution method on potato dextrose agar and identified using standard methods of identification. Total aflatoxin and fumonisin levels were quantified using AgraStrip® Total Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Quantitative test Watex® from RomerLab, USA. Eight (8) different fungi were isolated from the feed samples with isolation frequency as follows: Aspergillus flavus (47%), A. niger (24%), A. fumigatus (17%), A. oryzae (3%), A. tamarii (2%), Penicillium sp. (3%), Colletotrichum sp. (4%) and Rhizopus sp. (0.1%). Feed samples collected during the rainy season recorded higher mean colony counts (3.39 ± 0.29) than that of the dry season (1.10 ± 0.18). Total aflatoxin and fumonisin levels ranged from 0 to 118 ppb with a mean of 57.25 ± 2.55 ppb, and 0.28-15 ppm with a mean of 1.54 ± 0.12 ppm, respectively. The study revealed co-occurrence of aflatoxin and fumonisin in all the feed samples. Significant correlations (r = 0.298, r = 0.694) (p < 0.05) were observed among the aflatoxin and fumonisin levels and the fungi isolated. Seventy-four percent (74%) of all the feed samples exceeded the 15 ppb Ghana Standards Authority threshold, the EU regulatory limit of 20 ppb and the FAO/WHO recommended maximum permissible limit of 30 ppb for poultry feeds. Although fumonisin levels were less than the EU guidance values of 20 ppm for poultry feeds, 20% of the samples were higher than the FAO/WHO maximum tolerable daily intake limit of 2 ppm. Proper handling of prepared feeds and ingredients could prevent or minimize toxigenic fungi contamination and lower the likelihood of mycotoxin development in poultry feeds.