Abstract
BackgroundAflatoxin contamination of grain is a major constraint to sustained quality cereal production. The causative fungi, Aspergillus species infect crops in the field and continue to do so post-harvest where they produce toxins in store. The current study aimed at establishing seasonal variation in levels and types of aflatoxins in maize from the Eastern region of Kenya- the hot-spot for aflatoxicosis. Maize kernels were collected from farmers’ households in May and December 2013 -2 months after long rain and short rain season respectively. The total aflatoxins were quantified using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), while the toxin composition was determined using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) and confirmed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).ResultsGenerally, grain harvested after the long rains (May) had significantly (p = 0.019) lower aflatoxin levels and variation (5.68 ± 6.31 ppb, 100% Aflatoxin B1) than that of short rains (10.77 ± 10.14 ppb, 72% AFB1). Additionally, from the long and short rain seasons, the samples exceeding regulatory allowed limit (10 ppb) were 16 and 44% respectively.ConclusionIn Eastern Kenya, consumption of maize harvested in the long rain season presents a recurrent risk of exposure to low levels of AFB1; while consumption of maize harvested after the short rain season presents a risk of seasonal exposure to high levels and mixed type of toxins However, this long term risk of exposure to aflatoxins is poorly documented hence these findings necessitate mitigation measures because AFB1– is a potent class 1 mutagenic toxin likely to cause liver cancer.
Highlights
Aflatoxin contamination of grain is a major constraint to sustained quality cereal production
There were 12% of the samples with AFB1 and Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) appearing as mixed contamination (Table 2)
The current study was designed to explain the observed high levels of aflatoxins in the region by separating contamination of grain that is due to grain importation into the hot-spot region from that which is due to local production
Summary
Aflatoxin contamination of grain is a major constraint to sustained quality cereal production. The current study aimed at establishing seasonal variation in levels and types of aflatoxins in maize from the Eastern region of Kenya- the hot-spot for aflatoxicosis. The majority of the fatalities reported in Kenya have occurred in the lower Eastern region of the country, which lead to a. There is evidence showing a positive correlation between aflatoxins level and climatic seasons. This has been documented in in Nepal where aflatoxins were higher in crops harvested during the dry season (Gautam et al 2008) while in Sierra Leone, human exposure to aflatoxins and ochratoxins appeared higher in the dry season than the rainy one suggesting higher contamination (Jonsyn-Ellis 2001)
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