Aflatoxin B1 Research Articles

Aflatoxin Exposure-Caused Male Reproductive Toxicity: Molecular Mechanisms, Detoxification, and Future Directions

Widespread endocrine disorders and infertility caused by environmental and food pollutants have drawn considerable global attention. Aflatoxins (AFTs), a prominent class of mycotoxins, are recognized as one of the key contributors to environmental and food contamination. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent and toxic pollutant among them and is known to cause multiple toxic effects, including neuro-, nephro-, hepato-, immune-, and genotoxicity. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding AFB1-induced infertility in both animals and humans. Exposure to AFB1 can disrupt the structure and functionality of reproductive organs, leading to gametogenesis impairment in males, subsequently reducing fertility. The potential molecular mechanisms have been demonstrated to involve oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and autophagy. Furthermore, several signaling pathways, including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3; nuclear factor kappa-B; p53; p21; phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B; the mammalian target of rapamycin; adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; and mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, are implicated in these processes. Various interventions, including the use of small molecules, Chinese herbal extracts, probiotic supplementation, and camel milk, have shown efficacy in ameliorating AFB1-induced male reproductive toxicity, by targeting these signaling pathways. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the harmful impacts of AFB1 exposure on male reproductive organs in mammals, highlighting the potential molecular mechanisms and protective agents.

Association between anaemia and aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 exposure in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected pregnant women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are poisons that contaminate poorly stored staple foods in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB1 and FB1 exposure may cause anaemia. We aimed to determine the associations of urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and FB1, biomarkers of AFB1 and FB1 exposure, respectively, with erythrocyte parameters and anaemia. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 68 HIV-infected and 61 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥ 20 weeks gestational age in Harare, Zimbabwe. AFM1 and FB1 were measured in urine via competitive ELISA, and levels were grouped into tertiles. The erythrocyte parameters assessed were haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), and red blood cell distribution width. Associations of urinary AFM1 and FB1 with erythrocyte parameters, and anaemia were assessed in a multiple regression controlled for potential confounders. The presence of FB1 in urine decreased Hb levels in all women (β= -0.98, 95% CI: -1.94, 0.02) and HIV-uninfected (β= -1.99, 95% CI: -3.71, -0.26). FB1 tertile 3 decreased Hb levels (β= -0.88, 95% CI: -1.74, 0.01) and HCT levels (β= -2.65, 95% CI: -5.26, 0.03) in HIV-infected. AFM1 tertile 2 decreased RBC levels in HIV-infected (β= -0.34, 95% CI: -0.71, -0.03). The presence of FB1 in urine increased anaemia risk in HIV-uninfected (OR: 10.68 95% CI: 1.02, 112.34). AFM1 tertile 2 increased macrocytic anaemia risk in HIV-infected (OR: 13.72, 95% CI: 0.92, 203.55). There is need to ensure food safety through monitoring and nutritional interventions to improve maternal-infant health outcomes.

The concentration and prevalence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in imported rice (Oryza sativa) samples from Iranian market: a probabilistic dietary risk assessment

ABSTRACT This investigation aimed to measure the concentrations of total aflatoxin (AFT), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and ochratoxin A (OTA) in imported rice samples to Iran and conduct a probabilistic health risk assessment for consumers. Three thousand seven hundred fifty-one imported rice samples were randomly collected from March 2022 to April 2024. The AFT, AFB1, and OTA concentrations were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a flame ionisation detector (HPLC-FID) and an ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). The ranking of mycotoxins based on mean concentration in rice was as follows: AFT (3.996 ± 6.925 µg/kg) > AFB1 (2.648 ± 5.746 µg/kg) > OTA (0.088 ± 0.847 µg/kg). The prevalence of these mycotoxins was found to be AFT present in 897 out of 3,710 samples (24.18%), AFB1 in 657 samples (17.52%), and OTA in 40 samples (1.07%). Significant correlations were observed between AFT and AFB1 (C: 0.96, p-value < 0.001), AFT and OTA (C: 0.28, p-value < 0.001), and AFB1 and OTA (C: 0.15, p-value < 0.001). The 95th percentile of the Margin of Exposure (MOE) for AFB1 in adult and child consumers was 0.930 and 0.270, respectively, while the Hazard Quotient (HQ) for OTA in adults and children was 0.030 and 0.100, respectively. The estimated cancer risk percentages for AFB1 in rice were 22.220 for adults and 43.500 for children. Overall, consuming imported rice containing AFT, AFB1, and OTA does not pose a significant non-carcinogenic risk to consumers’ health. However, the carcinogenic risk in Iran is higher than in other countries. Therefore, it is recommended that more effective and continuous monitoring programmes be implemented to ensure the quality of imported rice.

Short-term exposure to low doses of aflatoxin B1 aggravates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by TLR4-mediated necroptosis.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a worldwide mycotoxin found in food and foodstuffs, is a potent hepatotoxin in humans and animals. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a widespread disease, could progress from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatic cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, little is known concerning the relationship between AFB1 and the progression of NAFLD. The effects of low doses of AFB1 on the development of NASH and their mechanism were investigated in vivo and in vitro. The results in vivo showed that AFB1 at 20 and 40 μg/kg.bw aggravated CDAHFD-induced NASH in mice as demonstrated by increasing the serum and liver lipid accumulation, liver inflammation and injury. The results in vitro showed that AFB1 at 1.0 μM aggravated FFA-induced lipid accumulation, inflammation and cell damage in HepG2 cells. In addition, RNA-seq indicated that necroptosis, Toll like receptor signaling and TNF-α signaling showed a significant change in KEGG pathway enrichment in AFB1 at 40 μg/kg.bw. AFB1 significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, RIPK3, p-RIPK3, MLKL and p-MLKL, and increased TUNEL positive cells. Also, immunofluorescence results showed that TUNEL, TLR4, TNF-α had co-localized with RIPK3, respectively. Necroptosis inhibitor (GSK-872) attenuated the aggravating effects of AFB1 on NASH. Knockout of TLR4 inhibited necroptosis and rescued the aggravating effects of AFB1 on NASH. These data indicate that low dose of AFB1 aggravated NASH via TLR4-mediated necroptosis. This suggests that low dose of AFB1 is potentially harmful to animals and humans, as they exacerbate NASH.

Abstract B034: Prevalence and implication of aflatoxin B1 expression in colon cancers diagnosed in Southern Nigeria

Abstract Introduction: Mounting evidence shows that there is a high prevalence of late-stage, aggressive, and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon (AdCC) in Africa, with high mortality and low survival rate among patients. Literature finger food contaminants such as mycotoxin, especially Aflatoxin, as an attributable factor to the high incidence of abdominal cancers. However, there is a paucity of studies to confirm the hypothesis. Hence, this study determined the prevalence of Aflatoxin B1 in AdCC in Southern Nigeria. Citation Format: Chiagoziem Moral Delu-mozie, Jude Ogechukwu Okoye. Prevalence and implication of aflatoxin B1 expression in colon cancers diagnosed in Southern Nigeria [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr B034.

Exploration of Pseudomonas knackmussii AD02 for the biological mitigation of post-harvest aflatoxin contamination: Characterization and degradation mechanism

Aflatoxins, known for their potent carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, pose a major threat to human and animal health. Due to the impacts of climate change, aflatoxin contamination has emerged as a critical food safety issue, necessitating the development of effective detoxification strategies to mitigate its severe health risks. The current isolated, identified, and characterized bacterial strains from peanut-growing soils that are capable of degrading aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Coumarin was used as a selective carbon source during isolation. Bacterial isolate AD02 had the highest AFB1 degradation efficiency (88.85%). Morphological and genetic analyses confirmed AD02 as a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium closely related to Pseudomonas knackmussii. Optimization studies using a Box-Behnken design showed that initial pH significantly affected AFB1 degradation, with the optimal conditions identified as pH 7, 25 °C, and 24 h of incubation, resulting in approximately 90% AFB1 degradation. Additionally, P. knackmussii AD02 simultaneously degraded a mixture of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2. A mechanistic study of AFB1 degradation revealed the role of extracellular enzymes, particularly in proteinaceous and membrane-associated components. The mechanism for AFB1 degradation involved the hydrolytic cleavage of the lactone ring in the coumarin moiety, followed by the cleavage of the cyclopentenone ring and the elimination of double bonds in the furan and coumarin moieties. The in silico predictions indicated that this bacterium could metabolize AFB1 into a non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenic intermediate product. This study represents the first report on aflatoxin degradation by P. knackmussii, highlighting its potential as an effective biological agent for aflatoxin detoxification.

Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles alleviate AFB1-induced intestinal injury by modulating the gut microbiota and AHR activation.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin that widely found in the environment and mouldy foods. AFB1 initially targets the intestine, and AFB1-induced intestinal injury cannot be ignored. Lactobacillus amylovorus (LA), a predominant species of Lactobacillus, plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), small lipid membrane vesicles, are widely involved in diverse cellular processes. However, the mechanism by which Lactobacillus amylovorus-QC1H-derived EVs (LA.EVs) protect against AFB1-induced intestinal injury remains unclear. In our study, a new strain named Lactobacillus amylovorus-QC1H (LA-QC1H) was isolated from pig faeces. Then, EVs derived from LA-QC1H were extracted via ultracentrifugation. Our results showed that LA.EVs significantly alleviated AFB1-induced intestinal injury by inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines, decreasing intestinal permeability and increasing the expression of tight junction proteins. Moreover, 16S rRNA analysis revealed that LA.EVs modulated AFB1-induced gut dysbiosis in mice. However, LA.EVs did not exert beneficial effects in antibiotic-treated mice. LA.EVs treatment increased intestinal levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and activated intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/interleukin-22 (IL-22) signalling in AFB1-exposed mice. Inhibition of intestinal AHR signalling markedly weakened the protective effect of LA.EVs in AFB1-exposed mice. LA.EVs alleviated AFB1-induced intestinal injury by modulating the gut microbiota, activating the intestinal AHR/IL-22 signalling, reducing the inflammatory response and promoting intestinal barrier repair in mice.

Preharvest Natural Multitoxin Contamination of Winter Wheat Genotypes in Hungary with Special Attention to Aflatoxins and HT-2 Toxin

Toxigenic fungi are among the most significant disease-causing agents in wheat. DON is the most common Fusarium mycotoxin, and for a long time, it was the only toxin researched. However, multitoxin data from wheat samples have drawn attention to the fact that much more toxins can be involved in the wheat toxin story than we supposed earlier. For resistance breeding, we need a more detailed approach to identify toxins that occur above the limit and identify the source of the fungal species that produces them. This study analyzed local wheat varieties for fungal infections and natural multitoxin contamination. Eighteen winter wheat genotypes were tested for fungal contaminations across three different locations in 2021 and 2022. Fourteen different mycotoxins—deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), fumonisins (B1 and B2), sterigmatocystin, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, T-2, HT-2, and diacetoxyscirpenol—were analyzed using HPLC/triple-quad MS. Toxigenic species such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium had low rates of occurrence, but the toxin contamination was often surprisingly high. Many samples without corresponding fungal infections were also identified as containing mycotoxins. Therefore, the identified fungal infection is less useful for forecasting toxin level. In conclusion, mycotoxin contamination is decisive. Most samples were contaminated by one or more mycotoxins. Although the mycotoxin concentrations typically remained below EU limits, some samples exhibited higher levels, particularly aflatoxins and Ht-2 toxin. Significant variations were observed across year, location, and genotype. For several toxins, significant genotype differences were identified, supporting the hypothesis that resistance may be a useful and suitable control measure. Stability of toxin contamination across years and locations is a very valuable trait; genotypes were identified with low toxin levels and stability (low variance) to all mycotoxins tested. It seems that, in addition to DON, more attention should be given to aflatoxin B1, B2, and G1, which provided similar concentrations. The HT-2 toxin was present in many samples surpassing EU limits. This is the first report on the dangerous occurrence of preharvest-origin aflatoxins and the HT-2 toxin of wheat in Hungary.

Potential Production of Mycotoxins by the Fungal Flora Isolated from "Garba" (Côte D'ivoire)

Garba, an Ivorian dish composed of attiéké (a fermented cassava couscous), fried tuna, and condiments, is increasingly consumed by the population, particularly in the streets of Abidjan. However, garba could pose a health risk to consumers. This study, aimed at preserving public health, sought to identify the toxigenic fungal flora present in garba sold on the streets of Abidjan. To this end, 300 garba samples were collected from four districts of Abidjan. Fungal strains contaminating the garba were enumerated and identified using classical mycological methods. Mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxins) were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that the average mold counts ranged from 0 to 1.8 x 10^3 CFU/g. The isolated mold strains belonged to ten species grouped into four genera: Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium and Paecilomyces, with Mucor spp. (36.89%) and Aspergillus niger (30.09%) being the most predominant. The mycotoxins detected in garba were aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) and ochratoxin A, with average levels ranging from 0.42 to 8.07 µg/kg. Approximately 37% and 23% of garba samples had total aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 levels exceeding regulatory limits. The presence of potentially mycotoxigenic fungal strains in garba could pose a health risk to consumers. Compliance with good hygiene practices during the production and sale of garba will therefore be necessary to considerably reduce contamination and protect consumer health.

Development of a Sensitive Cysteine-Modified Au-NPs–Graphene Nanoribbons Nanocomposite Disposable Biosensor for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Food samples

Development of a Sensitive Cysteine-Modified Au-NPs–Graphene Nanoribbons Nanocomposite Disposable Biosensor for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Food samples

Effect of antioxidant and adsorbent on the digestibility and digestibility of nutrients in broiler diets while reducing the risk of aflatoxicosis

Purpose: determination of the adsorbent toxin and antioxidant vitamin C on the digestibility and assimilation of nutrients in the composition of compound feed for broiler chickens with a tolerant level of aflatoxin B1.Materials and methods. The objects of the study were broiler chickens of the KOBB-500 cross. When setting up the experiment, the duration of 42 days, 4 groups of 100 heads each were formed from day-old chickens according to the principle of analog groups. The experimental birds were fed complete compound feeds (CF) based on corn, sorghum and fodder beans. The samples of compound feeds have a high chemical composition and the presence of mycotoxins. Upper limits of permissible concentrations (ULC) for aflatoxin B1 were established in all three types of feed grain. Therefore, they were mixed with safe mycotoxin additives using dispensers in the feed shop of the poultry enterprise. In this way, tolerable levels (no more than 0,25 mg/kg of feed) of the content of this mycotoxin in the composition of the PK fed to the experimental birds were achieved. Against the background of the conducted scientific and production experiment with the use of chromium oxide in the composition of compound feed (as an inert indicator) on chickens (aged 35-42 days) of comparable groups (5 heads from each group), we conducted an exchange (physiological) experiment. Based on the results of chemical analysis of the fed compound feed and excrements in the droppings of the experimental birds, the level of digestibility and assimilation of nutrients in the diet was calculated.Results. During the experiment, the leadership of the combined introduction of the adsorbent toxfin in the amount of 1500 g/t and ingredient C in the amount of 500 g/t of feed into complete feeds for broiler chickens with a tolerant level of aflatoxin B1 was established. As a result, compared to the birds of the control group, the chickens of the 3rd experimental group had significantly (р&lt;0,05) higher coefficients of digestibility of dry matter by 3,66%, organic matter by 3,90 %, crude protein by 3,63 %, fiber by 3.06% and NFE by 3,19 %, respectively. In terms of the degree of nitrogen assimilation (60,45 %), the result (51.45 %) and phosphorus (49,67 %) from the generally accepted amount with feed, the best indicators were also obtained in broilers of the 3rd experimental group, which reliably (р&lt;0,05) outperformed their control indicators for these indicators by 3,74 %, 2,91 % and 2,45 %, respectively.

Comparison between mycobiota diversity and fungi and mycotoxin contamination of maize and wheat

Abstract The aim of this study was to establish the differences in fungi and mycotoxin contamination and mycobiota biodiversity between wheat and maize after harvesting. Determination of fungal contamination of wheat and maize is crucial, given that these grains are extensively used in food and feed production. Some moulds can produce toxic secondary metabolites, such as mycotoxins, which can cause serious health problems in humans and animals. Due to the metabolic activities of moulds, undesirable changes in food and feed colour, taste, and smell can occur. In this study, samples of wheat and maize, harvested during 2021 in the Northern Croatia, were analysed for mycological and mycotoxin contamination before storage. Also, potentially mycotoxigenic mould genera were identified at the species level in order to uncover the presence of toxigenic species. The presence of the following mycotoxins was examined: zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, aflatoxin B1, T-2, and HT-2 toxin. The results indicate that both wheat and maize samples were contaminated with yeasts, with maize exhibiting a higher level of contamination as compared to wheat (1.5 × 104 to 1.8 × 106 vs 1.7 × 103 to 9.0 × 105). In wheat, the predominant mycotoxigenic mould species was Alternaria, as opposed to maize in which the Penicillium genus was the most represented. Mycotoxin analysis revealed that both maize and wheat were contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins. Aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin were not determined in any of the tested samples. The results point out that grains carry a different risk of contamination with Fusarium mycotoxins and that maize is more susceptible to fungus spoilage.

Decoding the possible mechanism of action of Paeoniflorigenone in combating Aflatoxin B1-induced liver cancer: an investigation using network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis

Moutan cortex has demonstrated antitumor properties attributed to its bioactive compound Paeoniflorigenone (PA). Nevertheless, there is limited research on the efficacy of PA in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the potential pharmacological mechanisms of PA in the treatment of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis using network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis approaches. Through various databases and bioinformatics analysis approaches, 34 shared targets were identified as potential candidate genes for PA in fighting liver cancer caused by AFB1. Pathway analysis revealed involvement in cell cycle, HIF-1, and Rap1 pathways. A risk assessment model was developed using LASSO regression, showing an association between the identified genes and the tumor immune microenvironment. The genes within the risk model were found to be linked to the immune response in liver cancer. Molecular docking studies indicated that PA interacts with its targets through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study provides insights into the possible mechanisms of PA in liver cancer treatment and offers a predictive model for assessing the risk level of individuals with liver cancer. These findings have significant implications for the therapeutic strategies in managing liver cancer patients.

The High-Efficiency Degradation of Multiple Mycotoxins by Lac-W Laccase in the Presence of Mediators

Mycotoxin cocontamination is a severe threat to health and economic security worldwide. The mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin, fumonisin B1, and ochratoxin A are of particular concern due to their substantial toxicity. Lac-W is a laccase with the unique property of degrading these six mycotoxins in the absence of redox mediators. Nevertheless, their degradation rates are low. This work aims to improve the ability of Lac-W to degrade these six mycotoxins and to elucidate its detoxification mechanism. Including redox mediators increased the Lac-W degradation efficiency drastically, and completely degraded AFB1 and ZEN within one hour. Additionally, Lac-W-AS has good temperature, pH, and ions adaptability in ZEN degradation. Lac-W-AS reduced the ZEN toxicity because ZEN degradation products significantly restored the bioluminescence intensity of Vibrio fischeri. A Lac-W-AS-mediated oxidation product of ZEN was structurally characterized as 15-OH-ZEN by UHPLC-MS/MS. Linear sweep voltammetry showed that AS affected the potential of Lac-W and accelerated the oxidation of ZEN. Finally, the combination of mediators (acetosyringone and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)) improved the degradation rate of mycotoxins. This work highlights that the combination of Lac-W with mediators serves as a good candidate for degrading multi-mycotoxin contaminants in food and feedstuff.

Highly Sensitive One-Pot Isothermal Assay Combining Rolling Circle Amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a for Aflatoxin B1 Detection.

Occurrences of mycotoxins in cereals are widespread throughout the world. However, the lack of efficient and ultrasensitive tests has largely impeded the identification of these substances in actual samples. Herein, a novel one-pot isothermal assay that integrates rolling-circle amplification (RCA) and CRISPR/Cas12a to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is reported. Upon addition of AFB1 to the magnetic bead functionalized with a duplex of the AFB1 aptamer and its complementary DNA (cDNA), the specific recognition of AFB1 by the aptamer causes the release of cDNA to activate the RCA reaction. Subsequently, the RCA amplicon initiates both trans-cleavage and cis-cleavage activities of the endonuclease Cas12a. The synergistic coupling of RCA and CRISPR/Cas12a enables exponential amplification of cDNA, which further promotes CRISPR/Cas12a to nonspecifically cleave the single-stranded DNA reporters with enhanced detection signals. Remarkably, the CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted one-pot isothermal assay can not only achieve ultrasensitive quantitative detection through fluorescence detection, but also achieve visual detection through a lateral flow strip, which improves accessibility to mycotoxin detection in resource-limited regions. The limit of detection was 0.016 and 0.408 ng/mL, respectively. The proposed assay successfully applies in real samples with satisfactory recoveries from 90 to 114%. This study presents a powerful and versatile method for reliable and ultrasensitive detection of mycotoxins in various applications.

Toxicity of Low-Level Multiple-Mycotoxin Mixture in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Is Prevented with Organically Modified Clinoptilolite Feed Additive

Organically modified clinoptilolite (member of the zeolite family of minerals; MinazelPlus®) feed additive, with an average weight of 30 ± 2 g, was used to prevent mycotoxicosis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) through its supplementation for 42 days to the diet contaminated with multiple mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1 (40 µg/kg), fumonisin B1 and B2 (600 µg/kg), zearalenone (50 µg/kg), and deoxynivalenol (150 µg/kg). The fish were divided randomly into four experimental groups (basal diet control—C; fed 2 g/kg MinazelPlus®—MZ; fed multiple mycotoxins—MT; and fed a combination of MinazelPlus® and multiple mycotoxins—MZ + MT). Each group consisted of triplicate aquarium setups, with six fish in each replicate. Sampling was performed in weeks 2, 4, and 6. The lymphocyte count was significantly higher in the MZ group compared with the MT group and the MT + MZ group in week 6. An overall decrease in the neutrophil count was observed in the experimental groups. Histopathological analysis was performed in weeks 2 and 6, revealing significant changes in the liver, intestines, kidney, and spleen of fish from the MT group, while the MT + MZ and MZ groups were similar to the control. The addition of 2 g/kg MinazelPlus® has the ability to prevent and reduce the adverse effects of chronic exposure to low concentrations of multiple mycotoxins in juvenile Nile tilapia.

Aflatoxin B1-associated oxidative stress along with toxicopathological and immunological alterations is efficiently counteracted by dietary supplementation of distillery yeast sludge in broilers.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is among the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins and is a major source of distress for the growing poultry sector. On the other hand, distillery yeast sludge or distillery sludge (DS) is a byproduct of molasses-based industries. It is often treated as a waste despite containing abundant nutrients particularly protein, basic amino acids, and vitamins along with other macro and micronutrients. This study was designed to investigate the oxidative stress and immunological alterations induced by AFB1 and their amelioration by dietary supplementation with DS. For this purpose, 360 newly hatched broiler chicks were randomly divided into twelve groups (30 birds each) and fed different combinations of AFB1 (100, 200, or 600µg/kg) and DS (5 or 10g/kg) for 42days. The parameters under consideration were body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative organ weights, histopathological examination of different visceral organs, total antioxidant capacity, antibody response to intravenous injection of sheep red blood cells, in situ lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin-P, and phagocytic potential through a carbon clearance assay system. The results of this study established that DS supplementation ameliorated AFB1-associated oxidative stress and ameliorated toxicopathological and immunological anomalies in groups given AFB1 at 100µg/kg and 200µg/kg; however, little to no relief was observed in birds fed AFB1 at 600µg/kg. The determination of the actual ratio of the AFB1 to the DS for substantiating the ameliorating effects requires further investigation.

Individual and combined occurrences of the prevalent mycotoxins in commercial feline and canine food.

Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FBs), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin (T-2), and zearalenone (ZEN), can contaminate animal feeds and pose risks to animal health and production performance. These mycotoxins are commonly found in cereals and grains, with the increased use of cereals in pet food, there is a rising concern about mycotoxin contamination among pet owners. To address this, we analyzed imported brands of feline and canine food from the Chinese market produced in 2021-2022. Ninety-three samples were analyzed, comprising 45 feline food and 48 canine food samples. Among them, 14 were canned food and 79 were dry food. The results indicate that AFB1, DON, FBs, OTA, T-2, and ZEN occurred in 32.26%, 98.92%, 22.58%, 73.12%, 55.91%, and 7.53% of the samples, respectively. The most prevalent mycotoxin was DON, followed by OTA, T-2, AFB1, and FBs, whereas ZEN was less frequently detected. The mean concentrations of the six mycotoxins in pet feed samples were 3.17μg/kg for AFB1, 0.65mg/kg for DON, 2.15mg/kg for FBs, 6.27μg/kg for OTA, 20.00μg/kg for T-2, and 30.00μg/kg for ZEN. The levels of mycotoxins were generally below the limits of the Pet Feed Hygiene Regulations of China and the EU. Notably, a substantial majority of the pet food samples (88 out of 93) were contaminated by two or more mycotoxins. AFB1, FBs, OTA, and ZEN occurred slightly more often in feline food than in canine food. Except for OTA, the contamination rates for the other five mycotoxins in canned food were lower than those in dry food. Moreover, except for AFB1, the levels of the other five mycotoxins in canned foods were lower than those in dry foods. This study highlights the widespread contamination of pet foods with mycotoxins, which poses a significant risk to pets from continuous exposure to multiple mycotoxins.

Effective magnetic nanoadsorbent based on natural carboxymethyl cellulose/polyaniline nanotube/graphene oxide for aflatoxin B1 and B2 adsorption in rice utilizing a novel synthesis method

A magnetic nanoadsorbent was prepared via a novel one-pot magnetization method by employing natural carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyaniline (PANI) nanotube, and graphene oxide (GO) for the effective adsorption of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and B2 (AFB2) from rice samples. This synthesized adsorbent combines the multifunction of CMC, PANI, and GO and shows improved extraction performance. FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, VSM, and TGA analyses were used to investigate the successful synthesis of the nanocomposite. The adsorption mechanism was ascribed to π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Under optimized conditions, the method achieved extraction recoveries ranging from 78 % to 89 %. Low limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were obtained in the ranges of 0.07 and 0.01 ng g−1, and 0.20 and 0.04 ng g−1 for AFB1 and B2, respectively. This method showed an acceptable precision with intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 15 %. Comparative studies with other adsorbents used in extraction methods such as solid phase extraction (SPE), magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction (MDSPE), and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) demonstrated that the proposed method outperforms the existing procedures; it is promising in efficient AFs monitoring in rice.

Role of red beetroot in bread for reducing mycotoxin risks: Bioavailability of beetroot polyphenols and betalains with ochratoxin a, aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone in Caco-2 cells

Role of red beetroot in bread for reducing mycotoxin risks: Bioavailability of beetroot polyphenols and betalains with ochratoxin a, aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone in Caco-2 cells