AFLATOXINS ASSOCIATED WITH STORAGE FUNGI IN FISH FEED
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Date
2015-07
Authors
Samuel, Temitope
Odunigba, Olusegun
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ife Journal of Science
Abstract
Cereals and legumes are a very important part of feed used in culturing fishes. Feed, when not properly stored,
enhances the growth of storage fungi which is a source of mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by
storage fungi. This study investigates storage fungi and aflatoxin in fish feed stored under three different storage
conditions. Storage fungi were isolated and identified using direct isolation technique; detection and
identification of aflatoxins using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Proximate analysis of the
stored feed were also carried out. Two fungi species (Mucor species and Fusarium oxysporium) were isolated from the
stored feed. It was observed that it takes five weeks after sporulation of storage fungi for production of
mycotoxins to take place. Four types of Aflatoxins (G1, G2, B1 & B2) were identified in the stored feed. The
results on the proximate analysis on the stored feed prior to and after storage periods revealed decrease in the
carbohydrate, protein, ash and the crude fiber content of the stored feed and increase in the moisture and crude
fat content of the feed. The results from this study revealed that good storage condition is very essential and
there is need for further work to assess the implication of aflatoxin on the health of fish and human (final
consumer).
Description
Keywords
Storage fungi, aflatoxins, fish feed, proximate analysis.