Fungal and Mycotoxin Contamination of Stored Maize in Kogi, Northcentral Nigeria: An Implication for Public Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 220-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. N. Akoma ◽  
C. C. Ezeh ◽  
K. I. Chukwudozie ◽  
C. C. Iwuchukwu ◽  
D. O. Apeh
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Maize Seeds ◽  
Health And Economic Development

The maize value chain in the Kogi State and most parts of the country from where maize is purchased into the State lacks mechanisms that ensure grain quality and safety. Against the above-backdrop, this study was designed to evaluate toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins in maize produced within different agro-zones of Kogi State. Harvested and stored maize seeds under different storage conditions were collected from three different zones (Zone B Bassa, Zone C Lokoja, and Zone D Idah) and cultured. Different fungal species were isolated by culturing using the spread plate technique on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and identified microscopically. Mycotoxin production by isolated fungi was subsequently evaluated for Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination using the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography technique (HPLC). The outcome of the study was statistically analysed using simple frequencies and percentages. Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. were the fungi found to be associated with the stored seeds in Kogi, while Fusarium spp. Mucor spp. and Rhizopus spp. were the field fungi identified. Of the thirteen samples collected, the most common genera were Aspergillus (isolated from 41.67% of the evaluated samples), Fusarium (27%) and in a lesser extent Rhizopus spp. (8.33%). The result also shows DON was detected in 92.3% of the stored maize samples, making it one of the widespread mycotoxin contaminants of maize grain. Implications of this study for human and animal health and economic development were discussed and appropriate recommendations made especially for adoption of proper storage technology among small-scale farmers for improved maize quality and safety.

scholarly journals Fumonisins in corn: correlation with Fusarium sp. count, damaged kernels, protein and lipid content

2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabete Yurie Sataque Ono ◽  
Luciana Biazon ◽  
Marcelo da Silva ◽  
Édio Vizoni ◽  
Yoshitsugu Sugiura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Content ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Colony Count ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Corn Hybrids ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Fusarium Sp ◽  
Fungal Colony

Natural fungal and fumonisin contamination were evaluated in 109 freshly harvested corn samples from Paraná State and correlated to damaged kernels (%). In addition, healthy and damaged kernels of 24 corn samples were selected in order to compare the mycoflora profile and fumonisin levels. The correlation among protein/lipid content and fumonisin levels was also analyzed in the 15 most frequently cultivated corn hybrids. Total fungal colony count in 109 freshly harvested corn samples ranged from 1.9x10(4) to 3.5x10(6) CFU/g, Fusarium sp. count from 1.0x10³ to 2.2x10(6) CFU/g, and fumonisin levels from 0.13 to 20.38 µg/g. Total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count and fumonisin levels showed positive correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between damaged kernels (%) and total fungal colony/Fusarium sp. count (p < 0.05). Fumonisin levels in healthy kernels ranged from 0.57 to 20.38 µg/g, while in the damaged kernels it ranged from 68.96 to 336.38 µg/g. No significant correlation among the fumonisin levels and the protein or lipid content was observed. The results showed the importance of constant monitoring of toxigenic fungi and fumonisin contamination in corn and corn-based foods in order to assure the quality and safety of products and to minimize the potential hazards to human and animal health.

scholarly journals How Maize Seed Systems Can Contribute to the Control of Mycotoxigenic Fungal Infection: A Perspective

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2168
Author(s):  
P. Christiaan Biemond ◽  
Tjeerd Jan Stomph ◽  
P. Lava Kumar ◽  
Paul C. Struik
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Main Mode ◽  
Maize Seeds ◽  
Agricultural Produce ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Mycotoxigenic Fungi

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi on agricultural produce. Mycotoxins can be cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and teratogenic, and they are persistent threats to human and animal health. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated maize can cause cancer and even sudden death. Health hazards can also occur from consuming products from animals fed with mycotoxin-contaminated feed or forage. The main mode of spread of mycotoxigenic fungi is through air-borne spores originating from soil or plant debris, although some fungi can also spread through infected seed-to-seedling transmission, ultimately followed by contamination of the harvestable product. This perspective assesses opportunities to prevent mycotoxigenic fungal infection in maize seeds produced for sowing as an important starting point of crop contamination. A case study of Nigeria showed infection in all tested farmer-produced, seed company, and foundation seed samples. A schematic overview of the formal and informal seed systems is presented to analyze their contribution to fungal infection and mycotoxin contamination in the maize value chain, as well as to set criteria for successful control. We recommend an integrated approach to control mycotoxigenic fungal infection, including resistant varieties and other control methods during seed production, grain production, and grain storage, with an important role in maintaining seed health.

scholarly journals Mycotoxins—Biomonitoring and Human Exposure

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Habschied ◽  
Gabriella Kanižai Šarić ◽  
Vinko Krstanović ◽  
Krešimir Mastanjević
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Occupational And Environmental Exposure ◽  
Analysis Application

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that commonly have a toxic effect on human and animal health. Different foodstuff can be contaminated and are considered the major source of human exposure to mycotoxins, but occupational and environmental exposure can also significantly contribute to this problem. This review aims to provide a short overview of the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and regulated mycotoxins in foods and workplaces, following the current literature and data presented in scientific papers. Biomonitoring of mycotoxins in plasma, serum, urine, and blood samples has become a common method for determining the exposure to different mycotoxins. Novel techniques are more and more precise and accurate and are aiming toward the simultaneous determination of multiple mycotoxins in one analysis. Application of liquid chromatography (LC) methodologies, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) or high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has become a common and most reliable method for determining the exposure to mycotoxins. Numerous references confirm the importance of mycotoxin biomonitoring to assess the exposure for humans and animals. The objectives of this paper were to review the general approaches to biomonitoring of different mycotoxins and the occurrence of toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins, using recent literature sources.

Moisture Variation and Model Verification of Wheat and Maize Seeds under Different Storage Conditions

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-164
Author(s):  
Jing WANG ◽  
Xiao-Li LI ◽  
Peng JIANG ◽  
Feng-Long TIAN ◽  
Wen-Qian HOU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Model Verification ◽  
Maize Seeds ◽  
Moisture Variation

scholarly journals Uninterruptible Power Supply Improves Precision and External Validity of Telomere Length Measurement via qPCR

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waylon J. Hastings ◽  
Dan T.A. Eisenberg ◽  
Idan Shalev
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
External Validity ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Amplification Efficiency ◽  
Uninterruptible Power Supply ◽  
Uninterruptible Power ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Technical challenges associated with telomere length (TL) measurements have prompted concerns regarding their utility as a biomarker of aging. Several factors influence TL assessment via qPCR, the most common measurement method in epidemiological studies, including storage conditions and DNA extraction method. Here, we tested the impact of power supply during the qPCR assay. Momentary fluctuations in power can affect the functioning of high-performance electronics, including real-time thermocyclers. We investigated if mitigating these fluctuations by using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) influenced TL assessment via qPCR. Samples run with a UPS had significantly lower standard deviation (p < 0.001) and coefficient of variation (p < 0.001) across technical replicates than those run without a UPS. UPS usage also improved exponential amplification efficiency at the replicate, sample, and plate levels. Together these improvements translated to increased performance across metrics of external validity including correlation with age, within-person correlation across tissues, and correlation between parents and offspring.

scholarly journals A Novel Niosome-Encapsulated Essential Oil Formulation to Prevent Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Contamination of Maize Grains During Storage

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 646 ◽  
Author(s):  
García-Díaz ◽  
Patiño ◽  
Vázquez ◽  
Gil-Serna
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Flavus ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Oil Formulation ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Encapsulation Method

Aflatoxin (AF) contamination of maize is a major concern for food safety. The use of chemical fungicides is controversial, and it is necessary to develop new effective methods to control Aspergillus flavus growth and, therefore, to avoid the presence of AFs in grains. In this work, we tested in vitro the effect of six essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic plants. We selected those from Satureja montana and Origanum virens because they show high levels of antifungal and antitoxigenic activity at low concentrations against A. flavus. EOs are highly volatile compounds and we have developed a new niosome-based encapsulation method to extend their shelf life and activity. These new formulations have been successfully applied to reduce fungal growth and AF accumulation in maize grains in a small-scale test, as well as placing the maize into polypropylene woven bags to simulate common storage conditions. In this latter case, the antifungal properties lasted up to 75 days after the first application.

scholarly journals A comparison between enzyme immunoassay and HPLC for ochratoxin A detection in green, roasted and instant coffee

2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Fujii ◽  
Elisabete Yurie Sataque Ono ◽  
Ricardo Marcelo Reche Ribeiro ◽  
Fernanda Garcia Algarte Assunção ◽  
Cássia Reika Takabayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Elisa Assay ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Green Coffee ◽  
Instant Coffee

An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection in green, roasted and instant coffees was developed using anti-OTA monoclonal antibody. Immunological reagents prepared were OTA-BSA (4.76 mg/mL), anti-OTA.7 MAb (2x10³-fold dilution) and HRP-anti IgG (10³-fold dilution). The detection limit was 3.73 ng OTA/g and correlation coefficients (r) between this immunoassay and high performance liquid chromatography were 0.98 for green coffee, 0.98 for roasted and 0.86 for instant. OTA levels detected by ic-ELISA were higher than by HPLC, with ELISA/HPLC ratio of 0.66 - 1.46 (green coffee), 0.96 - 1.11 (roasted) and 0.93 - 1.82 (instant). ELISA recoveries for OTA added to coffee (5 - 70 ng/g) were 81.53 % for green coffee, 46.73 % for roasted and 64.35 % for instant, while recoveries by HPLC were 80.54 %, 45.91 % and 55.15 %, respectively. Matrices interferences were minimized by samples dilution before carrying out the ELISA assay. The results indicate that MAb-based ic-ELISA could be a simple, sensitive and specific screening tool for OTA detection, contributing to quality and safety of coffee products.

The MycoGlobe project: a European Union funded successful experiment in enhancing cooperation and coordination amongst mycotoxin researchers worldwide

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-500
Author(s):  
D. Bhatnagar ◽  
G. Perrone ◽  
A. Visconti
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Quality ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Food Quality And Safety

In 2004, the European Commission approved the specific support action 'Integration of Mycotoxin and Toxigenic Fungi Research for Food Safety in the Global System' (MycoGlobe, contract FOOD-CT-2004-007174) within the Sixth Framework Programme, Food Quality and Safety. The aim of the MycoGlobe project (http://mycoglobe.ispa.cnr.it) was to implement the outcomes of a wide range of European research projects in the area of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi by supporting, stimulating and facilitating cooperation between countries in the European Union and other countries that have bilateral scientific and technological cooperation agreement with the European Union (such as USA, Australia and South America). Through a series of conferences and interactions between scientists worldwide, MycoGlobe was a very successful project. The scientific significance of the MycoGlobe project consisted in the spread of knowledge of advanced research tools in genomics and sophisticated and rapid detection systems for mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi; and evaluation of research policy and procedures to achieve best practice for enhancement of food quality and safety by elimination of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi from commodities. The socio-economic significance of the project was the setting up of a global collaborative network for research and technology transfer in the field of mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi, particularly for the benefit of the developing countries. A relevant outcome of the project was also the launching of the International Society for Mycotoxicology (http://www.mycotoxsociety. org) to promote research on mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi, thereby leading to prevention and reduction in exposure to mycotoxins, enhanced food safety and a greater public awareness of this area.

Double-Sided Microchannel Cooling of a Power Electronics Module Using Power Overlay

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G. Pautsch ◽  
Arun Gowda ◽  
Ljubisa Stevanovic ◽  
Rich Beaupre
Keyword(s):  
Power Electronics ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Thermal Contact ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Micro Channel ◽  
Performance Technology ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Microchannel Cooling

In the continuing effort to alleviate the increasing thermal loads for power electronics devices, numerous aggressive solutions have been developed, such as small-scale micro-channel heat exchangers. Although these methods can improve overall surface heat transfer to the order of 500 W cm−2, they are limited to single-sided cooling due to the typical wire-bonded electrical connections of the devices. Power overlay (POL) technology provides a stable planar structure for electrical connection, as well as attachment of an additional top-side heat exchanger. This study presents an analysis of double-sided microchannel cooling of a power electronics module. Two optimized, integral micro-channel heat sinks were attached above and below silicon power devices, with more traditional attachment on one side and a POL interface on the other. A compliant TIM was selected for low thermal resistance and good mechanical response, which allowed top-side connection to the POL surface. A theoretical model is presented that predicts the benefit of double-sided cooling based on the known performance of a single-sided heat sink and given addition thermal contact resistance for the top side. For microchannels with water, an enhancement of 26% was predicted. An experiment was also carried out to measure the actual performance benefit seen with double-sided cooling. An enhancement of over 30% was measured for a particular design. As the theory predicts, the benefit of double-sided cooling is limited for high performance designs. However, double-sided cooling could lead to high levels of thermal performance using low-performance technology.

scholarly journals Spatio-temporal patterns and movement analysis of pigs from smallholder farms and implications for African swine fever spread, Limpopo province, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Folorunso O. Fasina ◽  
Japhta M. Mokoele ◽  
B. Tom Spencer ◽  
Leo A.M.L. Van Leengoed ◽  
Yvette Bevis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
African Swine Fever ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Network Analyses ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Disease Dispersal

Infectious and zoonotic disease outbreaks have been linked to increasing volumes of legal and illegal trade. Spatio-temporal and trade network analyses have been used to evaluate the risks associated with these challenges elsewhere, but few details are available for the pig sector in South Africa. Regarding pig diseases, Limpopo province is important as the greater part of the province falls within the African swine fever control area. Emerging small-scale pig farmers in Limpopo perceived pig production as an important means of improving their livelihood and an alternative investment. They engage in trading and marketing their products with a potential risk to animal health, because the preferred markets often facilitate potential longdistance spread and disease dispersal over broad geographic areas. In this study, we explored the interconnectedness of smallholder pig farmers in Limpopo, determined the weaknesses and critical control points, and projected interventions that policy makers can implement to reduce the risks to pig health. The geo-coordinates of surveyed farms were used to draw maps, links and networks. Predictive risks to pigs were determined through the analyses of trade networks, and the relationship to previous outbreaks of African swine fever was postulated. Auction points were identified as high-risk areas for the spread of animal diseases. Veterinary authorities should prioritise focused surveillance and diagnostic efforts in Limpopo. Early disease detection and prompt eradication should be targeted and messages promoting enhanced biosecurity to smallholder farmers are advocated. The system may also benefit from the restructuring of marketing and auction networks. Since geographic factors and networks can rapidly facilitate pig disease dispersal over large areas, a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the complexities that exist around the animal disease epidemiology becomes mandatory.

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