Aflatoxin Contamination of Maize Meal Sold and Consumed in the Three Main Cities of North-Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Kavugho Muvunga Gloire ◽  
Jasper K. Imungi ◽  
Lucy Njue
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Composite Sample ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
The North ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Maize Meal ◽  
Open Markets ◽  
North Kivu ◽  
Composite Samples

This study aimed to determine the incidence of aflatoxin contamination of maize meal in the North-Kivu province of D.R.C. The study was conducted in the Beni, Goma and Butembo, the major cities of the North-Kivu province of D.R.C. A multi-stage sampling was applied in all the cities. A total of 30 samples of maize grains were collected. In each city, five principal open markets were considered and in each, sixteen vendors were chosen randomly. From them, two composite samples of 1.5 kg each of maize grains were collected, there by subdividing randomly the sixteen vendors in two groups of eight vendors. Each composite sample of maize grains collected from eight vendors was milled and then a final composite sample of maize meal of one kilogram was taken for laboratory analysis. 25 samples (10 from Beni, 10 from Goma and 5 from Butembo) where milled raw, while 5 other samples from Butembo where grilled before and then where milled. All the samples were analyzed for total aflatoxins using ELISA Kit method according to the manufacturer. Data were subjected to one way ANOVA using Genstat® Discovery 13thEdition at 95% confidence interval (P≤ 0.05). Variable means for measurements showing significant differences in the ANOVA were compared using the LSD. Values were judged to be significantly different by LSD if P< 0.05. The mean levels of aflatoxins in all the maize meals collected in the 3 cities are above 10ppb, the acceptable level of aflatoxins in maize meals for human consumption. The means range between 18.34 and 20.98 ppb, the highest level being in samples collected in Goma city. These results confirm the statement that the maize consumers in all the 3 cities (Beni, Goma and Butembo) are exposed to aflatoxin-contamination as the consumed maize meals are contaminated with aflatoxin at levels surpassing the limits. However, Goma city is highly exposed to aflatoxin contamination.

scholarly journals Extent and Drivers of Mycotoxin Contamination: Inferences from a Survey of Kenyan Maize Mills

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1221-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Mutiga ◽  
V. Were ◽  
V. Hoffmann ◽  
J. W. Harvey ◽  
M. G. Milgroom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Maize Flour ◽  
Legal Limit ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The prevalence of aflatoxin and fumonisin was investigated in maize intended for immediate human consumption in eastern Kenya at a time in 2010 when an aflatoxin outbreak was recognized. Samples were collected from people who brought their maize for processing at local commercial mills. Sites were selected using a geographical information system overlay of agroecological zones and Kenya's administrative districts. Interviews and collection of maize flour samples was conducted from 1,500 people who processed maize at 143 mills in 10 administrative districts. Mycotoxins were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for aflatoxin and fumonisin, leading to detection at levels above the respective maximum tolerable limits in 39 and 37% of the samples, respectively. Samples with aflatoxin contamination above the legal limit ranged between 22 and 60% across the districts. A higher occurrence of aflatoxin was associated with smaller maize farms, lower grain yield, and monocropping systems, while a larger magnitude of the toxin was observed in the subhumid agroecological zone, in samples with more broken kernels, and, curiously, less maize ear damage at harvest. Analysis of paired grain samples (visually sorted and unsorted) showed that sorting reduced fumonisin by 65%, from above to below the legal limit of 1,000 ppb. Sorting did not, however, reduce aflatoxin levels. Although the aflatoxin problem is widely acknowledged, the high prevalence of fumonisin has not previously been reported. There is need for surveillance of the two mycotoxins and establishment of intervention strategies to reach vulnerable small-scale farmers.

Paleomagnetic results from the western Himalaya indicate multi-stage India-Eurasia collision

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R Martin ◽  
Oliver Jagoutz ◽  
Rajeev Upadhyay ◽  
Leigh H Royden ◽  
Michael P Eddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Classical Model ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Paleomagnetic Data ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Himalayan Orogeny ◽  
The North ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Early Paleocene ◽  
Stage Process

&lt;p&gt;The classical model for the collision between India and Eurasia, which resulted in the formation of the Himalayan orogeny, is a single-stage continent-continent collision event at around 55 &amp;#8211; 50 Ma. However, it has also been proposed that the India-Eurasia collision was a multi-stage process involving an intra-oceanic Trans-Tethyan subduction zone south of the Eurasian margin. We present paleomagnetic data constraining the location the Kohistan-Ladakh arc, a remnant of this intra-oceanic subduction zone, to a paleolatitude of 8.1 &amp;#177; 5.6 &amp;#176;N between 66 &amp;#8211; 62 Ma. Comparing this result with new paleomagnetic data from the Eurasian Karakoram terrane, and previous paleomagnetic reconstructions of the Lhasa terrane reveals that the Trans-Tethyan Subduction zone was situated 600 &amp;#8211; 2,300 km south of the contemporaneous Eurasian margin at the same time as the first ophiolite obduction event onto the northern Indian margin. Our results confirm that the collision was a multistage process involving at least two subduction systems. Collision began with docking between India and the Trans-Tethyan subduction zone in the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene, followed by the India-Eurasia collision in the mid-Eocene. The final stage of India-Eurasia collision occurred along the Shyok-Tsangpo suture zone, rather than the Indus-Tsangpo. The addition of the Kshiroda oceanic plate, north of India after the Paleocene reconciles the amount of convergence between India and Eurasia with the observed shortening across the India&amp;#8211;Eurasia collision system. Our results constrain the total post-collisional convergence accommodated by crustal deformation in the Himalaya to 1,350 &amp;#8211; 2,150 km, and the north-south extent of the northwestern part of Greater India to &lt; 900 km.&lt;/p&gt;

A 2019 STUDY ON TOTAL AFLATOXINS IN ROMANIAN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) SAMPLES

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Irina Zmeu ◽  
Elena Mirela Cucu ◽  
Alina Alexandra Dobre ◽  
Hellene Casian
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Physical Treatment ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Commission Regulation ◽  
Maize Sample ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Risk Areas

Mycotoxin contamination represents a clear public health concern. In this context, a maize survey was conducted in Romania, to monitor the occurrence of total aflatoxins in maize samples collected during the 2019 growing season from fields located in all counties. A total of 95 maize samples were collected along with information regarding the specific location of fields, the applied agronomic practices and cropping systems. ELISA method was used for the quantification of AFs. The results showed 88 contaminated samples. Only one sample registered aflatoxin levels higher than the limit of 10.00 μg/kg, settled by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 for maize to be subjected to soring or other physical treatment before human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs. The highest AFs level was 77.59 μg/kg, noted by a maize sample from Argeș County (the South-Muntenia development region, macro region 3). When referring to the analysed samples, the total aflatoxin contamination was independent of the type of hybrid, but strongly influenced by the pedo-climatic differences between counties. The southern counties proved to represent critical risk areas for aflatoxin contamination when referring to maize crops. These results highlight the importance of an effective and sustainable mycotoxin management along the food and feed chain, as well as the need of mapping the mycotoxin risk areas.

Grenadiers of the World Oceans: Biology, Stock Assessment, and Fisheries

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
British Isles ◽  
The North ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
A Minor

<em>Abstract</em>.—The biology and fisheries of macrourid species in the NE Atlantic are reviewed. Of about 30 species that occur within that area, the roundnose grenadier <em>Coryphaenoides rupestris </em>is one of the main target species of deep-water fisheries. Roughhead grenadier <em>Macrourus berglax </em>is a minor bycatch of other deep-water fisheries and an occasional target of some small fisheries. Other macrourid species are not commercially exploited because they are too small and/or in too deep waters, but some are also taken as accidental bycatch. There are three main fisheries for roundnose grenadier: north and west of the British Isles, Skagerrak, and Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Skagerrak fishery is mainly for fish meal while the others are for human consumption. Due to data availability, a range of assessment methods has been trialled primarily for stocks to the north and west of the British Isles. Although uncertain, these assessments provide evidence that the stock has been severely depleted. Fisheries were largely unregulated until the early 2000s, but following repeated International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice, total allowable catches were introduced in 2003 together with effort and capacity regulations. Roundnose grenadier is the most studied species. It lives more than 50 years, compared to 30 years or more for roughhead grenadier. The limited knowledge of other species suggests a contrasting picture of maximum age ranging from 10 to 40 years. Taking into account the limited biological knowledge for these species, the pros and cons of the current management regime are discussed.

scholarly journals Enzyme Immunoassay for Measuring Aflatoxin B1 in Legal Cannabis

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Di Nardo ◽  
Simone Cavalera ◽  
Claudio Baggiani ◽  
Matteo Chiarello ◽  
Marco Pazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Direct Analysis ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Throughput Capacity ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation

The diffusion of the legalization of cannabis for recreational, medicinal and nutraceutical uses requires the development of adequate analytical methods to assure the safety and security of such products. In particular, aflatoxins are considered to pose a major risk for the health of cannabis consumers. Among analytical methods that allows for adequate monitoring of food safety, immunoassays play a major role thanks to their cost-effectiveness, high-throughput capacity, simplicity and limited requirement for equipment and skilled operators. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive enzyme immunoassay has been adapted to measure the most hazardous aflatoxin B1 in cannabis products. The assay was acceptably accurate (recovery rate: 78–136%), reproducible (intra- and inter-assay means coefficients of variation 11.8% and 13.8%, respectively), and sensitive (limit of detection and range of quantification: 0.35 ng mL−1 and 0.4–2 ng mL−1, respectively corresponding to 7 ng g−1 and 8–40 ng g−1 ng g−1 in the plant) and provided results which agreed with a HPLC-MS/MS method for the direct analysis of aflatoxin B1 in cannabis inflorescence and leaves. In addition, the carcinogenic aflatoxin B1 was detected in 50% of the cannabis products analyzed (14 samples collected from small retails) at levels exceeding those admitted by the European Union in commodities intended for direct human consumption, thus envisaging the need for effective surveillance of aflatoxin contamination in legal cannabis.

Surgical Repair of Orofacial Clefts in North Kivu Province of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1314-1319
Author(s):  
Luc Malemo Kalisya ◽  
Jacques Fadhili Bake ◽  
Bake Elisee ◽  
Kavira Nyavandu ◽  
Robert Perry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
Surgical Repair ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Orofacial Clefts ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
General Surgeons ◽  
North Kivu

Background: There is a high prevalence of orofacial clefts in low- and middle-income countries with significant unmet need, despite having 50% of the population younger than 18 years in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The purpose of this article is to report on the experience of general surgeons with orofacial clefts at a single institution. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients treated for cleft lip/palate in the province of North Kivu, DRC between 2008 and 2017. Results: A total of 1112 procedures (122/year) were performed. All procedures were performed by general surgeons following training by an international nongovernmental aid organization. A total of 59.2% of patients were male and the median age was 3.4 years (interquartile range: 0.7-13 years). Average distance from surgical center to patient location was 242.6 km (range: 2-1375 km) with outreach performed for distances >200 kms. A majority (82.1%) of patients received general anesthesia (GA) with significant differences in use of GA, age, weight, and length of stay by major orofacial cleft category. Of the 1112 patients, 86.1% were reported to have cleft lip alone, 10.5% had cleft lip and palate, and 3.4% cleft palate alone. Despite this, only 5.3% of patients underwent surgical repair of cleft palate. Conclusions: Multiple factors including malnutrition, risk of bleeding, procedural complexity, and cosmetic results may contribute to the distribution of procedures performed where most cleft palates are not treated. Based on previously published estimates, unmet needs and social burden of cleft lip and palate are high in the DRC.

scholarly journals AFLA-PISTACHIO: Development of a Mechanistic Model to Predict the Aflatoxin Contamination of Pistachio Nuts

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michail D. Kaminiaris ◽  
Marco Camardo Leggieri ◽  
Dimitrios I. Tsitsigiannis ◽  
Paola Battilani
Keyword(s):  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
Prototype Model ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Physical Treatment ◽  
Internal Validation ◽  
Pistachio Nuts

In recent years, very many incidences of contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in pistachio nuts have been reported as a major global problem for the crop. In Europe, legislation is in force and 12 μg/kg of AFB1 is the maximum limit set for pistachios to be subjected to physical treatment before human consumption. The goal of the current study was to develop a mechanistic, weather-driven model to predict Aspergillus flavus growth and the AFB1 contamination of pistachios on a daily basis from nut setting until harvest. The planned steps were to: (i) build a phenology model to predict the pistachio growth stages, (ii) develop a prototype model named AFLA-pistachio (model transfer from AFLA-maize), (iii) collect the meteorological and AFB1 contamination data from pistachio orchards, (iv) run the model and elaborate a probability function to estimate the likelihood of overcoming the legal limit, and (v) manage a preliminary validation. The internal validation of AFLA-pistachio indicated that 75% of the predictions were correct. In the external validation with an independent three-year dataset, 95.6% of the samples were correctly predicted. According to the results, AFLA-pistachio seems to be a reliable tool to follow the dynamic of AFB1 contamination risk throughout the pistachio growing season.

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