A Review on Aflatoxin Contamination and Its Implications in the Developing World: A Sub-Saharan African Perspective

Abstract

Mycotoxins contamination in some agricultural food commodities seriously impact human and animal health and reduce the commercial value of crops. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate agricultural commodities pre- or postharvest. Africa is one of the continents where environmental, agricultural and storage conditions of food commodities are conducive of Aspergillus fungi infection and aflatoxin biosynthesis. This paper reviews the commodity-wise aetiology and contamination process of aflatoxins and evaluates the potential risk of exposure from common African foods. Possible ways of reducing risk for fungal infection and aflatoxin development that are relevant to the African context. The presented database would be useful as benchmark information for development and prioritization of future research. There is need for more investigations on food quality and safety by making available advanced advanced equipments and analytical methods as well as surveillance and awareness creation in the region.

Environmental impacts and constraints associated with the production of major food crops in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

“…Noteworthy crop-or system-specific environmental impacts in post-production include the introduction of environmental or human health toxins in crop storage (either from storage chemicals, or from contaminants of bitoic origin such as aflatoxin (Gnonlonfin et al 2013), as well as the emission of GHGs from the burning of crop residues (Andreae and Merlet 2001;Lal 2005;Smith et al 2008). Burning harms local air quality and contributes to respiratory ailments, as well as depleting soil organic C that could otherwise be used to stabilize soil structure, maintain soil fertility and raise the water-holding capacity of soils.…”

Nanocellulose conjugated with retinoic acid: its capability to adsorb aflatoxin B1

“…Importantly, 4.5 billion people from developing countries are chronically exposed to high amounts of aflatoxins (Gnonlonfin et al 2013). The most important member of aflatoxins is aflatoxin B1, whose mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressive activity have been widely studied (Madrigal-Santillan et al 2010).…”

Regulation of the aflatoxin-like toxin dothistromin by AflJ

“…Many filamentous fungi make potent toxins, such as aflatoxin, that cause acute problems for humans and livestock (Gnonlonfin et al 2013). For this reason, considerable research effort has been devoted to understanding how the biosynthesis of toxins such as aflatoxin is regulated, in the hope of curbing their production .…”