Comparative Study of Aflatoxin M1 in Livestock Livers from Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Liver as an organ of metabolism is disposed to toxins deposition and Livestock liver contributes to food security as major source of protein. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a carcinogenous metabolite aflatoxin B1 resulting from hydroxylation. To elucidate aflatoxin M1 incidence and levels in livestock livers from Minna-Nigeria, 24 hours fresh liver samples (n=122; 72 cow livers and 50 goat livers) were collected from five abattoirs and subjected to standard aflatoxin extractions via column chromatography and quantification by high performance liquid chromatography. Data showed the presence of AFM1 in some livestock livers. However, detected toxin levels in mean percentages and correlation of variation amongst the individual livestock livers was evident, with a 83.3% (60/72) incidence and a mean detection level of 1.464 µg/kg in cattle livers, as compared to 58.0% (29/50) incidence and a mean of 0.425 µg/kg in goats livers. Contamination in some samples; 52% (26/50) of goat liver and 62.5% (45/72) cow liver exceeded the EU, US and FDA limit of 0.05 µg/kg, indicating human exposure to animal liver with high level aflatoxin contamination. Therefore, there is a need to limit the exposure to aflatoxin by enforcing regulatory limits on animal feed.

Exposure assessment and cancer risk characterization of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) through ingestion of raw cow milk in southern Ghana

“…Makun et al [67] also reported contamination of raw cow milk with AFM 1 at levels higher than the EU permitted levels in Nigeria. In their study, contamination of raw cow milk (from nomadic cows) with AFM 1 ranged from 0.0109 to 1.3543 µg/L (10.9–1354.3 ng/L) with and an average concentration of 0.5308 ± 0.0938 µg/L (530.8 ng/L).…”

Aflatoxin M1 exposure in a fermented millet-based milk beverage ‘brukina’ and its cancer risk characterization in Greater Accra, Ghana

“…Makun et al 50 also reported contamination of raw cow milk with AFM 1 at levels higher than the EU permitted levels in Nigeria. In their study, contamination of raw cow milk (from a nomadic cow) with AFM 1 ranged from 0.0109 to 1.3543 µg/L (10.9–1354.3 ng/L) with and an average concentration of 0.5308 ± 0.0938 µg/L (530.8 ng/L).…”