PROF. OKOTH SHEILA

Citation:

Okoth S. "Mycoflora and mycotoxins in finished fish feed and feed ingredients from smallholder farms in East Africa." Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research. 2017;43:169-176.

Abstract:

A total of 52 samples of finished fish feeds and ingredients were collected from smallholder farmers in
Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, and analyzed. Culture and molecular techniques were used to
identify fungal isolates from the feedstock, and mycotoxin profiles were determined using liquid chromatography–tandem
mass spectrometry. The most prevalent fungal species recovered in the samples
was Asperigillus flavus (54.5%). Other fungal species recovered from the samples were Aspergillus tamarii
(9.1%), Mucor velutinosus (9%), Phoma sp. (6.1%), Aspergillus niger (6%), Eurotium rubrum (3%) and
Penicillium chrysogenum (3%). Fourteen mycotoxins were identified: aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, fumonisin
B1 and B3, deoxynivalenol (DON) and acetyldeoxynivalenol (sum of 3-ADONand 15-ADON), ochratoxin
A, roquefortine C, alternariol, T-2 toxin, and nivalenol. DON (92.9%), aflatoxins (64.3%) and
fumonisins (57.1%) were the most prevalent within locally manufactured feeds, while no contamination
was found in imported feed. Samples from Kenya were the most contaminated with aflatoxin (maximum
806.9 lg
kg1
). The high levels of aflatoxin and trichothecene type A and B contamination found in this
study point to potential risks to fish performance and to the health of consumers of the fish and derived
products.

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