The determination of Aflatoxin in eggs and poultry feeds obtained from the different poultry farms around Wakiso District

Abstract

The risk of aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities especially in Africa is increasing, cereals like maize and groundnuts have been reported to be highly contaminated with aflatoxin and these make part of the poultry ration. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of the molds and aflatoxin in feeds and the carry over to eggs. Feed and egg samples were collected from two poultry farm in Wakiso district. The mould in feeds were grown using the differential media. Both feeds and eggs screened for aflatoxin using Thin Layer Chromatography and observed (TLC) under UV light at wavelength of 360/366nm. Mould detection gave positive results, bright orange color was observed which indicate the presence aspergillus flavus, while blue and green bands were observed on the TLC plates under uv light, in both the feeds and eggs, implying that aflatoxin B and G were present. Therefore the results indicated that the feeds were contaminated with mould that is aspergillus flavus and these could have led to release of aflatoxin observed in both feeds and eggs. Aflatoxin contamination of agricultural products poses a considerable risk to human and livestock health and economic loss. Exposure of human to aflatoxin leads to health related conditions like acute and chronic aflatoxicosis, immune suppression, liver cancer, Liver cirrhosis, stunted growth in children. AFB more so B1 has been reported to be the most common aflatoxin.