Assessing the prevalence of aflatoxin B1 in poultry feed in Dakar, Senegal: implications for animal and public health

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin that can contaminate a wide variety of foodstuffs such as animal feed. Most of the ingredients used in  livestock feed are highly susceptible to contamination, with a propensity to release residues in products intended for human  consumption. In the case of the poultry industry, the ingestion of contaminated feed by poultry can lead to alterations in their sanitary  and zootechnical performance. It also may cause a food safety problem related to the presence of mycotoxin residues in animal products.  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and level of AFB1 in poultry feeds/ingredients used or marketed in  the city of Dakar and its suburbs, and to discuss the potential risks to animal and human health. In total, 68 samples of starter, grower,  finisher, pullet, and layer feeds and 2 ingredients samples were analysed. The research and quantification of AFB1 were done using the  high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, as described in ISO 14718. The results showed that all (100%) of the samples  were contaminated with levels ranging from less than 0.1 ppb to 52.3 ppb in the feeds. The level in ingredients samples were 0.5 and  177.5 ppb respectively for the fish flour and peanut meal. Of all the samples analysed (feeds and ingredients), 5.7% had contamination  levels above the allowable limits for poultry feed. Given these results and the threat to public health posed by the increasing consumption  of poultry products, it would be judicious to systematically include the research of mycotoxins in raw materials, along with  the bromatological analyses used for food formation. Additionally, a study on mycotoxin residues in foodstuff from poultry would be of  great interest for the protection of public health and food safety.