Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia
ABSTRACT The growing Ethiopian dairy sector faces significant challenges, including feed contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi, limiting productivity and endangering public health. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted from August to November 2024 to investigate the prevalence of aflatoxigenic fungi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70362 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849327086817247232 |
|---|---|
| author | Sisay Weldegebriel Zeweld Enquebaher Kassaye Tarekegn Meressa Abraha Welearegay |
| author_facet | Sisay Weldegebriel Zeweld Enquebaher Kassaye Tarekegn Meressa Abraha Welearegay |
| author_sort | Sisay Weldegebriel Zeweld |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The growing Ethiopian dairy sector faces significant challenges, including feed contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi, limiting productivity and endangering public health. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted from August to November 2024 to investigate the prevalence of aflatoxigenic fungi in dairy cattle feed sampled from 143 farms across Mekelle, Wukro, Adigrat, Korem and Alamata, as well as the associated risk factors in urban districts of Tigray, Ethiopia. Feed samples, including hay, straw, wheat/maize middling and commercial concentrates, were analysed for fungal contamination using UV light, ammonia vapour tests and colony counts (colony‐forming units per gram [CFU/g]). The analysis revealed that 33.6% of samples contained aflatoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), whereas 66.4% were contaminated with non‐aflatoxigenic species. Average fungal loads were 2.11 × 105 CFU/g, with dairy farms in Korem town showing the highest contamination (2.495 × 105 CFU/g) and dairy farms in Mekelle city the lowest (1.839 × 105 CFU/g) (F = 125.15, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.784). Feed moisture content (F (1, 135) = 4.041, p = 0.046), environmental conditions (26°C–27°C, >60% humidity) and poor storage practices (F (1, 135) = 223.65, p = 0.001) significantly increased contamination levels. Storage on soil floors led to higher fungal loads (F = 223.65, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.613), whereas owner awareness of aflatoxins reduced contamination (F = 78.27, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.357). The findings highlight the importance of enhancing feed storage practices, providing training to farmers and developing collaborative mitigation strategies. These efforts are crucial for reducing aflatoxin contamination, improving dairy productivity and safeguarding public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67bfd9d2fdb74a54bde872f3a0e9b7c3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2053-1095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-67bfd9d2fdb74a54bde872f3a0e9b7c32025-08-20T03:47:58ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-05-01113n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70362Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, EthiopiaSisay Weldegebriel Zeweld0Enquebaher Kassaye Tarekegn1Meressa Abraha Welearegay2Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety Mekelle University College of Veterinary Sciences Mekelle EthiopiaDepartment of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety Mekelle University College of Veterinary Sciences Mekelle EthiopiaDepartment of Chemistry Mekelle University College of Natural and Computational Sciences Mekelle EthiopiaABSTRACT The growing Ethiopian dairy sector faces significant challenges, including feed contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi, limiting productivity and endangering public health. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted from August to November 2024 to investigate the prevalence of aflatoxigenic fungi in dairy cattle feed sampled from 143 farms across Mekelle, Wukro, Adigrat, Korem and Alamata, as well as the associated risk factors in urban districts of Tigray, Ethiopia. Feed samples, including hay, straw, wheat/maize middling and commercial concentrates, were analysed for fungal contamination using UV light, ammonia vapour tests and colony counts (colony‐forming units per gram [CFU/g]). The analysis revealed that 33.6% of samples contained aflatoxigenic fungi (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), whereas 66.4% were contaminated with non‐aflatoxigenic species. Average fungal loads were 2.11 × 105 CFU/g, with dairy farms in Korem town showing the highest contamination (2.495 × 105 CFU/g) and dairy farms in Mekelle city the lowest (1.839 × 105 CFU/g) (F = 125.15, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.784). Feed moisture content (F (1, 135) = 4.041, p = 0.046), environmental conditions (26°C–27°C, >60% humidity) and poor storage practices (F (1, 135) = 223.65, p = 0.001) significantly increased contamination levels. Storage on soil floors led to higher fungal loads (F = 223.65, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.613), whereas owner awareness of aflatoxins reduced contamination (F = 78.27, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.357). The findings highlight the importance of enhancing feed storage practices, providing training to farmers and developing collaborative mitigation strategies. These efforts are crucial for reducing aflatoxin contamination, improving dairy productivity and safeguarding public health.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70362aflatoxigenic fungiammonia vapour testdairy feedfungal load countUV light test |
| spellingShingle | Sisay Weldegebriel Zeweld Enquebaher Kassaye Tarekegn Meressa Abraha Welearegay Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia Veterinary Medicine and Science aflatoxigenic fungi ammonia vapour test dairy feed fungal load count UV light test |
| title | Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Detection of Aflatoxigenic Fungi in Dairy Cattle Feed: Findings From Urban Districts of Tigray, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | detection of aflatoxigenic fungi in dairy cattle feed findings from urban districts of tigray ethiopia |
| topic | aflatoxigenic fungi ammonia vapour test dairy feed fungal load count UV light test |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70362 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sisayweldegebrielzeweld detectionofaflatoxigenicfungiindairycattlefeedfindingsfromurbandistrictsoftigrayethiopia AT enquebaherkassayetarekegn detectionofaflatoxigenicfungiindairycattlefeedfindingsfromurbandistrictsoftigrayethiopia AT meressaabrahawelearegay detectionofaflatoxigenicfungiindairycattlefeedfindingsfromurbandistrictsoftigrayethiopia |