Prevalence of potential toxigenic Aspergillus specie s isolated fro m poultry feeds in Sokoto metropolis

Abstract

The objective of thi s study was to investigate the p revalence and risk factors of fungal organisms (especially Aspergillus sp ecies ) in f eeds used in poultry farms in Sokoto metropolis. Du r ing a period of 12 months ( f rom April 201 0 to March 2011), a total of 239 p oultry feed samples comprising of 204 commercially prepared feeds and 35 self - compounded feeds were collected from 76 identified poultry farms in Sokoto and environs. Of the total 80 questionnaires administered, 76 (95.00%) were responded to. Out of the total samples, fungal species were isolated from 198 (82.9%) comprising of commercially prepared 163 (79.9%) and self - compounded 35 (100.0%) feed samples. A total of 258 fungal isolates were identified out of which 136 (52.7%) were Aspergillus sp ecies. The most prevalent species were Aspergillus fumigat u s 80 (58.8%) followed by Aspergillus flavus 56 (41.2%). Since Aspergillus species are among the leading mycotoxigenic fungi, this study reveals that a potential exists for the production of mycotoxins that may be of both veterinary public health significance and its attending economic losses.