MAGNITUDE OF AFLATOXIGENIC ASPERGILLUS SPECIES, LEVEL OF AFLATOXIN B1 AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN STORED FEED AT POULTRY FARMS IN DIRE DAWA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Aflatoxin, the secondary toxic metabolites of Aspergillus species, particularly aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus have a detrimental effect on poultry health and production; through, there is an information gap about the magnitudes of aflatoxigenic aspargilus species and aflatoxin in poultry feed in the study area. Thus the study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence and associated risk factors for aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species in poultry feed in selected farms at Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was carried out from November 2019 to January 2020 on 374 poultry feed samples recruited by using stratified simple random sampling technique. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to assess the level of knowledge and prevention practices associated with aflatoxin in poultry feed. The isolation of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species was made by Aspergillus flavus-parasiticus media and aflatoxin B1 was estimated by aflatoxin B1 Enzyme linked Immune Sorbent Assay. The magnitudes of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species were found 72.5% (95% CI: 67.6-76.9). From the isolates 69.4% were toxigenic. The odds at which the species isolated were higher (p<0.05) in feeds stored more than two month (AOR=2.69), presence of rodents in the storing room (AOR= 2.67), feeds having high moisture content (AOR= 1.5) and feed ingredient types (AOR= 4.3) than their counter parts. Whereas the odds of fungal contamination were less (p<0.05) in home mixed feeds (AOR = 0.73) and in feeds which have lower moisture content (AOR = 0.19). As of the FDA maximum aflatoxin permissible limit 25% of home mixed feed and 37.5% of commercially formulated feeds were found above the permissible limit. Only 34.4% of the respondents have knowledge and 32.8% apply prevention practice about fungal contamination and aflatoxin production in poultry feed respectively. The occurrence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species in poultry feed was associated with presence of rodents in the feed storing room with long storing period and high moisture contents of the feed. Home mixed feed is better than commercially formulated feed to reduce aflatoxin contaminations of poultry feed. The knowledge and prevention practices employed by farm managers and workers about fungal contamination and aflatoxin in poultry feed is found low