News: Dairy and beef cattle at high risk for mycotoxin exposure

Inconsistent weather patterns this past summer wreaked havoc on the 2015 North America crop, producing irregularities in plant growth and now putting dairy and beef cattle at high risk for mycotoxin exposure, according to Alltech’s North America Harvest Analysis.

The annual study surveyed 116 North American corn silage samples from across the United States and Canada from September to November 2015, testing for mycotoxin contamination to determine the risk posed to ruminant animals. The Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analysis found an average 5.6 mycotoxins per sample, with 71 percent of samples testing at high risk to dairy and 59 percent at high risk to beef cow performance. The harvest analysis revealed multiple mycotoxins present in 2015 corn silage, showing the greatest risk for Type A Trichothecenes, Fusaric Acid and Type B Trichothecenes. Fusaric Acid and Type B Trichothecenes were present in almost all corn silage samples and can interact synergistically with each other, increasing toxicity and elevating the potential to impact herd health and performance.

Common symptoms with the ingestion of these toxins include reduced feed intake, lowered blood pressure, swelling and edema of the legs, liver damage, immune response and lowered milk and meat production. Also present this year was Pencillium mycotoxins, commonly known as storage toxins. Found in more than 41 percent of samples, Pencilliums can have a strong impact on rumen health, altering microbial protein and affecting rumen and gut health, which can result in altered production.

“It is important for producers to understand the synergistic effects toxins can have when multiple are present in feed, causing an influx in animal and rumen health challenges,” said Dr. Max Hawkins, Alltech Mycotoxin Management team nutritionist. “Management practices to prevent exposure are always the best course of action. Producers should look to test feed samples at harvest and prior to feedout to identify the risk posed to their animals.”

According to Dr. Alexandra Weaver, Alltech Mycotoxin Management technical specialist, scientific literature shows that at high risk levels to dairy cows, cows may produce 1.34 pounds (0.61L)/milk/day less when consuming mycotoxins. Additionally, milk somatic cell count (SCC) may increase by 48.8 percent. With this loss in performance and considering current milk prices, producers could see an estimated reduction in profitability per cow at $67.27 over one lactation.

“Producers need to be cautious, now more than ever, to ensure proper packing procedures are implemented to avoid spoilage prior to feedout,” Hawkins said. “If left uncontrolled, contamination even at low levels can cause health and performance challenges in livestock, resulting in the loss of production and profitability.”

Source : Alltech mycotoxins

The assessment of mycotoxins contamination in feeds and adsorbents selection

 

Summary

A new view on mycotoxins (MT) and different manifestation of crystal and equal doses of natural MT toxicity action is validated.   The evaluation of MT action on organism under detection of the multiple feed mycotoxins is offered for the first time.   Mycotoxicosis prevention is possible as a result of the adsorbents usage.  The general description of the effective adsorbent selection is provided.

Microscopic fungi are ubiquitous and have the ability to adapt to different habitat conditions. Some of them may develop products that are toxic to humans and animals, which are called mycotoxins (MT). This notion is due to their origin and effect in animals. From the point of the participation in metabolism of the fungi, they are referred to “secondary metabolites”, i.e. substances that are formed during the metabolism, but do not play a role in their life. Not all fungi produce MT, even toxinogenic fungi can grow for several generations  not  producing MT, and then in some circumstances starting to produce them. The common in these substances they are produced by microscopic fungi (molds) and they are toxic for animals, however, MT are  the substances of various chemical structures.

Receiving MT by cultivation of moulds  in the laboratory, there has been  noted that the first 3-4 weeks an intense growth of the mycelium was detected, but in molds  there wasn’t  significant accumulation of MT, then, when the growth of mycelium was suspended, the start of the  active phase MT accumulation happened. Note that the MT synthesis was initiated while the growth of the mycelium was practically stopped. What did the growth of the mycelium limit? – Reduction of the nutrients availability. If the 3-weeks culture was transferred on fresh sterile substrate, the renewed growth of mycelium and only after 3-4 weeks of active growth has begun to show the formation of mycotoxins – this time was required for consumption of nutrients  and the emergence of their deficit. In the habitat fungi may also have deficiency of nutrients. Primarily in the environment along with the fungi there are bacteria which require the same basic nutrients as fungi. Such way between them happens a competition for nutrients. While nutrients are in sufficient amount, fungi and bacteria will not compete for the substrate, however under nutrients deficiency fungi begin to produce MT, which cause the death of bacteria.  Fungi produce toxins to kill competitors. From this point of view MT already are not secondary metabolites, as they provide “survival” of the fungi – they show a protective effect, and in a broad sense they are antibiotics for bacteria. Initiation of MT synthesis is controlled by biochemical regulation: under the limit of the available nutrients appears biochemical signal to switch on the mechanism of  MT formation. In the laboratory MT start to be formed on a sterile substrate (where there are no competitors) after reduction of the nutrient content below a certain critical level as a result of their use. In natural conditions, nutrients availability may be reduced while moisture is lacking, as it reduces nutrients solubility and availability, as well as the effect of other factors that create stress conditions for fungi growth, although they will not be associated with the presence of bacteria.

To completely eliminate the presence of MT in the raw feed material is not possible, therefore in many countries for  the most studied MT there were legally established Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC)  of toxins, below which the raw materials or feeds can be used without restrictions. In the review of the scientific literature by studying the MT effect in animals it is necessary to pay attention to the sources of toxins, which can be principally two. Pure crystalline MT – they are used when setting the MPC, as well as in the study of the new mycotoxins. There is no another way, because researchers must be confident that the changes occurred in animals during the test is a result of specific MT and its dose. Pure mycotoxins are expensive and not always available for research, so reliable MPC values for large animals are much less than for laboratory animals, birds or piglets.

When the effect of mycotoxins is studied, especially while is determining the effectiveness of adsorbents, feeds contaminated MT under natural conditions are used often. With feeds contaminated naturally in the diet are contributed additional negative factors that the researchers can not control and in some cases do not even suspect their existence. The advantage of this option is – feeds contaminated MT naturally better reflect actual practice. The chemical composition of the contaminated feed is different from the composition of the feed, in which moulds did not grow. It occurs an independent influence in animals and excludes the possibility of objective findings. Research results in most cases are not consistent with those obtained by using pure MT. In this case in addition to toxins, available for analysis, may contain other unknown MT. An important factor to intensify the effect MT of natural origin, is the presence in the diet their unfinished products of biosynthesis, i.e. pretoxins. They also have toxicity, but the available control methods of the pretoxins content haven’t yet existed. Negative effect in animals of MT formed in feeds by natural way due to the presence of pretoxins is more obvious than equal doses of crystal MT.

The results obtained in experiments with the use of feeds contaminated with mycotoxins under natural conditions, are difficult to confirm by other researchers, as in the repeated experiments, the concentration of certain toxins and, respectively, their ratio in each case is unique and can not be duplicated even by the same researcher. The abovementioned differences lead to important practical conclusion: MT of natural origin will have in animals more pronounced negative effect compared with equal doses of toxins legislated as MPC.

In animals consuming feeds containing toxin below the MPC, the last is inactivated by xenobiotic metabolizing system and, therefore, has no apparent effect on the organism. This system does not have a narrow specificity and inactivates in organism many foreign substances.  Xenobiotics or alien to the body substances include mycotoxins, and substances of anthropogenic origin: medications, synthetic antioxidants, colorants and some others (Park 1985; Sheweita 2000; P. Galtier et al., 2008).

Endogenous detoxification of certain mycotoxins occurs at different speed and it varies in animals of different species (Adav and Govindwar. 1997; Ramsdell and Eaton. 1990). The accumulation of scientific data has revealed that the consumption of feed contaminated by multiple MT  can enhance the negative effects of each MT on the organism  (Pedrosa and Borutova. 2011). This is because of the presence several MT in feed, they will be inactivated in the organism  by  the same system of endogenous detoxification, the effectiveness of which has a limit.

In practical conditions in feed there can be some MT at the different concentration capable to cause polymycotoxicosis. So, as a result of the analysis in compound feeds for broilers some mycotoxins were revealed: concentration of each of them didn’t exceed MPC (tab. 1).

 

Table 1: The assessment of compound feeds for broilers on the mycotoxins content.

author=Prof. Valeriy Kryukov, doctor in biological sciences, professor

Experts gathered in Africa to make food and feed free of aflatoxins

A team of scientists from 13 African nations and beyond have gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this week to advance efforts to improve the health of Africans by reducing exposure to aflatoxins.
The participants of this Second Aflatoxin Biocontrol Workers’ Network Workshop are focusing on progress made in rolling out Aflasafe, an effective and safe biological control product which reduces the prevalence of aflatoxins in treated maize and groundnut by 80 – 99% from farm to fork.
“The workshop participants will take stock of the current status of aflasafe development in various countries, discuss research protocols, and provide a platform to network and understand each other’s work. The result will be a shared understanding of the needs for future developments of biocontrol in Africa,” said Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Senior Plant Pathologist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)- Nigeria, and team leader of IITA’s aflasafe projects.
Aflatoxins are highly toxic chemicals produced mainly by fungi in several food crops. Aflatoxins cause cancer and liver disease, suppress the body’s immune system, retard the growth of children, and in cases of extreme poisoning, lead to rapid death of both humans and livestock.
Aflatoxins also hamper trade. Globally, about US$1.2 billion in commerce is lost annually due to aflatoxin contamination, with African economies losing US$450 million each year due to lost trade.
The biological control method for aflatoxin control was developed by United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and modified for Africa by IITA, USDA-ARS, and many national and regional partners.
The biocontrol product uses native strains of A. flavus that do not produce aflatoxins but are able to out-compete and displace their aflatoxin producing relative, thus reducing contamination in crops and throughout the environment.
“Biological control products such as Aflasafe provide farmers with a safe, simple solution that protects their crops on the farm and in storage saving them a long list of tasks to carry out to prevent their crops from being contaminated with aflatoxins,” said Prof Peter Cotty, a Research Plant Pathologist at USDA-ARS, who pioneered the original technology.
Aflatoxin contamination is particularly a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa where it greatly threatens efforts to achieve food security and reduce poverty in the rural communities. In East Africa major fatalities and economic losses have been incurred recently due to aflatoxin contamination.
In Tanzania, recent media reports suggest that nine people died and many others fell ill from suspected aflatoxin poisoning, while in Kenya over 400,000 bags of maize in government stores have been reported to be contaminated and not fit for human consumption.
The effectiveness of biocontrol has seen products developed and registered for commercial use in Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and The Gambia while other countries such as Burundi, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia are in the process of product development and registration.
The four-day workshop, 11 – 14 July, is funded by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of USDA and IITA, and brought together over 50 participants including researchers, farmers’ groups, national program partners, officials from regional and international organizations, policy makers, and donors.
The workshop followed an earlier one held at the USDA-ARS labs at the University of Arizona, USA in 2012.
Source : www.iita.org, Engormix

Fungi and Mycotoxins in Silage–An Overview

Summary
The present revision shows the early and current knowledge in the field of silage fungi and mycotoxins explaining the relevance of fungi and mycotoxins in silage. The problem does not end in animal disease or production losses as mycotoxins in feed can lead to the presence of their metabolic products in dairy products, which will be eventually affecting human health, mainly infants. Silage is green forage preserved by lactic fermentation under anaerobic conditions. This ecosystem maintains its quality and nutritional value depending on interactions among physical, chemical and biological agents. Forages used for ensilage are naturally in contact with yeasts and filamentous fungi, and the contamination often occurs in the field and can also occur during harvesting, transport, storage. Moreover, postharvest poor management can lead to a rapid spoilage. Studies on fungal contamination of dairy cattle feed have shown how corn silage influences the contamination degree of feed supplied to livestock. Increasing knowledge in this area will help elucidate the influence that this microbiota exerts on production and/or degradation of mycotoxins present in silage. Some of these fungi, although opportunist pathogens, are relevant epidemiologically and represent a high risk of contamination to farm workers who handle them improperly.

Authors=V.A. Alonso 1,2 , C.M. Pereyra 1,2 , L.A.M. Keller 3,4 , A.M. Dalcero 1,5 , C.A.R. Rosa 3,4 , S.M. Chiacchiera 5,6 and L.R. Cavaglieri 1,5
1 Depto de Microbiologia e Inmunologia, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina, 2 CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3 Depto de Microbiología e Imunologia Veterinaria, Universidade Federal Rural do Río de Janeiro, Brazil, 4 Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas Cientificas, Río de Janeiro, Brazil 5 CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina 6 Departamento de Quíimica, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina

Correspondence

Lilia R. Cavaglieri, Departamento de Microbiologia e Inmunologia, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta 36 km 601 (5800) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.  E-mail: lcavaglieri@exa.unrc.edu.ar.
..

Source==Engormix
Read more

THAT 3-YEAR EU BAN ON BEANS FROM NIGERIA

 

The European Union has extended its ban on beans export from Nigeria  by a further 3 years, says a recent reliable report which quoted a top official of the Nigerian Agricultural  Quarantine Service(NAQS). The earlier 1 year ban was to terminate on June 30 2016. The interpretation of this action is that the initial 1-year ban was a ‘soft yellow card ‘ ban which if nothing was done to address the issues raised would attract a tougher ban. Now, here comes the PENALTY ……..and the cheapest source of plant protein in Nigeria is facing rejection abroad !!!!. Obviously, this is a reaction in annoyance.

Implications

1 The EU has noted that its earlier warning was disregarded. It may now focus on other crops   and other contaminants like mycotoxins

2 Trade imbalance will further widen between Nigeria and the EU

3 Further reduction in foreign earnings to Nigeria even when bean export earns Nigeria less than 1% of earnings

Questions

1 What measures were put in place by Nigeria between then and now to address the infraction complained about the chemical-dichlorvos –administered on beans ?.

2.What are the steps taken by Nigeria farmers and exporters of beans to reduce the level of dichlorvos between last year and now?

3 Specifically, what are the statutory steps to be taken by NAQS in situations like this, beyond releasing the bad news? If these steps were taken why did they still; attract this elongated ban? If not why were they not taken ?

4 If appropriate steps were NOT taken by Nigeria , then will it not be  safe to mention words like ‘incompetence’, ‘negligence’, ‘disconnect’, ‘lack of extension service’, ‘lax monitoring approach’?

5 If the EU considers beans produced and marketed in Nigeria as toxic and dangerous to the health of her citizens, why should a Nigerian consumer  consider same to be safe for consumption?

IF THE CROP IS BANNED IN EU COUNTRIES, IT SHOULD ALSO BE BANNED INJ NIGERIA

RECOMMENDATIONS

1Government should encourage public-private partnership in setting up analytical laboratories that will serve farmers and exporters

2 More extension workers should be employed with their skills regularly enhanced….and with incentives

3 Regular meetings of all stakeholders in the food and feed safety line

4 There must be collaboration between the EU and Nigeria on regular capacity building, interventions and other measures that will enhance health and international trade through wholesome food consumption

 

DF June 2016

GOOD AGRICULTURE,  SOUND HEALTH OF MAN AND LIVESTOCK

 

Both maize and soya production are likely to increase in Nigeria coupled with steady reduction in importation, The farmers are likely to smile to the banks in the months ahead. Going by the paradise-projection by the President of Poultry Association of Nigeria Dr Oduntan, its indeed eureka for farmers , feedmillers and the producers of poultry and its derivatives. Great. One significant aspect that merits mention is the safety .

Farmers and exporters are advised to focus more on contaminants on these poultry feed ingredients. Making them safe in terms of compliance with global standards on mycotoxins and pesticides residues is a guarantee of high economic and nutritive value at the European markets.

A nexus between agriculture and health has given greater responsibility to agriculture. This is because good agriculture transforms to good health. Arising from this, in Nigeria , the Senate Committee on Health invited Stakeholders to a meeting  on June 3, 2016. The Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria and other institutions like the SON, NAFDAC, CPC  were also invited

The report will dictate the road map for food safety and Health in Nigeria

 

BIOFORTIFICATION AS AN  ATTRACTION    IN  AFRICAN COUNTRIES

 

The FAO believes that 30% of African children are malnourished and stunted. Biofortification, a process by which crops are bred such that their nutritional  value increases. This approach,  which is cheaper than adding micronutrients to an already processed food, is a smart way to fight malnutrition. High iron beans and  orange fleshed sweet potatoes are being produced with success and the consumers in Uganda are feeling better nourished so reported Africa Renewal, a publication of the United Nations. Under the ;Agriculture for Health’ programme, Nigeria has incorporated pro vitamin A cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme whole goal is to reach 2.5 million farming households. The scheme was the started by the former Agriculture Minister Dr Akinwumi Adesina

PACA Country officer -Nigeria

The PACA Country for Nigeria . A retired Director in a government regulatory agency, has been tipped to be the Nigeria Country Officer for PACA. The officer is highly qualified and has in-depth knowledge about food safety, international dimension to it and fully involved in the Aflasafe project

 

Congratulations Nigeria  as confirmation is expected soonest

IARC new report: fungal toxins and Africa’s children health

Dear All,

we invite you to carefully read this important press release from IARC

– Lyon, France, 17 February 2016 –

A Working Group of world-leading experts convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) reviewed the health effects of aflatoxins and fumonisins.

The panel concluded that these mycotoxins are not only a cause of acute poisoning and cancer but are also a likely contributor to the high levels of stunting in children in affected populations.

The Working Group also identified effective measures to reduce exposure in developing countries.
These recommendations have been published in the report Mycotoxin Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, which is available in English, French, and Spanish.

“The report stresses the need for a coordinated international response to the problem of mycotoxin
contamination of food,” says Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. “Its health impact has been neglected for too long. We have the tools to make a difference. Now we must find the political will.”

An estimated 500 million of the poorest people in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia are
exposed to the pervasive natural toxins, aflatoxins and fumonisins, on a daily basis by eating their staple diet of groundnuts, maize, and other cereals. Exposure occurs throughout life at levels far in excess of internationally accepted norms. This contrasts starkly with the situation in developed countries, where people and livestock are protected by good agricultural practices, regulation, and legislation.

Exposure to mycotoxins at these high levels substantially increases mortality and morbidity. Aflatoxin is a cause of human liver cancer, and fatalities from outbreaks of acute aflatoxin poisoning occur in Africa and Asia. Evidence from population studies and the effects of the toxins in animals also suggest that
mycotoxins contribute to stunting in young children.

“Worldwide, more than 160 million children younger than 5 years are stunted. Improving mycotoxin control could have a far-reaching health benefit,” says Dr J. David Miller, Chair of the IARC Working Group. “It is time to put the existing knowledge and technology into action to control mycotoxin food contamination in low-income countries.”

The panel also evaluated 15 interventions against mycotoxins, considering the strength of the evidence as well as its completeness and transferability at an individual, community, or national level. Four of the measures were judged to be ready for implementation.

“The IARC Working Group Report’s recommendations provide a reliable foundation for investment of
public, nongovernmental organization, and private funds to tackle this neglected problem,” says Dr
Sindura Ganapathi of the Global Health Program at the BMGF. “What is needed now is effective
translation of the vast body of science through to subsistence and smallholder farmers in order to make a difference.”

Download the report:
http://publications.iarc.fr/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Working-Group-Reports/Mycotoxin-Control-In-Low-And-Middle-Income-Countries-2015

Wild CP, Miller JD, Groopman JD, editors (2015). Mycotoxin Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Working Group Report No. 9).

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/02/fungal-toxins-are-poisoning-africa-s-children-says-new-report

VIDEO

Best regards

Source=Antonio F. Logrieco

February 2016

New Sorghum Varieties Released in Nigeria with Higher Iron, Yields and Drought Resilience

Source: ICRISAT (26 Feb 2016)
Author: n/a
Two new highly nutritional sorghum varieties have been released in Nigeria. Both varieties have yields that double the local varieties; one has an iron content that is three times higher. Both are drought resistant. These improved varieties were developed by a team of scientists in the Nigerian national system and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). “The newly released varieties can help overcome periods of drought especially terminal drought problems prevalent in the Nigerian (Sudan and Sahel) ecologies because they are early maturing, with 50% flowering in 67 days against the 90 days on average of other varieties,” said Dr. Ignatius Angarawai, a Scientist – Sorghum Breeding at ICRISAT Kano. And, he added, “Sorghum has been recommended for infants, the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers because of its high caloric and nutritional value. There are cases of ‘hidden hunger,’ a deficit of iron and zinc which naturally exist in sorghum, among low income farmers who sell most of their production for household consumption.” The new varieties are also resulting in less emergence of the deadly striga weed compared to other varieties on trial. more