Economic Impacts

Attributed to
Aflatoxin

Dr.Kedar Karki
 What is Aflatoxin?

• Aflatoxin refers to a group of extremely poisonous

mycotoxins produced by two common fungi, Aspergillus
flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These toxins are named
for a fungus that produces them, e.g. “A” from the genus
name Aspergillus, “fla” from the species name flavus added
to “toxin” to give the name aflatoxin. Mycotoxins are
chemical compounds produced by fungi while growing on
organic substances such as corn, peanuts, or cottonseed.
When these compounds are consumed by animals or
humans, they may produce severe undesirable health
effects.
 What is Aflatoxin?

• Although it has been known for over 100 years

that moldy grains consumed by animals or
humans could cause serious illnesses, it was not
until 1961 that scientists proved that the death of
over 100,000 turkey poults was caused by
consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated grain.
Beginning in the 1960's, intensive study of
aflatoxin and the illnesses it causes has well
documented that serious health effects can occur
when aflatoxin-contaminated feed or food are
consumed.
 Clinical Effects of
Aflatoxicosis

• Beef Cattle:

Early indications of aflatoxin toxicity include

reduced feed intake followed by reduced weight
gain or weight loss. Often there is reduced feed
efficiency, increased susceptibility to stress, and
decreased reproductive performance. Chronic
aflatoxicosis is characterized by unthriftiness,
anorexia, prolapse of the rectum, liver and kidney
damage, depression of the immune system, and
edema in the abdominal cavity.
 Poultry

•
Aflatoxin affects all poultry species. Young
poultry, especially ducks and turkeys, are
very susceptible to aflatoxicosis.
Generally, immature, growing poultry
should not receive more than 20 ppb
aflatoxin in the diet. However, feeding
levels lower than 20 ppb may still reduce
their resistance to disease, decrease their
ability to withstand stress and bruising,
and generally make them unthrifty.
 Poultry

• Laying hens usually can tolerate

higher levels of aflatoxin than young
birds, but aflatoxin levels still should
be less than 100 ppb. Aflatoxicosis
can reduce the birds’ ability to
tolerate stress and other diseases by
inhibiting the natural immune
system.
 Poultry

• Stunted growth, increased mortality,

reduced egg size and production, liver and
kidney disorders, leg and bone problems,
suppression of the immune system with
increased susceptibility to infections such
as Salmonella are common symptoms of
aflatoxicosis in poultry. Decreased blood
clotting results in greater downgrading
and rejection of birds due to massive
bleeding and bruises.
 Swine

•
Swine are sensitive to aflatoxin, especially nursing or
nursery-age swine. Generally, aflatoxin consumption
primarily causes liver damage and can result in reductions
in feed intake and growth performance. Aflatoxin levels of
100 to 400 ppb cause reduced growth rate and lower feed
efficiency. This level of aflatoxin affects breeding stock,
unweaned nursery, and growing pigs more than finishing
swine (greater than 100 pounds). It is extremely important
to keep toxin exposure to breeding swine to a minimum.
Aflatoxin levels of 400 to 800 ppb has caused liver damage,
bleeding disorders, immune system suppression, abortions,
and death.
 Sheep and Goats
•

Sheep and goats are affected by aflatoxin

like other ruminants. Aflatoxicosis causes
liver damage, kidney damage, anemia,
and other symptoms similar to those
found in cattle. Early symptoms may
include depression, loss of appetite,
weakness and slow movement.
 Producer Costs

• Crops:

• Yield loss
• Restricted markets
• Nonmarketable product
• Price discounts
• Increase product costs
• Increased post-harvest costs
• Difficulty obtaining loans on stored grain
• Disposal of useless crops
• Monitoring and sampling
 Processor Costs

• Restricted markets
• Loss of markets
• Reduced demand
• Product loss
• Insurance premiums
• Litigation costs
• Monitoring and testing
•
 Livestock and Dairy:

• Higher mortality rates

• Reproductive failures (abortions)
• Reduced feed efficiency
• Higher feed costs
• Lower live weight
• Reduced disease immunity
• Overall quality loss
• Lower milk production
• Unmarketable milk
• Monitoring and testing
 Consumer Costs

• Less nutritious food

• Higher product prices
• Possible health problems
•
 Social Costs

• Regulatory costs
• Research and education
• Lower foreign exchange earnings
• Increased costs of imports.
 Handler / Distributor
Costs

• Extra drying costs

• Excess storage capacity
• Losses in transit
• Loss of markets
• Monitoring and testing
 Handling
Aflatoxin Contaminated Grain
• Crop Destruction in the Field:
• Crop destruction in the field may be
appropriate if aflatoxin levels exceed the
maximum allowed for any use or for
remedial blending or ammoniation
processes. Aflatoxin levels of 1000 ppb or
above leave few or no alternatives. Crop
insurance may cover crop destruction if a
pre-harvest analysis clearly demonstrated
the excessive aflatoxin condition
 Selective Feeding:
• Adult animals generally are more
tolerant of aflatoxin than younger
animals. Animal species differ in their
sensitivity to aflatoxin consumption.
 Screening the Grain:
• Various gravity table and shaker screening
devices exist which can significantly lower the
aflatoxin levels in a lot of grain by effectively
removing light weight and broken grain which
often contain high levels of aflatoxin. Grain with
low to moderate levels of aflatoxin contamination
may be cleaned to meet desired use levels.
However, in some cases significant amounts of
light weight and broken grain may be removed,
and thus reduce the total grain volume.
 Blending and
Ammoniation:
• With certain limitations, blending of
aflatoxin contaminated corn with
aflatoxin-free or less-contaminated
corn is an approved practice. The
process of ammoniation of aflatoxin-
contaminated corn or cottonseed to
detoxify the aflatoxin.
 Feed Additives:
• Several feed additives as anti-caking agents have shown
some promise in research tests as aflatoxin-binding agents
which inhibit the ability of the aflatoxin to be absorbed in
the animal’s gut. Bentonite clay and hydrated sodium
calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) added to feed have been
shown to decrease the effect of aflatoxin fed to swine and
poultry. The HSCAS product NovaSil was shown to be
effective at 10 pounds of compound per ton of aflatoxin-
contaminated feed at a minimal cost. The bentonite clay
product Volclay has also been shown to be effective when
added at the rate of 10 pounds per ton of feed.