Journal Article

Aflatoxin Contamination: An Overview on Health Issues, Detection and Management Strategies

Abushelaibi, Aisha, Aljaafari, Mariam Nasser, Sallagi, Maryam Al, Eid, Khadija, Alameri, Meera Mohamed, Lai, Kok-Song, Ali, Hajer Al, Loh, Jiun-Yan, Lim, Swee-Hua Erin, Kong, Amanda Shen-Yee, Cheng, Wan-Hee

2023

Overview

Aflatoxins (AFs) represent one of the main mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, with the most prevalent and lethal subtypes being AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2. AFs are responsible for causing significant public health issues and economic concerns that affect consumers and farmers globally. Chronic exposure to AFs has been linked to liver cancer, oxidative stress, and fetal growth abnormalities among other health-related risks. Although there are various technologies, such as physical, chemical, and biological controls that have been employed to alleviate the toxic effects of AF, there is still no clearly elucidated universal method available to reduce AF levels in food and feed; the only mitigation is early detection of the toxin in the management of AF contamination. Numerous detection methods, including cultures, molecular techniques, immunochemical, electrochemical immunosensor, chromatographic, and spectroscopic means, are used to determine AF contamination in agricultural products. Recent research has shown that incorporating crops with higher resistance, such as sorghum, into animal feed can reduce the risk of AF contamination in milk and cheese. This review provides a current overview of the health-related risks of chronic dietary AF exposure, recent detection techniques, and management strategies to guide future researchers in developing better detection and management strategies for this toxin.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Abnormalities / aflatoxin exposure / Aflatoxins / Aflatoxins - analysis / Aflatoxins - toxicity / Agricultural pollution / Agricultural products / Agricultural research / Animal feed / Animals / Aspergillus flavus / Aspergillus flavus - chemistry / Aspergillus parasiticus / Biosensing Techniques / Chronic exposure / Contamination / Control / Cytokines / Electrochemistry / Feeds / Fetuses / Food contamination / Food contamination & poisoning / Food Contamination - analysis / Food Contamination - prevention & control / Health aspects / hormonal changes / Humidity / Identification and classification / Immunoassay / Immunosensors / Liver cancer / Males / Metabolism / Metabolites / Milk / Mycotoxins / Oxidative stress / Public health / Review / Risk factors / Risk reduction / Sorghum / Toxins / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF