Abstract

Contamination of dairy cattle feeds by aflatoxigenic Aspergillus group, poses public health challenges as a result of high chances of aflatoxicosis. In this study, therefore, dairy cattle feed samples (n=144) collected from both conventional and traditional dairies were examined for the presence of aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus using microbiological and molecular techniques. Fungal Colonial counts (CFU) were determined, and the mean CFU/g of the feed samples was 3.8 #xB1; 0.47. A Significant number of the feeds, 86 (59.7%) showed positive contamination level, out of which 55.8% and 18.6% (representing 33.3% and 8.3% of the total dairy cattle feed samples collected) were contaminations due to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus respectively. All the 64 isolates of the A. flavus and A. parasiticus were examined for aflatoxin producing abilities under a long UV light (365 nm). Aflatoxin production levels were quantitatively determined using ELISA technique and 16 isolates representing 25.0% of the total isolates; in the ratio of 3:1 respectively, showed a varied level of production of aflatoxins. Distribution of the aflatoxigenic strains was highest amongst the feeds collected from the traditional Fulani dairy herds showing a prevalence of 8 (50.0%) of the total identified aflatoxigenic strains and lowest, 2 (12.5%) among the conventional dairies.