economic impacts attributed to aflatoxin

8/14/2019 Economic Impacts Attributed to Aflatoxin

1/20

Economic ImpactsEconomic ImpactsAttributed toAttributed to

AflatoxinAflatoxin

Dr.Kedar KarkiDr.Kedar Karki


2/20

What is Aflatoxin?What is Aflatoxin?

Aflatoxin refers to a group of extremely poisonousmycotoxins produced by two common fungi,Aspergillusflavus andAspergillus parasiticus. These toxins are namedfor a fungus that produces them, e.g. A from the genusnameAspergillus, fla from the species name flavus addedto toxin to give the name aflatoxin. Mycotoxins are

chemical compounds produced by fungi while growing onorganic substances such as corn, peanuts, or cottonseed.When these compounds are consumed by animals orhumans, they may produce severe undesirable healtheffects.


3/20

What is Aflatoxin?What is Aflatoxin?

Although it has been known for over 100 yearsthat moldy grains consumed by animals orhumans could cause serious illnesses, it was notuntil 1961 that scientists proved that the death of

over 100,000 turkey poults was caused byconsumption of aflatoxin-contaminated grain.Beginning in the 1960's, intensive study ofaflatoxin and the illnesses it causes has welldocumented that serious health effects can occur

when aflatoxin-contaminated feed or food areconsumed.


4/20

AflatoxicosisAflatoxicosis

Beef Cattle:

Early indications of aflatoxin toxicity includereduced feed intake followed by reduced weight

gain or weight loss. Often there is reduced feedefficiency, increased susceptibility to stress, anddecreased reproductive performance. Chronicaflatoxicosis is characterized by unthriftiness,anorexia, prolapse of the rectum, liver and kidney

damage, depression of the immune system, andedema in the abdominal cavity.


5/20

PoultryPoultry

Aflatoxin affects all poultry species. Youngpoultry, especially ducks and turkeys, arevery susceptible to aflatoxicosis.Generally, immature, growing poultryshould not receive more than 20 ppbaflatoxin in the diet. However, feedinglevels lower than 20 ppb may still reduce

their resistance to disease, decrease theirability to withstand stress and bruising,and generally make them unthrifty.


6/20

PoultryPoultry

Laying hens usually can toleratehigher levels of aflatoxin than youngbirds, but aflatoxin levels still should

be less than 100 ppb. Aflatoxicosiscan reduce the birds ability totolerate stress and other diseases byinhibiting the natural immune

system.


7/20

PoultryPoultry

Stunted growth, increased mortality,reduced egg size and production, liver andkidney disorders, leg and bone problems,suppression of the immune system withincreased susceptibility to infections suchas Salmonella are common symptoms ofaflatoxicosis in poultry. Decreased bloodclotting results in greater downgrading

and rejection of birds due to massivebleeding and bruises.


8/20

SwineSwine

Swine are sensitive to aflatoxin, especially nursing ornursery-age swine. Generally, aflatoxin consumptionprimarily causes liver damage and can result in reductionsin feed intake and growth performance. Aflatoxin levels of100 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 finishingswine (greater than 100 pounds). It is extremely importantto 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.


9/20


10/20

Producer CostsProducer 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


11/20

Processor CostsProcessor Costs

Restricted markets

Loss of markets

Reduced demand

Product loss Insurance premiums

Litigation costs

Monitoring and testing


12/20

Livestock and Dairy: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



13/20

Consumer CostsConsumer Costs

Less nutritious food

Higher product prices

Possible health problems


14/20

Social CostsSocial Costs

Regulatory costs

Research and education

Lower foreign exchange earnings Increased costs of imports.


15/20

Handler / DistributorHandler / DistributorCostsCosts

Extra drying costs

Excess storage capacity Losses in transit

Loss of markets



16/20

HandlingHandlingAflatoxin Contaminated GrainAflatoxin Contaminated Grain

Crop Destruction in the Field:

Crop destruction in the field may beappropriate if aflatoxin levels exceed the

maximum allowed for any use or forremedial blending or ammoniationprocesses. Aflatoxin levels of 1000 ppb orabove leave few or no alternatives. Crop

insurance may cover crop destruction if apre-harvest analysis clearly demonstratedthe excessive aflatoxin condition


17/20

Selective Feeding:Selective Feeding:

Adult animals generally are moretolerant of aflatoxin than youngeranimals. Animal species differ in their

sensitivity to aflatoxin consumption.


18/20

Screening the Grain:Screening the Grain: Various gravity table and shaker screening

devices exist which can significantly lower theaflatoxin levels in a lot of grain by effectivelyremoving light weight and broken grain which

often contain high levels of aflatoxin. Grain withlow to moderate levels of aflatoxin contaminationmay be cleaned to meet desired use levels.However, in some cases significant amounts oflight weight and broken grain may be removed,

and thus reduce the total grain volume.


19/20


20/20

Feed Additives:Feed Additives: Several feed additives as anti-caking agents have shown

some promise in research tests as aflatoxin-binding agentswhich inhibit the ability of the aflatoxin to be absorbed inthe animals gut. Bentonite clay and hydrated sodiumcalcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) added to feed have beenshown to decrease the effect of aflatoxin fed to swine and

poultry. The HSCAS product NovaSil was shown to beeffective at 10 pounds of compound per ton of aflatoxin-contaminated feed at a minimal cost. The bentonite clayproduct Volclay has also been shown to be effective whenadded at the rate of 10 pounds per ton of feed.

economic impacts attributed to aflatoxin

Documents