Aflatoxins in Smoked-dried Fish sold in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-west Nigeria

Abstract

This study estimated the aflatoxin contamination of smoked-dried fish samples of Alestes nurse (Silverside fish), Synodontis budgeti (Catfish), Ilisha Africana (West African Shad), Gymnallabes typus (Catfish), Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bonga), Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Siver Catfish), Schilbe uranoscopus (Butter fish), Cynoglossus browni (Sole), Clarias gariepinus (Mud Catfish), Calamoichthys calabaricus (Rope fish) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Fifty smoked-dried fish samples sold at two different markets in Abeokuta town, Lafenwa and Itoku in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria were found to be lightly contaminated with aflatoxin (P<0.05), after testing for their aflatoxin levels using Veratox quantitative aflatoxin test. The aflatoxin concentrations in the samples were between 0.030ppb-1.150ppb with a mean of 0.5980±0.1050 ppb. Rope fish had the lowest aflatoxin concentration while Mud catfish had the highest aflatoxin concentration.  Aflatoxins are known to be carcinogenic (causing hepatoma – cancer of the liver), acute hepatitis, reduced red blood cell and decreased immune system in man. Prolonged intake of smoked fish with these metabolites may constitute potential public health hazard. Smoked-dried fishes stored for sale in Abeokuta markets were not heavily contaminated with aflatoxins.