Frequency distribution of mycotoxigenic fungal contamination in maize-based dairy and poultry feeds Asha M.K.1, Ajithkumar K.2,*, Savitha A.S.1, Yenjerappa S.T.1, Laxmikanth M.3 1Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Raichur - 584 104, Karnataka, India 2AICRP on Linseed, Main Agricultural Research Station, Raichur - 584 104, Karnataka, India 3Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur - 584 104, Karnataka, India *e-mail: ajithk.path@gmail.com
Online Published on 11 January, 2024. Abstract Contamination of dairy and poultry feeds with mycotoxigenic fungi is a major threat to animal and human health. In Karnataka, there is rather little information about the natural occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in feedstuffs. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of mycotoxigenic fungi especially Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. in maize-based dairy and poultry feeds. A total of 48 feed samples consisting of 24 each of dairy feeds and poultry feeds were collected in major dairy and poultry farming districts of Karnataka. The feed samples were collected in a moisture-free bag with proper labelling and the collected feed samples were inoculated to the Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar to determine the mycoflora present in the feed. Majorly five fungi genera were isolated and identified as, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma, with their isolation frequencies of 20.83, 14.58, 10.41, 12.5, and 10.41 per cent, respectively. Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. were most frequently associated with feeds among the leading mycotoxigenic fungi. Hence, the present study reveals the significance of mycotoxins production in veterinary and public health as well as attending to its economic losses. Top Keywords Aspergillus, Dairy, Feed, Fusarium, Poultry, Mycotoxigenic fungi. Top |