Determination and analysis of aflatoxins in commercial dog foods on the Ghanaian market

Abstract

Aflatoxins are a group of highly toxic mycotoxins. They can contaminate a variety of feed products, including commercial dog food. This study investigated aflatoxin contamination in various commercial dog food brands in Ghana. A total of 18 samples of commercial dog food were collected from two major cities, Kumasi and Accra. The samples were analyzed for the presence of toxic fungi, particularly Aspergillus spp., using a standard cultural method. The levels of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in the samples were also determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Aspergillus spp. was found in 65 % of the samples, with Aspergillus flavus being the most prevalent species. This suggests that commercial dog food in Ghana is at a high risk of aflatoxin contamination. The average concentrations of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in the samples were 8.58±1.68 ng/g, 53.24±0.43 ng/g, 53.30±0.49 ng/g, and <0.20 ng/g, respectively. The predominant aflatoxin was aflatoxin B1, which is known to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. Also, a total of 16.7 % of the samples had total aflatoxins that exceeded the FDA(USA) mandated limit of 20 ng/g (20 ppb) for animal feeding. The findings of this study suggest that aflatoxin contamination is a serious problem in commercial dog food in Ghana. This poses a significant health risk to dogs, as aflatoxins can cause a variety of health problems, including liver damage, immunosuppression, and cancer. The study also highlights the importance of routine monitoring for aflatoxin contamination in commercial dog food, especially in repackaged commercial dog food. Good hygiene standards should be maintained during storage and repackaging to prevent the development of aflatoxins.