Comparison of Aflatoxin Yield from Peanut Isolate of Aspergillus flavus with Other Isolates

Aflatoxicosis outbreak was first seen in 1960 in England better known then as the Turkey X disease and was subsequently identified by Thin Layer Chromatography (Rustom, 1997). Aflatoxicosis is caused by the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus which produce a group of low molecular weight toxic metabolites which are called aflatoxins. The four major aflatoxins, i.e., B₁, B₂ (Blue colour), G₁ and G₂ (Green colour) were named based on their fluorescence under UV light and retention factor in thin layer chromatography. Aflatoxin B1 being a strong carcinogen, has been widely researched in detail and its ramifications on human and animal health is well known (Detroy et al., 1971; Wogan, 1975). Aflatoxin B₁ is heat stable and therefore it can still be present in the end product after processing (Moon et al., 2012). Aflatoxins result in severe liver intoxication causing haemorrhagic necrosis, proliferation of the bile duct and edematous condition (Wild et al., 2015). 4.5 billion people from developing countries were reported to have chronic exposure to high amounts of aflatoxins and such exposure over a long duration, even at low concentrations would lead to increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic tumours (Gnonlonfin et al., 2013). Aflatoxins are readily absorbed through the gastrointestinal route and respiratory route into blood circulation. They are also highly liposoluble compounds (Larsson and Tjalve, 2000; Agag, 2004).  Being liposoluble, they are also deposited in the fatty tissues of livestock whose meat are consumed by humans and indirectly affect humans when they consume such meat. They are also deposited in eggs as well (Bintvihok et al., 2002).
               
A tropical climate with heavy rainfall, moderate temperature range and high humidity produce optimum conditions for fungal growth. Therefore, chances of aflatoxin contamination due to mould growth in various food items are high. The aim of this study was to isolate A. flavus from different food sources kept in storage for a prolonged duration and to harvest aflatoxins from them and quantify the crude extract by dry weight and compare the toxin production. This was to ascertain if substrates in different food items played any role in toxin production. The results revealed that toxin production on peanut is highest compared to other isolates under same conditions of growth on media and toxin harvesting methods.

Chemicals used were Chloroform (Fisher Scientific, U.S.A.), Acetone (Himedia, India), Lactophenol Cotton Blue (Himedia, India), Potato Dextrose Agar (Himedia, India) and Potato Dextrose Broth (Himedia, India). Glassware used were of Borosil, India. Microfuge tubes were of Eppendorf, Germany. The aflatoxin B₁ standard was from Himedia, India. Drying of extracts was done in Hot Air Oven (N.S.W.-142, India). Silica gel plates were from Himedia. UV fluorescence was observed under UV transilluminator and Gel Documentation system (Alpha Imager, U.S.A.).
 
Isolation and identification of fungal growth from different sources
 
Fungal isolates were collected from the following contaminated food items: coffee, round dry lemon, lemon, poultry feed, tea leaf, potato, silverberry, peanut, orange and banana and then inoculated on sterile Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) in Petri dishes and incubated for five days at room temperature. The fungal isolates’ growth on the Petri dishes was monitored daily. Lactophenol cotton blue staining was done as per Dutta, (1998) on fifth day post inoculation for identification of phialide structure.
 
Harvesting of toxin and estimation of crude aflatoxin content by dry weight
 
The fungal isolates were cultured on in triplicates in Potato Dextrose Agar test tube slants and incubated for 10 days at room temperature to obtain maximum aflatoxin production. Thereafter, 1 ml chloroform was added to the tube to extract the aflatoxins. Two such extractions were done and the extracts of one test tube pooled together in 2 ml centrifuge tubes. The crude extract in chloroform was dried overnight in hot air oven (NSW-142) at 60^oC. The weights of the tubes before adding the extract and after drying were noted to obtain the dry weight of the crude toxin extract.
 
Thin layer chromatography and fluorescence under UV light
 
Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was done as per Dutta, (1998) with some modifications. The dried extracts in the tubes were reconstituted in 10 ìl to concentrate the aflatoxin content for thin layer chromatography. 10 μl was loaded on silica gel plates and TLC was run. Solvent system used was Chloroform: Acetone (9:1). TLC was run for 15 minutes. The fluorescence of the toxins under UV light was compared with 3 ìl of AFB₁ standard (Himedia) visually.

Macroscopic colony characteristics of the isolated fungal isolates i.e., greenish white cotton like growth within 3 days with yellowish pigmentation on reverse view of the PDA Petri Dish were typical of A. flavus. A. flavus was microscopically confirmed by phialide structure by lactophenol cotton Blue staining as per Dutta, (1998).
       
The highest content of crude aflatoxin was found to be in peanut, silverberry and orange peel as observed in Table 1. This should be duly noted as these items are consumed by humans as well and mismanagement in storage conditions due to poor handling and improper storage facilities would ultimately lead to aflatoxin contamination.
 

       
Thin Layer Chromatography further supported the data in Table 1 as the deep bluish fluorescence intensity under high wavelength (380 nm) of ultraviolet light was high in case of peanut, silverberry and orange peel which as mentioned earlier had high dry weight of crude aflatoxin. Retention factors were in the range of 0.5 to 0.7 for all the extracts.
               
The results (Table1) show that highest toxin production is in peanuts. In a study in Kenya, it was observed that contaminated peanuts harvested in humid agro-ecological zones had a high level of toxins (Mutegi et al., 2009). In another report where a potent A. flavus Link isolate was inoculated in different food items, highest total aflatoxin was found to be on peanut (Wildman et al., 1967). Mizoram also has high humidity which could promote toxin production in peanuts. Therefore, we can infer that there are some factor(s) or substrate(s) in peanut that promote toxin production by A. flavus because the growth and harvesting methods were same for all isolates. These factor(s)/ substrate(s) may stimulate expression of some genes essential for toxin production. If these factor(s)/ substrate(s) are also present in other food items, attempts can be made to inactivate it to reduce aflatoxin production which require further research.

A tropical humid climate with moderate temperature and heavy rainfall provides favourable conditions of growth of aflatoxigenic fungus most notably A. flavus. Aflatoxin contamination in different food items or commodities is very much likely as damp, humid conditions promote fungal growth as well as the food commodities being good substrates for their growth as well. Aflatoxin contamination is a serious health hazard to livestock and indirectly to humans as well. The pathogenic effects of aflatoxins even at low concentrations are well known. Therapeutic measures are not very effective so prevention is of utmost importance. The spores of the fungus are very light and airborne and mould growth can occur in any area with optimum conditions.
 
Storage conditions should be dry and there should not be water stagnation in the storage facility to avoid aflatoxin contamination and rain water should not be allowed to drip into the feed storage area. Fungal contaminated items should be discarded properly to avoid spread of the spores of the fungus which might contaminate nearby sources. Through optimum and hygienic storage conditions as well as optimum management of the housing and rearing system for livestock, the harmful effects of aflatoxins can be mitigated to a manageable level.
               
The factor(s) contributing to increased toxin production in peanut could be a valuable asset to counteract toxin contamination. Further studies are required to identify this factor(s) and how it acts in the toxin production mechanism whether by gene expression or some other pathway. The presence of the factor(s) in other food sources has to be studied. If it is common in different food sources then it could prove helpful to reduce toxin production across different food commodities.

None.