Aflatoxins in livestock and poultry: A review

Abstract

Aflatoxin, one of the mycotoxins, contaminates agricultural products and has assumed economic importance because of it influences health of humans and livestock, And marketability of agricultural products particularly in tropical countries. Since there is a risk of exposure of a large cross-section of population, especially children, because of presence of nonpermissable levels of aflatoxin in animal feeds, groundnut kernels, confectioneries and in milk, therefore various methods have been described to reduce or alleviate the aflatoxins from them. Consumption of aflatoxin contaminated feed by the animals in India is very high leading to the risk of aflatoxicosis to them and to human beings through consumption of milk and meat. Hence, it is essential to follow sound production, harvesting and storage practices to control the development of aflatoxins in the feeds.