The poultry industry in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is faced with feed insecurity, associated with high cost of feeds, and feed safety, associated with locally produced feeds often contaminated with
mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins, including
aflatoxins (AFs),
fumonisins (FBs),
trichothecenes, and
zearalenone (ZEN), are common contaminants of poultry feeds and feed ingredients from SSA. These
mycotoxins cause deleterious effects on the health and productivity of chickens and can also be present in poultry food products, thereby posing a health hazard to human consumers of these products. This review summarizes studies of major
mycotoxins in poultry feeds, feed ingredients, and poultry food products from SSA as well as
aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Additionally reviewed are the worldwide regulation of
mycotoxins in poultry feeds, the impact of major
mycotoxins in the production of chickens, and the postharvest use of
mycotoxin detoxifiers. In most studies, AFs are most commonly quantified, and levels above the European Union regulatory limits of 20 μg/kg are reported.
Trichothecenes, FBs, ZEN, and OTA are also reported but are less frequently analyzed. Co-occurrences of
mycotoxins, especially AFs and FBs, are reported in some studies. The effects of AFs on chickens' health and productivity, carryover to their products, as well as use of
mycotoxin binders are reported in few studies conducted in SSA. More research should therefore be conducted in SSA to evaluate occurrences, toxicological effects, and mitigation strategies to prevent the toxic effects of
mycotoxins.