Natural occurrence of aflatoxins in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) from eastern Ethiopia

Groundnut is an important cash crop for domestic markets as well as for foreign trade in several developing and developed countries. It is also one of the most valuable cash crops in eastern Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained by Aspergillus species, which cause quantitative losses and produce highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances known as aflatoxins. This article critically reviews Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Ethiopia and Its Management. Although groundnut has a huge potential as a cash crop to improve livelihoods of farmers and traders in various parts of Ethiopia, its market is declining and export of the crop has come to a standstill. This is due to aflatoxin contamination of the crop and the difficulty of meeting tolerance limits by importers and food processors, leading to rejection of the crop and reduction in market demand. Aflatoxin contamination is both a pre-harvest and postharvest problem. Therefore, management of aflatoxin contamination of groundnut in Ethiopia is very important using cultural practice such as habitat management, soil amendments and pre- and post-harvest managements, using physical control methods, using biological control methods, using resistance groundnut varieties and using chemical control methods.

/pdf/aflatoxin-contamination-in-groundnut-arachis-hypogaea-l-4pqe436ah0.pdf

Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Caused by Aspergillus Species in Ethiopia

The production of groundnut is constrained by several factors, among which is Aspergillus spp. In addition to causing quantitative losses, Aspergillus spp. produce highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances known as aflatoxins. This study was conducted with the objectives to (i) identify Aspergillus species associated with groundnuts, (ii) determine the frequency of seed contamination, and (iii) survey agro-ecological conditions related to groundnut contamination by Aspergillus spp. About 270 groundnut samples were collected from farmers’ storage, fields and local markets of three districts that is, Babile, Darolabu and Gursum of Eastern Ethiopia for mycological analysis in the year 2010. Results of the mycological analysis suggested heavy infestation of groundnut samples by various molds including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Pencillium species. At the district level, the incidence of infected groundnut kernels ranged from 50 to 80%. Within the district kernel infection varied between 36.3 and 100%. The common Aspergillus symptoms (yellowing or chlorotic leaves, wilting, drying and brown or black mass covered by yellow or greenish spores) were also observed in groundnut fields. The current results were consistent with our earlier report of heavy aflatoxin contamination of groundnut from the same places, suggesting the urgent need to apply control measures against toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins. 

	 

	Key words: Aspergillus spp., groundnut, Penicillium spp., Ethiopia.

/pdf/incidence-of-aspergillus-contamination-of-groundnut-arachis-4w7lt4unno.pdf

Incidence of Aspergillus contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Eastern Ethiopia

Mycotoxins in Ethiopia: Current status, implications to food safety and mitigation strategies

Groundnut is an important cash crop for domestic markets as well as for foreign trade in several developing and developed countries. It is also one of the most valuable cash crops in eastern Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained by Aspergillus species, which cause quantitative losses and produce highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances known as aflatoxins. A reconnaissance survey was conducted in 2014 cropping season with a research objective to determine the levels of infection of groundnut seed by Aspergillus species along the groundnut value chain in different agro-ecological zones of eastern Ethiopia, including three major groundnut growing areas, namely Babile, Gursum and Fedis Districts of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State. In this study 210 groundnut seed samples were collected from farmers’ fields, farmers’ stores, market retailers and vendors at Babile, Fedis and Gursum districts in 2014 cropping season, and were tested for seed moisture content using electronic moisture meter. The frequency of Aspergillus species contamination on groundnut seeds was determined using plate counting methods. The seed moisture data showed that the moisture contents of seed samples ranged between 3 and 15%; the lowest was obtained from groundnut seed samples collected from vendors at Babile district and the highest was from farmers’ fields at harvest in Fedis district The proportion of seed contamination by Aspergillus species varied from 30% in seed collected from vendors to 85% in seed samples from farmers’ fields in Babile, Fedis and Gursum districts. Groundnut seed samples collected from farmers’ fields was the first (85%), where as from farmers’ stores had the second highest seed contamination with 80% infection, and groundnut samples collected from that of market retailers had 60% contamination. Five different Aspergillus species were associated with 210 groundnut seed samples along the groundnut value chain actors. Of the several Aspergillus species isolated from the groundnut seed samples, A. flavus and A. niger were the most prevalent mycotoxigenic fungi across the farmers’ fields, farmers’ stores, market retailers and vendors at Babile, Fedis and Gursum districts in the five agro-ecological zones of eastern Ethiopia such as low-land dry (LLD), low-land moist (LLM), mid-land dry (MLD), mid-land moist (MLM), and high-land humid (HLH). The occurrence of these two species ranged from 22.05-49.05% (A. flavus) and 23.83-48.11% (A. niger). Their relative dominance in number of isolates from the total associated fungi was 23 and 22%, respectively. On the other hand, A. parasiticus, A. ochraceus, and A. tamarii occurred rarely. The highest frequencies of occurrence of A. flavus and A. niger were on groundnut seed samples from farmers’ fields in Fedis district in mid-land moist agro-ecological zone and the least was from roasted groundnut seed samples from vendors in Babile, Fedis and Gursum districts in all the five agro-ecological zones. From the present findings, it could be concluded that there was high occurrence of aflatoxigenic fungi along the groundnut value chain actors. Also, the current results imply the urgent need for application of management measures against aflatoxigenic fungi to maintain the quality of groundnut in the various value chain processes and to avert human and animal health risks.

/pdf/occurrence-of-aspergillus-species-in-groundnut-arachis-463lglczud.pdf

Occurrence of Aspergillus Species in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) along the Value Chain in Different Agro-Ecological Zones of Eastern Ethiopia

Aflatoxin Content of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in Relation to Shelling and Storage Practice of Ethiopian Farmers

Background Medication related problem (MRP) is an event occurring, as a result, the medication therapy that actually or potentially interferes with desired health outcomes. Evidences reported that the prevalence of MRPs may result in a high burden of morbidity and decrease patients’ quality of life. The problem is more significant among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a decline in kidney function and increase number of medications required to treat kidney disease and its complications. Thus, this study aimed to assess MRPs and its associated factors among patients with chronic kidney disease. Method Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 248 adult ambulatory patients with CKD (stage 1–4) at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Data were collected through patient interview and medical chart review from 1st of June to 30th of August 2019. MRPs were identified based on the standard treatment guidelines. Cipolle MRPs classification was used to classify the MRPs and Micromedex® was used as drug interaction checker. Binary logistic regression was utilized to identify the associated factors and p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result A total of 325 MRPs were identified from 204 (82.3%) study participants giving 1.6 MRPs per participant. One MRP was identified among 114 (55.9%) patients while two MRPs were identified among 64 (31.4%). The most common class of MRPs were need additional drugs 114 (35.1%) followed by non-compliance 54 (16.6%), unnecessary drug therapy 46 (14.2%) and dose too low 46 (14.2%). The two most common reasons for non-compliance were unaffordability of drugs 26(48.1%) and the lack of patient understanding about drug taking instruction 10 (18.5%). The study showed that only occupation (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.292–21.288, P = 0.020) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor use (AOR = 6.6, 95% CI: 2.202–19.634, P = 0.001) had an association with the occurrence of MRPs. Conclusion The prevalence of MRPs among ambulatory patients with CKD was high and need of additional drug therapy was the commonest MRPs.

/pdf/medication-related-problems-among-ambulatory-patients-with-sm8pwe3q.pdf

Medication related problems among ambulatory patients with chronic kidney disease at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Eshetu Legesse

Papers

Aflatoxin Content of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in Relation to Shelling and Storage Practice of Ethiopian Farmers

Medication related problems among ambulatory patients with chronic kidney disease at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia