Mycotoxic flora and mycotoxins in smoke-dried fish from Sierra Leone

Examination of 20 samples of smoke-dried fish of the Ethmolosa sp. commonly called “Bonga”, from homes and markets in Njala (Sierra Leone) revealed the presence of 4 Aspergilli species: A. flavus Links ex Fries, A. ochraceus Wilhelm, A. tamarii Kita and A. niger van Tieghem. Fresh or properly preserved smoke-dried fish showed no signs of fungal contamination. Mouldy fish extracts contained varying amounts of aflatoxins B₁, G₁, G₂ and ochratoxin A. Isolates of A. flavus grown on yeast extract sucrose (YES) medium, produced considerable amounts of aflatoxin B₁ and G₁ and trace amounts of G₂. On YES medium A. ochraceus produced large amounts of ochratoxin A but no penicillic acid.     

Survey of roasted street-vended nuts in Sierra Leone for toxic metabolites of fungal origin

Consumption of mycotoxin contaminated foodstuffs is common in regions where foods are not adequately controlled and routinely monitored, and this could have adverse effects on the health of consumers. In this study, 100 samples of roasted nuts (50 cashew nuts and 50 peanuts) vended within two cities of Sierra Leone were analysed for mycotoxins and other microbial metabolites by a LC-MS/MS method. The peanut samples contained detectable levels of 17 microbial metabolites, including aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ and alternariol, while none of these metabolites were found in the cashew samples. Aflatoxins (max: 5,729 μg/kg; mean: 487.8 μg/kg) and alternariol (3 μg/kg) were found in 24% and 2% of the peanut samples, respectively. One-third of the aflatoxin-contaminated peanut samples contained aflatoxins at levels exceeding the total aflatoxin limit of 4 μg/kg set by the European Union. Aflatoxin contamination of Sierra Leonean peanuts is high and requires urgent intervention to reduce consequent exposure.