Prevalence of potential toxigenic Aspergillus species isolated from poultry feeds in Sokoto metropolis

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of fungal organisms (especially Aspergillus species) in feeds used in poultry farms in Sokoto metropolis. During a period of 12 months (from April 2010 to March 2011), a total of 239 poultry feed samples comprising of 204 commercially prepared feeds and 35 self-compounded feeds were collected from 76 identified poultry farms in Sokoto and environs. Of the total 80 questionnaires administered, 76 (95.00%) were responded to. Out of the total samples, fungal species were isolated from 198 (82.9%) comprising of commercially prepared 163 (79.9%) and self-compounded 35 (100.0%) feed samples. A total of 258 fungal isolates were identified out of which 136 (52.7%) were Aspergillus species. The most prevalent species were Aspergillus fumigatus 80 (58.8%) followed by Aspergillus flavus 56 (41.2%). Since Aspergillus species are among the leading mycotoxigenic fungi, this study reveals that a potential exists for the production of mycotoxins that may be of both veterinary public health significance and its attending economic losses.