Aflatoxin contamination in food and body fluids in relation to malnutrition and cancer status in Cameroon

Abstract

Aflatoxins are food contaminants usually associated with hepatitis, immunodepression, impairment of fertility and cancer. The present work was to determine the presence of aflatoxins in eggs, milk, urine, and blood samples that were collected from various sources and periods; and hepatitis B virus antigen in blood samples. Aflatoxin was found in eggs (45.2%), cow raw milk (15.9%), breast milk (4.8%), urine from kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor children (45.5%), and sera from primary liver cancer patients (63.9%); HbsAg was also detected in 69.4% of the serum samples, but there was no association between both factors. Both AF and hepatitis B virus seem to be risk factors that could increase the incidence and prevalence rates of malnutrition and cancer in Cameroon.

Keywords: Cameroon; aflatoxins; cancer; egg; hepatitis B virus; malnutrition; milk.

Figure 1.

HPLC analysis of Aflatoxins in egg extracted using both methods. (a1): Aflatoxins G₁, B₁, B₂, G₂ standards with R_T 4.97, 6.325, 9.929 and 13.05 min, respectively. (a2): Extract using procedure [14]; R_T 6.327, 9.287 and 13.058 min for AFB₁+AFB_2a, AFG₂ and AFB₂, respectively. Concentrations are 0.154, 0.074 and 0.051 ppb for respectively AFB₁+AFB_2a, AFG₂ and AFB₂. (b1) Aflatoxins G₁, B₁, B₂, G₂ standards with R_T 5.767, 7.567, 11.353 and 16.375 min, respectively. (b2) Extract using procedure [17] R_T 5.782 and 7.567 min for AFG₁ and AFB₁ respectively. Concentrations are 0.099 and 0.390 ppb, for AFB₁ and AFG₁ respectively. AFB_2a from (a) – AFB_2a from (b) = 0.055 ppb according to [14]. (c1) Aflatoxin M₁ standard with retention times 3.588 min. (c2) extract for AFM1 detection R_T 3.588 min.

Figure 1.

HPLC analysis of Aflatoxins in egg extracted using both methods. (a1): Aflatoxins G₁, B₁, B₂, G₂ standards with R_T 4.97, 6.325, 9.929 and 13.05 min, respectively. (a2): Extract using procedure [14]; R_T 6.327, 9.287 and 13.058 min for AFB₁+AFB_2a, AFG₂ and AFB₂, respectively. Concentrations are 0.154, 0.074 and 0.051 ppb for respectively AFB₁+AFB_2a, AFG₂ and AFB₂. (b1) Aflatoxins G₁, B₁, B₂, G₂ standards with R_T 5.767, 7.567, 11.353 and 16.375 min, respectively. (b2) Extract using procedure [17] R_T 5.782 and 7.567 min for AFG₁ and AFB₁ respectively. Concentrations are 0.099 and 0.390 ppb, for AFB₁ and AFG₁ respectively. AFB_2a from (a) – AFB_2a from (b) = 0.055 ppb according to [14]. (c1) Aflatoxin M₁ standard with retention times 3.588 min. (c2) extract for AFM1 detection R_T 3.588 min.

Figure 2.

AFB₁ content μg·L⁻¹ in serum of primary liver cancer patients from Yaounde Hospital. Data were collected during a 4-year survey. Values are presented as Mean ± SD. Total _AFs (total patients positive for AF); Pos_male (male patients positive for AF); Pos_female (female patients positive for AF); AFs_in_Pos_HbsAg (patients positive for both HbsAg and AF). There was no significant differences in the serum content of AFB1 in the different groups (P > 0.05 ANOVA).