Contamination of Locally Compounded Poultry Feeds and Ingredients by Fungi of the Genus Penicillium and Aspergillus within Three Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

Introduction: Fungi generally are field and storage contaminants of poultry feeds and feed ingredients, the fungal contamination of poultry feeds affects the quality negatively by causing caking, reducing quality and quantity of nutrients, and eventually producing secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins in these products when the environment is conducive. This study was carried out to isolate Aspergillus and Penicillium species from locally compounded poultry feed and feed ingredients that arrived at poultry farms within 30 days.

Method: A total of 52 samples of feed (n=13) and feed ingredients (n=39) were collected across 3 agroecological zones (involving 6 states) of Nigeria. Different mycological media was used for isolation, by deploying the pour plate method. The identity of Aspergilli and Penicilli isolates was characterized using macroscopic and microscopic observed features.

Results: Hundred per cent of the feed samples were contaminated with Aspergillus species while 63% were contaminated with Penicillium species. Nine species of Aspergillus and five species of Penicillium were detected in the feed and feed ingredients. The highest occurring fungal genus was Aspergillus, specifically, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus species were the highest occurring species. Penicillium glabrum was the most predominant Penicillium species isolated from the compounded poultry feed and feed ingredient samples.

Conclusion: All the feed samples (100%) were contaminated with several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium. The feed ingredients had 100% contamination except for the bone meal samples 78% contamination.