Mycotoxins in Animal Feed and in Animal Source Foods in Developing Countries

Dear Colleagues,

Food and feed security remain a major challenge in developing countries. Worldwide, cereal-based crops are spoiled by toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins. Mycotoxins in animal feeds can have a large impact on the productivity of livestock, and there is a risk that the mycotoxins can be transferred into the animal products, and thus increasing their risk of exposure to humans. This is particularly true for aflatoxins, where, in developing countries, up to 100% of milk samples may be contaminated. In tropical and low-income countries, the burden posed by mycotoxins is relatively higher, and this is worsened by the often lacking regulatory enforcement of standards. This threatens not only human health, but also the development of the livestock sector, an important source of livelihoods for many smallholder farmers. There is limited data on the impact of mycotoxins on livestock production, as well as on the risks to human health, as a result of consuming contaminated livestock products.

This topic welcomes publications which focus on any aspect of mycotoxins in animal feeds, and animal source foods in tropical and developing countries, including papers studying prevalence, risk factors, impact on animal health, and mitigation options.

Dr. Johanna Lindahl
Prof. Dr. Gunther Antonissen
Dr. Hanna Friberg
Dr. Florence Mutua
Topic Editors