Browsing by Author "Lucamba, Zelda"
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- Aflatoxin Contamination of Various Staple Foods from Angola and MozambiquePublication . Matusse, Cláudio; Lucamba, Zelda; Bila, João; Macuamule, Custódia; Sampaio, Ana; Afonso, Sandra; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, PaulaAflatoxins constitute a significant risk in staple foods produced in African countries. This research aimed to analyze the total aflatoxin (AFT) contamination of various staple foods in Angola and Mozambique. A total of 233 samples of corn, peanuts, beans, rice, and cassava flour collected from farmers or local markets from the province of Cuanza Sul, Angola, and the provinces of Gaza and Inhambane, South Mozambique, were analyzed for the presence of AFT using the lateral flow strip method via AgraStrip® ProWATEX® (Romer). The results showed that, from all matrices, the highest incidence and level of AFT were found in corn produced in Mozambique, with medians ranging from 6.5 to 66.5 μg/kg, with the samples showing values as high as 9200 μg/kg. Levels higher than the maximum admissible levels recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for cereals and pulses (15 μg/kg) were observed in up to 90% of the corn samples, depending on the province. Corn produced in Angola showed lower amounts of AFT, with medians ranging from 1.2 to 7.7 μg/kg. Considering the maximum admissible levels for AFT recommended by the European Commission and the Codex Alimentarius Commission for cereals and pulses, the level of AFT contamination in staple food produced and consumed in the studied provinces is high and constitutes a public health risk for the population. Therefore, risk mitigation strategies are urgently needed.
- Isolation of filamentous fungi from different food matrices from Angola and MozambiquePublication . Vale-Dias, Teresa; Matusse, Cláudio; Carvalho, Susana; Silva, Beatriz; Soares, Célia; Lucamba, Zelda; Afonso, Sandra; Venâncio, Armando; Rodrigues, PaulaAgriculture remains the main economic activity in most African countries. However, crops are often contaminated with fungi that can cause diseases or produce mycotoxins, which is a major concern to food safety and security. Little is known about the mycotoxigenic fungi contaminating the most relevant staples in Mozambique and Angola. The aim of this work was to isolate and identify fungi from three food commodities – corn, peanuts and beans – and understand if they are a source of mycotoxin exposure to the populations, as these products are fundamental to the local food diet, and important to the economy. Samples of corn from Mozambique, and samples of peanuts and beans from Angola (four samples of each) were analysed for fungal contamination. Samples were also surveyed for aflatoxins using the AgraStrip® Pro WATEX® (Romer) method. Twenty-five grains of each sample were directly plated onto DRBC, and filamentous fungi were isolated after 5 to 7 days of incubation at 25 °C. A total of 56 fungal isolates representing the various fungal morphotypes were molecularly identified by Sanger sequencing of the ITS region. The microbiota of all samples was mainly composed of Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp., many of them belonging to mycotoxigenic species. Phytopathogenic fungi of four genera – Lasiodiplodia sp., Macrophomina sp., Nigrospora sp. and Pseudocercospora sp. – were also identified. Most species were common to all types of samples. Aflatoxins were detected in all samples.