| dc.description.abstract | Aflatoxin contamination poses a significant threat to animal production, food safety and human health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where conditions for its production are favorable. In this context, a comprehensive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023-November 2023 among layer chicken farms in Wakiso District, Uganda. The study aimed at filling a critical gap in understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) surrounding aflatoxin contamination with a specific focus on feed quality management and its implications for food safety at farm level. Additionally, detecting and quantification of total aflatoxins in naturally contaminated feeds and possible carry over of total aflatoxins and metabolite M1 to eggs. Purposive sampling was used with the aid of a semi-structured interview guide and observation to collect qualitative data from 31 farmers. Feed samples (29) and 26 egg samples were taken from the same farmers for aflatoxin contamination detection and quantification. Deductive thematic analysis was used to make inferences on collected qualitative data for themes and frequency table used to summarize KAPs. Total aflatoxins in feeds and eggs were then detected using Thin Layer Chromatography. Competitive ELISA was used to quantify total aflatoxins in feeds and eggs and metabolite M1. GraphPad Prime Software was used for quantitative data analysis with F test at significance level of 0.05. T test was used to determine if there were significant differences between means of aflatoxins of groups with varying farm practices. Four themes were got from the deductive thematic analysis ;Factors that influence type/source of feed used by layer chicken farms (experience,knowledge,size of enterprise, presence of concentrates),Duration of feed batch is influenced by size of the enterprise and resources, quality standards (organoleptic), capital and integration with other farm activities, Farmer knowledge on feed quality, Traceability of poultry feeds and quality testing, Awareness on Aflatoxin contamination and risk of carry-over, from which KAPs were summarized. This investigation unearthed a concerning lack of awareness among farmers, with a staggering 80.7% having no knowledge about aflatoxins before. However, the majority of farmers interviewed seemed to understand the pivotal role of feed quality in improving poultry productivity. This was evidenced through practices such as elevating feed off the ground, albeit with varying durations of storage. Moisture content analysis revealed that a substantial 91.20% of feed samples showed optimal drying and storage conditions with moisture content less than 12.5% against UNBS’s 13%, crucial for mitigating aflatoxin risks. Aflatoxin analysis in both feed and eggs painted a sobering picture of contamination, with higher concentrations detected in feed compared to eggs. Its however important to note that all the concentrations in feeds and eggs were below the recommended concentrations by UNBS of 10ppb and 20pp for B1 and total aflatoxins respectively. Interestingly, our factor assessment for contamination unveiled nuanced insights, indicating that more than 1 week of storage of feed significantly heightened the likelihood of aflatoxin contamination (P = 0.0091), while the physical location of storage whether on the floor or elevated platforms had negligible impact (P= 0.8817). Furthermore, the findings underscored the unsettling reality of aflatoxin carry-over from feed to eggs, highlighting a critical relationship between feed quality and egg safety. Ultimately, this study illuminates the pressing need for targeted interventions aimed at bolstering awareness, emphasis on storage conditions, and implementing stringent control measures to curb aflatoxin contamination in the layer chicken farming landscape. By fostering a collective understanding and proactive approach, we can pave the way towards safer and more resilient poultry production systems, safeguarding both farmer livelihoods and consumer health in the process. Further studies on the factors that may lead to aflatoxin contaminations at farm level should be done since there was a significant difference p<0.001 between individual farms. | en_US |
