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Instructions for abstracts
1. Abstracts: Please follow the guidelines as set out below:
- Abstracts may not exceed 350 words (excluding title, authors and affiliations).
- Single line spacing and justify text
- The title should be font size 12 point, bold, all capital letters
- The title is followed by all authors initials and surnames and affiliations (Institution and Postal address) on the following line.
- Contact details of the corresponding author (e-mail address)
2. Layout:
INTRODUCTION
This section should present the problem statement and aims of the study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This section should briefly discuss the materials and methods utilised, to allow the reader insight into the origin and validity of the data.
RESULTS
This section should be the focus of your paper. Here you should present and discuss your data. Focus on the interpretation and validity thereof.
CONCLUSIONS
This section should present conclusions and possible applications.
KEYWORDS
Use a maximum of six keywords, in alphabetical order, separated with a comma.
An abstract example
Oral/poster: Poster
Theme: 2 (Surveillance, mitigation and predicting mycotoxin prevalence)
MULTIPLE MYCOTOXINS CO-OCCURRENCE IN MAIZE GROWN IN THREE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF TANZANIA.
A. Kamalaa, b, J. Ortiza, c, M.E. Kimanyad, G. Haesaerte, S. Donosoc, B. Tiisekwaf and B. D. Meulenaera.
anutriFOODchem unit, Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, partner in Food2Know, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
bTanzania Food and Drugs Authority, P. O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
cFaculty of Chemical Sciences, Cuenca University, Av. 12 de Abril s/n Cdla. Universitaria, 010201, Cuenca, Ecuador
dSchool of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
eDepartment of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, ValentinVaerwyckweg 1, BE-9000 Ghent, Belgium
fFaculty of Agriculture ,Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005, Morogoro, Tanzania.
INTRODUCTION
In this study, the influence of agro-ecological differences in multiple mycotoxin contamination of maize was investigated in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania: Northern highlands, Eastern lowlands and South-western highlands.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Maize grains intended for human consumption were collected randomly from 300 household stores; 100 from each zone. From each zone one major maize producing district was chosen and 20 villages, randomly selected for maize sampling. Eleven mycotoxins of health concern: aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1), aflatoxin G2 (AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin and zearalenone (ZEN) were analysed using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography / time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/TOFMS) method with a QuEChERS-based procedure as sample extraction.
RESULTS
Except for T-2 toxin, the rest of mycotoxins were detected in the maize grains and high levels of AFB1 (50%; 3-1081 µg kg-1), FB1 (73%; 16-18184 µg kg-1), FB2 (48%; 178-38217 µg kg-1) and DON (63%; 68-2196 µg kg-1) contamination were noticed in the grains.
CONCLUSIONS
Eighty seven percent of samples were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin, with 45% of samples co-contaminated by carcinogenic aflatoxins and fumonisins. Some samples exceeded the maximum limits set in Tanzania for aflatoxins and the European Union limit for other mycotoxins in unprocessed maize. Significant differences in mycotoxins contamination rate and levels were observed among the three agro-ecological zones. Such variations in mycotoxin contamination could be due to the different climate that may have an influence on the fungal species, as well as maize production, harvesting and storage period. Furthermore, agronomic and postharvest practices probably exposed the maize grains to fungal infection and subsequent mycotoxin contamination. Further studies on fungal species contaminating maize with a view to understanding their different potential to produce toxins, as well as the local differences in maize handling deserve attention.
KEYWORDS: Agro-ecological zones, maize, multiple mycotoxins