Detection of Aflatoxins in Water, Sediment and Fishes of a Brackish Water Lake in the Nile Delta, Egypt

Regular samples of water, sediments and fresh fishes of Nile tilapia were collected from Burllus Lake for detection of fungi and evaluate the levels of aflatoxins (AFs) B1, B2, G1 and G2 contamination. The mean total length (TL) and body weight (BW) of fish (n=32) were 21.65 cm and 170.35 g, respectively. AFs are one of the most potent and dangerous groups of mycotoxins worldwide. Different species of fungi were isolated from water, sediments and fishes in the present study as: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus ocracheus, Aspergillus parasticus, Alternaria alternate, Cladosporium spp., Mucor spp., Candida spp. and Fusarium spp. AFs producing fungi including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus parasticus, Mucor spp., and Fusarium. The highest concentration of AFs was 244.526 ng/g in sediment and 1.758 ng/L in water samples, which was produced from Aspergillus flavus isolation. On the other hand, the isolate of Mucor spp. from fish samples has the ability to produce AFs with concentrations of 0.727 ng/g. High concentration of aflatoxin may affect negatively the economic value of fishes and the public A periodical examination of fishes grown in the lake is required in order to protect the public health.