Assessment of Total Aflatoxin in Rice Samples from Three Zones of Niger State

ABSTRACT Aflatoxins, produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, pose serious health risks, particularly in tropical regions like Nigeria where rice is a staple food. Aflatoxin contamination is a growing concern due to its toxic effects on human health. This project aims to determine the total aflatoxin in rice samples from three zones of Niger State. Rice samples SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, and SH were collected from the three zones in the State. The samples were analyzed for fungal profile and total aflatoxin concentration using standard procedures. The morphological analysis of isolated fungi showed a diverse profile with distinct colony appearances and hyphal structures. The microbial analysis of the samples revealed varying levels of fungal contamination with the most prevalent fungi identified were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Fusarium sp., and Alternaria sp., with some samples showing heavy contamination. Sample SE and SD both showed the highest contamination level at 1.25x 105 CFU/ml. SH and SC also exhibited a significant contamination at   5.0 x 10⁴ and 6.4 x 10⁴ CFU/ml. The highest concentration of aflatoxins was found in the samples SH, SD and SC. These findings indicate that the rice samples are significantly contaminated with various fungi, which could pose serious food safety and public health concerns if they persist over time.