Richard Temitope Fagbohun

Aflatoxins, toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus species, are frequently reported contaminants of dairy cattle feed worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where climatic conditions favor fungal growth, and they can be transferred into milk and dairy products. Their presence poses major public health risks, including liver cancer and growth impairment, among others. Understanding the extent of carryover from feed to milk is critical for food safety and regulatory control. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence on aflatoxin carryover in dairy systems over the past two decades. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Studies investigating aflatoxin levels in dairy feed and milk, as well as carryover rates, were included. Data extraction focused on contamination levels, feed treatment efficiency and carryover rates of aflatoxins as well as mitigation measures. Twenty‐seven eligible studies were identified. Aflatoxin B ₁ concentrations in dairy feed ranged from undetectable to 598 µg/kg. In milk, AFM ₁ levels reached up to 22.2 µg/kg, with reported carryover rates as high as 15%. The findings highlight variability in contamination across regions and production systems. This review underscores the continuing risk of aflatoxin in dairy products, identifies knowledge gaps and emerging threats, and emphasizes the need for improved interventions to safeguard food safety and public health.

Food safety remains a critical global challenge, particularly due to contamination by aflatoxins (AFs), highly toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. This significant group of mycotoxins frequently contaminate staple food commodities, posing serious risks to public health, food security, and agricultural sustainability, thus the need for their detection in food. Conventional analytical methods, including chromatographic and immunochemical techniques, although highly accurate, are often time-consuming, resource-intensive, and dependent on sophisticated instrumentation and skilled personnel, thereby limiting their applicability in decentralized and resource-limited settings. Recent advances in detecting AFs in food matrices is nanoparticle-based, thus the focus in this systematic review. In this study, a systematic review that critically evaluates nanoparticle-based detection strategies for AFs in food, highlighting their potential to transform food safety monitoring was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Data generated was subsequently reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and PRISMA framework. Peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2023 were systematically retrieved from multiple electronic databases. Study screening, eligibility assessment, and data extraction were independently performed using Covidence systematic review management software. A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The findings demonstrate a strong predominance of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), attributed to their high surface-to-volume ratio, tunable surface chemistry, and exceptional optical properties, which collectively enhance assay sensitivity and signal transduction in immunosensing platforms. Notably, gold–silica core–shell nanoparticle-based assays achieved the lowest reported limit of detection (LOD) for Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) of 0.24 pg/mL. Other nanomaterials, including carbon-based nanostructures and polymeric nanoparticles, also exhibited robust analytical performance, with reported LOD ranging from 0.5 pg/mL to 2.7 ng/mL, depending on the food matrix, nanomaterial type, and assay design. Overall, this systematic review highlights key trends in nanoparticle applications for AF detection and underscores their potential for rapid, highly sensitive, and field-deployable food safety diagnostic testing. Despite substantial progress, critical challenges related to scalability, reproducibility, standardization, and regulatory approval remain. Addressing these barriers will be essential for translating nanotechnology-based AF detection platforms from laboratory research into routine food safety surveillance and regulatory practice.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are toxic metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Aspergillus parasiticus (A. parasiticus) that contaminate food and feed, posing serious health risks to humans and animals. Consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods can cause aflatoxicosis, a serious condition characterised by acute or chronic toxicity. Due to their prevalence, especially in humid regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, proper management is essential for food safety and public health. While traditional methods for controlling aflatoxins can be effective, they are often costly and may introduce harmful chemicals into food, posing risks to the environment and human health. This review paper extensively analyses the toxin binders used to mitigate aflatoxin contamination, discussing their mechanisms of action and effectiveness. It also explores the transition from traditional aflatoxin management strategies to greener alternatives, with a focus on the emerging field of green nanotechnology. Additionally, this paper examines the biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using metal salt solutions and plant extracts, and their efficacy as inhibitors of aflatoxin-producing fungi and their toxins, demonstrating high effectiveness with minimal toxicity to human health and the environment. Furthermore, the article explores the integration of green nanotechnology into sustainable aflatoxin management and discusses future research directions for developing even more potent interventions through nano-encapsulation with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD).

Aflatoxins (AFs), harmful secondary metabolites produced by the genus Aspergillus, particularly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are one of the best-known potent mycotoxins, posing a significant risk to public health. The primary type, especially aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), is a potent carcinogen associated with liver cancer, immunosuppression, and other health problems. Environmental factors such as high temperatures, humidity, and inadequate storage conditions promote the formation of aflatoxin in staple foods such as maize, peanuts, and rice. Immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, cancer, or diabetes, are at increased risk due to their reduced detoxification capacity and weakened immune defenses. Chronic exposure to AF in these populations exacerbates liver damage, infection rates, and disease progression, particularly in developing countries and moderate-income populations where food safety regulations are inadequate and reliance on contaminated staple foods is widespread. Biomarkers such as aflatoxin-albumin complexes, urinary aflatoxin M₁, and aflatoxin (AF) DNA adducts provide valuable insights but remain underutilized in resource-limited settings. Despite the globally recognized health risk posed by AF, research focused on monitoring human exposure remains limited, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. This dynamic emphasizes the need for targeted studies and interventions to address the particular risks faced by immunocompromised individuals. This review provides an up-to-date overview of AF exposure in immunocompromised populations, including individuals with cancer, hepatitis, diabetes, malnutrition, pregnant women, and the elderly. It also highlights exposure pathways, biomarkers, and biomonitoring strategies, while emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, advanced diagnostics, and policy frameworks to mitigate health risks in these vulnerable groups. Addressing these gaps is crucial to reducing the health burden and developing public health strategies in high-risk regions.

Background. Different neuropathic pain screening tools (DN4, LANSS and PDQ) have been developed, translated into several local languages, and validated. To determine the reliability of these tools and their ability to differentiate between diagnosing neuropathic pain quality from nociceptive pain, a systematic review was conducted to synchronize properties and suggest the reliability of the translated version of these neuropathic pain-screening tools. Objective. To conduct an evidence-based systematic review to assess the psychometric, reliability and validity of the translated version of DN4, LANSS and PDQ between January 2005 and 2019. Methods. Two independent reviewers adopted the use of online (Internet) search machine (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of science) to search for the relevant articles based on JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) inclusion criteria. Data extracted from the articles were synthesis in tabular form. Results. Twenty-six articles were included from DN4 (n=11), LANSS (n=8) and PDQ (n=4) translated from English language to eight local languages. The sensitivity and specificity of the DN4 studies ranged from 75% to 98% and 37.3% to 96%, respectively. The internal reliability (α) of the translated version of the DN4 ranged from 0.55-0.862. The sensitivity and specificity of the LANSS studies ranged from 75% to 98% and 37.3% to 96%, respectively. The internal reliability (α) of the translated version of the LANSS ranged 0.67-0.96. The sensitivity and specificity of the PDQ studies ranged from 75% to 98% and 37.3% to 96%, respectively. The internal reliability (α) of the translated version of the PDQ ranged 0.81-0.86. Conclusions. All the translated instruments reviewed showed good internal consistency of the items, high sensitivity and Positive predictive value (PPV) but not to a suitable level compared with the original version. Therefore, these screening tools are suggested to be used in conjunction with the clinical testing for appropriate diagnosis of patients with neuropathic pain quality.