Aflatoxin to mold colony count problem - ratio and quantitative relationship (Jun/08/2005 )

HI THERE....
Im Jay and i would like to ask if anybody in this discussion site knows / an expert in fungal biology?

Im actually interested if its possible to know the aflatoxin level even if what we only know is the CFU/g of the fungus? Ex: 2 CFU/g of A.flavus= ___ ppm of aflatoxin?

Is there any quantitative relationship on these two related parameters?

Your idea will be appreciated.

Thanks

jay

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I used to work on aflatoxins and mycotoxins before. Theoretically, there could be a quantitative relationship but that would be very difficult to determine since aflatoxin production is not only dependent on the fungal strain but on your culture conditions as well. (Note too that some fungal strains, by repeated subculturing, sometimes lose their ability to produce toxins.)

You can probably find studies on SPECIFIC SUBSTRATES and correlations between amount of fungal growth and possible aflatoxin level. I seem to remember that several years ago, I saw a government agency brochure for coconut farmers targeted at controlling mold infestation and aflatoxin levels. From years of working with the same medium and same mold problem, the authors/agency had a cut off for extent of mold infestation (on the premise that at that level, there would already be this certain amount of aflatoxin). But I don't think there were specific guidelines saying that if you have so and so amount of this mold, then you have so and so amount of aflatoxin.

Testing for aflatoxin itself is always more accurate and with the numerous rapid kits available, it should be very easy.

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