Investigation of Fungal Contamination of Different Cigarette Tobacco Brands Consumed In Lapai and Minna Metropolis of Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

Tobacco is among the world’s crop with annual worrisome mycotoxins burden. This research aim at determining the presence and load of associated fungi with their mycotoxins in brands of cigarette tobacco commonly consumed in Lapai and Minna metropolis of Niger State Nigeria. Thirty-six (36) brands of cigarette tobacco were purchased in open markets in Minna and Lapai towns of Niger state, Nigeria. Using standard procedures, they were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and observed for 72 hours for fungal growth. Pure fungal colonies were morphologically identified, fermented at 35^°C for 21 days to extract their secondary metabolites. The acute toxicity profile of the secondary metabolites elicited by the isolated fungi were determined using the Lorke’s procedure at a dose of 3000 mg/kg body weight. Results showed a total of one hundred and fifty-eight (158) fungal contamination of the cigarette brands comprising Apergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Chrysonillia sitophilia and Aspergillus flavus with a percentage contamination of 77.8, 97.2, 8.3, 16.7 and 44.4 respectively. All isolated fungi elicited Aflatoxin B₁ and Ochratoxin A mycotoxins production except for A. fumigatus and A. nidulans that produced only the Ochratoxin A mycotoxins with a contamination load less than equal to 25 µg/kg.  No mortality was reported for the isolated fungi except for A. nidulans and A. fumigatus were extreme and moderate toxicity was reported at 3 g/kg p.o after 24 hours and no sign of delayed toxicity or mortality after 14 days of observation. The study concludes that cigarettes sold and consumed in Lapai and Minna towns in Niger State have high incidence of fungal contamination with some eliciting AFB₁ and OTA under favorable environmental conditions.