Fungal and Mycotoxin Contamination Threaten Global Food Security in Poultry Farming

Fungal and mycotoxin contamination have been identified as significant threats to poultry health, feed safety, and global food security. Research from Government College University in Lahore, Pakistan, has demonstrated the potential of indigenous Aseel chicken-derived probiotics as biofactories of antifungal metabolites to control mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed. The study isolated 28 strains of beneficial bacteria from the gut of Aseel and broiler chickens, which were found to inhibit fungal spore germination and reduce aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and fumonisin production.

Key Takeaways:

• The study isolated 28 strains of beneficial bacteria from the gut of indigenous Aseel and broiler chickens, which were found to inhibit fungal spore germination and reduce mycotoxin production.
• Strains SB1, SB2, and SD2 completely inhibited Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Fusarium proliferatum and showed significant inhibition of fungal spore germination (up to 91.7% ± 0.3%; P 0.001).
• The study demonstrated the potential of the isolated strains as biofactories of antifungal metabolites to control mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed.
• The strains significantly reduced aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and fumonisin production by 91.6% ± 1.2%, 93.6% ± 0.6%, and 93.0% ± 0.5%, respectively.
• The study was conducted at the Microbiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan.
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in Molecular Biology Reports, Volume 52, Issue 1.

Statistics:

• Reduction in aflatoxin production: 91.6% ± 1.2%
• Reduction in ochratoxin production: 93.6% ± 0.6%
• Reduction in fumonisin production: 93.0% ± 0.5%
• Maximum inhibition of fungal spore germination: 91.7% ± 0.3%
• Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the isolated strains: 3-5 LmL (P 0.001)
• Fungicidal concentrations: 3-5 LmL (P 0.001)

Sources:

• "Indigenous aseel chicken-derived probiotics as biofactories of antifungal metabolites to control mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed" (Molecular Biology Reports, 2025; 52(1):724)
• Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
• Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands (publisher of Molecular Biology Reports)
• Noor Muhammad, Microbiology Lab, Dept. of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
• Iram Liaqat, Saiqa Andleeb, Sajida Naseem, Muhammad Arshad, and Awais Khalid (additional authors)